Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-26

Wy hrst embraces all the present. voters in VIRGINIA
,nd' taking Tor granted that the Bill OF Rights ma ke
Nth'c,ae'u TO the community the great consderatio
"hcii qualities an eector, contend that il is tho Lot
,tf and spirit OF this article to extend the RIGHT If f
rlge to every free white male OF the are of twenty
Two years born within this Commonwealth ri,
why hX upon the age OF t'ren 3-oo wears ra
'peI IMAM fiuenty-o'e, is to meet isidios nbieco,
winch mad anticipated as possible to mo ,r..np, .,
po' very literal Interpretation of the text Il rniuh
W. SaiG, ana with some plausibhty too that young
'nsn OF the age ottwenty onr has b no ,ct of his lii
any evidence OF permanent Common nteres
"Ilh on attachment tn the COZ immunity who has s
S'iNcu III the age Of iweut y-oae. inasrnuch rs h.
mas t'il That moment been under the Guardian an,
T"iuPuispy authority of Ills parent or rn rdiau Iii.
1V'"S one year afer he has BECOME II free aSeni de
Stroys That objection, and isSadii ion to his
|"oF"s All necessary evidence OF his attachment t,
the community. This is the ,yf;ou1yo NJ tho -,
resolution.
10 iortfy Illustrate this no :itiop or in ohio,
words tn prove that nativity is the best guarantee
'"r attachment to any community, deem at this time
work OF superoragetion--i feel no disposition. to re-
peat arguments already offered Oh this and otlicr to-
pics connected with 1t. Alter the very able argr-
nsht OF The gentleman from I.o,ifnn which like =
tornado leIt nothing behind H. think such an effort
on my part altogether superfluous Trus Sir on,
gentleman from southampton, AIR Trczvani0 ell :,
It 'enpfy dect1ianiioa," hut would like TO see him
OF any other gentleman attcmpi by fair anqlysis to
P'oGe u 0fcI"inatory and net arTumcntative ] do
th,nk that gen; cinun can rafilto tho orr,nnn ot
tne gen'IHlan from Loudoun. They carried rresis-
uoe conviction to nay mind. Aud | think it anne
ceSsary to repeat or defend them until they have AT
least been formally assaed. The mcmnrialsla upon
that table, sufficiently argue this question
My III rO resolution, Mr. Cnairmnn i,as ra.rccl 70
anolher class OF inhabitants in this Cnnmnnwe cath.
Ana the Only difficulty indeed The only question q,
'nuSh consideration, which ocrwrs in settling who
s'la! be citizens OF this Commonwealth is what sim
be required of hose not natives of VIRGINIA. nor ap,
bfaced N the present laws contcrrinr he RIGHT Of s,
rag: You see, prefer residence and a moral
aT'i'f'f'0n 10 pecunary or property qualifications
nc payment OF any given tax imposed on the mr.
chasing Ola piece ofanj does not present t1 nv ,
uerStaHd;ng according to my views ofhumnn nituia
Such eVdcncc oi COMMON interest win and attach
uient t" lie community, that submitted and il
certainty does lio present sgcI enipt' ions 20 cor-p-
t!ou, or to that buying of votes of which some ren
temcn speak as the fixing of d certain amount OF
tax as the qualifying considerations Were there is
prlcc proposed, there is no tC,r alton otlrc and
ther, fore corruption is rendered u, iipossibs as ,i
!rcct Id can be supposed 10 make it, II we desire TO
see men act :!gcd part l.!;.si treat them nc-
cordng to tile dignity OF human nature. II YOU put
the tax at one dollar, You make tie price OF ti;oi
sand votes Only thousand dollars. Bot accordiry
to The principle OF thrs resolution, every nproner IN
ceft've Is removed out ofthe way. 4 person who
becomes an nhabit7nt Of this State, uad who desires
TO hecolne a citizen, permanent resident not non
the excitement OF an election immediately aorronch
lng, calmly and dispassionacjy rocs TO he cour, IN
the county III which he resides, and declares his i,
tehtlon OF hccomlug a permanent resident. Twelve
and
promises to submit to- and support the gcverIIue ut
OF this Commonwealth. NonI ask IS not rbs inc
s rongest evidence which the native of anv other
State give OF his attachment to- ard his snnr
Il common interest WITH the community: ] think
must appear to all, except 10 them who think that
virtue, intelligence and patriotism spring ND out of
the soil, and grow like mushrooms upon it's surface
after person has paid stimulated price for II H,,
III lhec United States the principe enbracnd in .re
RESOLUTION Is regarded higher proof ofatachnqrt
to the community than the purchase of anv amount
OF real estate. When n foreigner from any other
country eXpatriates himself and desires TO become
citizen of these United Saes, the PURCHASING of M
amount OF real or personal estate will prove his at
tachment to the country. lie must If he will become
a citizen 60 into court and make solemn rcnun.
clatinu OF every foreign prince and pQtertae of all
allegiance to any foreign government and promise TO
submit to, and support the Constitution Of these Uni
ted States This, In the estimation of the good and
wise trainers OF our Statc and Federal Governments
Is the highest proof Of attachment to- and Of f,euer
common interest with the community which can he
afforded. FSow, although would not require oil the
same formuies contend that the principle of the
third resolution warrants Us TO entertain more conf
derce on the person who thus becomes citizen than
the mere possession of any fieehold. For unless
gentlemen viii argue that moral qualities are in tho
soil, and spring up ID mans mind from the owner
ship of it they cannot, presume, prefer to the plan
proposed upon any principle implied in or derivable
from the Bill Of Rights. The second and third rcso-
lulions, | conclude rom these and other considera-
tons, are equtably based upon the 9Th section of
the Bill of Rights
One word upon the fourth resolution and dismiss
this part ofthe subject. cannot consent to disfran
chise all paupors. Ingrattudc is oue Of the greatest
Grimes against Heaven and If then, sir any
Pauper shall have rendered any important service 10
his country, # lie shall have fought her battles and
his yir Ues have made him pauper, it noud be as
cruel as ungrafefnl, il would be impoi;iic 10 dis
franchise hin. 1t would be bad precedent It would
evncc dcstltution oftbc nobe5i principle which can
dignity nan cXalt a ma ion
This Mr.. Chairn1n the whole rationale Of tn o
scheme proposed. was not z'udious Of the terms
Of a clear development of tlc principle But 7
viii be told by DIR. Expedien, that however reason
able, or however just, and however acccrdan, with
the spirit Of tho age and the meaning Of our fnda-
mental princpc+ of tho social compact is not OK
pejient. never liked this doctrine Of expedieucy.
It's grandfather was JeS"' 1t was the popular doc
trlue in the Catholic Domiuons Of the Roman Hic-
rarchy. Ii kIudcd all the fires, heated the furnace
and prepared the 1cl hot pmces Of the holy uqus,-
ton. His .Wycsy the King Of Great Britain aud his
Epsccpacyin England, Presbytcrionisn in Sco,lnnd