Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-02-20

III. "a nm,
time, to give evidence ofcommunity ofntercst In
confirmation ofths view OF the subject, will state
that understand, the town of Wheeling has doubled
ITS population within five years-that other towns "a
increasing with almost equal und that the con-
slant aud extensive employment gwen to labourers mr.
the salt works, and roads and canals and publsr
works generally, adds very considerably 10 that DO.
cription ot persons who in the spirit oftbe
Dl oil rights entitled To participation in the powers
OF government In thus contrasting the non,lat;nn
of the Fast and the West. mean no dspara gomort
to the enterprisng foreigner, who may have souch.
the land ofberty, where freeman he nit,bt iivo
secure IN person and in property TO the hardy adj
venturer from the Worth, who may have chosen tn
settle in tho West. hail their coming-they add 70
the strength and wealth ofthe State and when thew
snal nave resided long enough they should and will
nave ther Just PARTON of political power; and 10 time
OF need, doubt not will prove themselves WORTHY of
the privilege. ' "
MIR. Speaker Having disposed of the LIST sect;o,
Sn m'y anlent' which involved many points in the
ucVIiopncnt oi which fear have been tedious T
beg leave now to ii the attention of the Sena, g.,
inc "a section which relates to the permission rven
10 all Tree white male citizens (nave or naturaIze,
aged 81 years and who have resided for two voarIi
NEXT preceding the election In the county, CITY or br
rough where they offer to vote, to have their votes
'aHeh oy the agents OF the existing government for
delegates to serve in convention. Sir have intro
duced this section somewhat doubnolv fon, ccr,os
Indications upon this subject already p,ven Rut
feel that should be traitor to the princines b.y
always advocated; | feel that should be desert;no
tae cause or free government, were / on this occn
sion to pass by unnoticod that numerous mar;t,r;,
uisFahchised and prescribed portion of the comnn
nity non Jreehoiders. have long looked with III
deepest concern upon the denial of eoual noIt;c,l
rights TO thus valuable and efficient class of fo,
citizens That they should be admitted 10 80.
participation of political power have ever con,snJ
ed and never can omit any proper occos;on - L.,
my feeble voice III their behalf ~ -''
dr. we daily hear of crusadcs fitted out in the
cause oil religion humanity and civil liberty. ve bos
abolition societies-but no effort to reIaaso she
people from their political bondage Wbv this m.
lucal apathy-this total Disregard Of equal r;pbrs
and equal privileges, gus
Let us not fancy TO ourselves tbc,, ,-c bool, -,
IndIHcrcnt to their privation Let us not nresrro
too mrch upon their iorbcarance Pbe dov mo-,
come, when reused by an indignant sense ~ tbo{r
uniuens ana their Privatons, they may rise in the
MAJESTY OF their strength burst the letters with
which they are bound, and csilvulse this anc;,rt co
monwcath to Its centre / will not detniu Tho s,.n
ate longer ot this stage of tho discussion md tt
that the amendment offered bv IL, men,bor g.
vail ''0 Wa Pls-
Mr.. Dade having taken his scat.
MT -.0rgah proceeded to advocate his uH,eni
mem mem when nc closed, the veto was taken: and
mr. Morgan amendment being rejected ~
+ Mr.. Taylor moved to amend M D,J,. ..s
ment by striking out the I'd scctior; which potion
Ito supported by argument. -''O"
In opposition TO which, Mr.. Dade snl-r;,t,d o.,
following remarks. ''''
Mr.. Speaker: Having introduced tho scc.;o, w.,
posed 10 be stricken out feel myself called ,,no,,
10 defend 1t. do not arise sir for the nrrnoSd ~,
measuring strength with the member from Chester
field that would be vain indeed knevv too ,yon
from his forensic skill, he contrasted with mo nnm
make The worse appear the better side: I however
rely upon the justice of the cause esponsr ShorIa
fail IT will not be for want Of weanoBs but dextrr
ity i'll the OF them.
The member from Chesterfield dcnas tho rich, -
the Legislature to authorize the taking of the votes
nj non iIceholders. Sir, I had considered that tbn
Legislature had right TO do, whatever it was not
expressly prohibited from doing. l, is true it could
not extend the right of suffrage in elections for MON,
beers of the Legislature for 10 that ease the r.nsr;
tuition has snid who only shall vote and the Ieg;sIf
tGre can pass no law in contravention; hut ,Sber,
the people propose IN their original sovereign cana
city to elect Delegates to Convention 10 shor ro
form or abolish their Government who're is the arr
Gle in the constitution, prohibiting the Lcpislaturc
from granting them facilities Ii the IeGlslatnrr
nave not the power to authorize its agents flor the
sake of peace and harmony to receive the votes NJ
the community whether freeholders or not thew err
talnly have 10 right to authorize tham To do anv
thing else required in this bill and vet the oentlernnn
makes 10 objection to other provisions in the bill
In my opinion there can be no doubt oF tho no,,n,
claimed P' "'
lie says he was sworn to be (1itkJilI and n-,e to
the mHcH"eahh-granted-but if it is n forfeturn
OF ms oath to vote for the provision he wishes 70
sr%e OUT IS no less so to vote for any provision in
.
his only difficulty, be need have no ouans of con.
science. f' " ''"'
Gentlemen appear to view the existing povcru.
ment IN the character ola king, OF whom charter
OF Liberty ~ aFKed by the subjects of the crown
Let them not deceive themselves il n ,n,;o,.;f,,
OF the Pe2pte from whom their franchise is oit&heiG
They may demand in o voice Of thunder their RIGHTS
and will not be appeascd with az little as were tfo
SUBJECTS OF tho timId John. For tho sake of order
and COMFORT OF operation, tho friends of convention
have asked Of tho existing government tho agency
Of the shenif5 and other officers who unless csnecf
ally authorised could not take the votes of freehold
erE ann why not permit them to take tho votes of
non frcchodcrs as well as frcehoders,
II is objected to allow non-frceboldor, to ro,o e.
members to Convention lest il may he insisted IN.
IN the new Constitution; and that il is inexnedions
ana wrong IN principle, now or then to extopd The
right OF suffrage Why ISL nexpcdicnt TO extend this
important privilege to oil who give sufficient evidence
Of permanent common interest in and attachment 10
IN" community Shall bear all the burdens