Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-11-24

emen, who had addressed the COMMITTEE. a
Mr.. MCCOY sail, h, no, in favor % the {
nendmcnt If the Legislature had been based on a
he compound ratio, he would have been willing 10 t
ote to the utmost extent OF numbers, IN order to
aence wealth; but the basis of the bite popu-
ltion has prevailed, no should be opposed TO too
reat extension of the suffrage. lie wished 20
-uard against the charge of inconsistency His IL
al vote would depend on the character of H. basis
which would be adopted By that he would rcgu-
ate his course to the extension of the suffrage.
Mr.. SCOTT asked what would be the condition
Of any who have the Qualltcalion If they have not
paid their tax lfhe who has the property and is
scsscd, should be returned on the pay books dein
quent, wall hc not be entitled to vote' If tie man
who is not assessed IN any property, may vote, Will
not the man who is assessed, but who has not pnid
his lux. be entitled to his vote
Mr.. WILSON said II was his intCn'ionto include
those who were not assessed for any tax, provided
they subject TO any OF the disQualiica,ions
which we're specified But 10 the man who has
property, aud is fairy assessed VT rfes TO pay, he
eviuccs such disregard for the Community that he
ought 10 bc excluded from the privilege OF giving HE
vote.
Remarks of Mr.. MORGAN, in Conrri,.cc of the
whole.
Mr.. CuA,RM,N: Before the question be put to
tn Commit ce wish to submit few rcuurks in ia
vor of the adoption Of the amendment under
consideration.
The subject is very properly deemed by every
member OF this body one OF great Importance. II in
wolves the sovereign rights of the pCople-rights too
which when restrained, ought be restrainrd with
great care. We told b, able wirers on the sub
jcct, that thu right of voting in the appointment of
Legislators Is sovcicgu right, aud of the first
importance III free governments. II Is then
IGN right, and must be cOnsI Gcred here presume
then cir that i only be abridged far shat be
mecca ~ for tic public safety and u pubic good.
Aud inquiry is, how far this right be
sly extended wha' is proper restraint MP
on II! We all ag &C. that good government de-
ponds very much upon the determination of this qucs-
ton
b,l,o al, - i
mcnt for he promotion of human happiness and safe
ty. is dictated ny the natural love OF liberty and O.
quality, implanted in every human heat and in eve
ry act of mine upon this floor | shall be guided By
this notion. shall pursue that course which think
best calculated to secure he eloynent othc greutcs
possbe portion of he rights Of man to tlie people OF
this commonwealth Government is, or ought To be
instituted, for the restraint OF those riphs but for
thor security and cnG cement. We are not 20 look
for man by himself in the forest, but in society where
he can only be found. Hc,S a srcaI being by nature
he ms male to liv in Society c1nnoj live without
IT. In my humble Judgment, (which however do
no. presume TO put IN competition with the Judgment
OF this bDdy) society may be orlere as to enable
man to enjoy all his natural rights in n much mere
perfect and ample manner, than he possibly do
alonein he Unbroken forest.
In the few remarks which propose submitipr
for the consideration oi'the Committee, | shall en-
deavour to argue from facts conclusions and not bv
mere defamation os think was The ccursc 81
the gentleman who preceded me in opposition TO
the am 'ndmcnt Of my colleague MIR WnsovN
II is from facts to look for correct conclu-
'ions, and know of no better course IF reasoning n
he affairs OF government than 20 ool into facts aud
circumstances connected with other governments
similar TO those in own and the effects; and TO
conclude that similar facts and circumstances here
would produce similar effects.
The gentleman OF the city IF Richmond (Mr
Nicholas on yesterday from mis- course of declama
ton came to the conclusion that non -frcehnlders
could not love Vrginia. His principal argument con-
sisted IN the fact, that the holders of bankstock in
his city might 20 TO the offcs-transfcr his stock
and in few hours have himself conveyed To the state
d Maryland. pray you sir, cannot the landholdcr
10 the same, by going to another office 1.-THE clerks
Office and there transferring his land? This sover-
gn night never can or ought to depend upon the
or facility OF the mere alienation of property No sir
1t must depend upon higher con alterations
Inc gentleman across the way Mr.. Trezvant)
seems alarmed at the amendment, because it contains
what he calls universal suffrage. ! would call il gen
eral suffrage II Is possible, however, that his OBJ
jections have been induced by an intimate acouain
lance with the improper exercise of the right of
suffrage by free negroes in the elections in North
carolina. believe the gentleman resides near that
State Or perhaps his argument is drawn from the
tact, which he has given the committcc-.hat some
gentleman OF his acquaintance, raised in Virginia,
who removed to some of the western States ,Shern
the suffrage may be said to be peneraresideJ thcre
several years-again saw the gentICman-and told
him that ho still loved Virginia: eyyo the rigbt f
suffrage as fixed by the Constitution of Virginia, is
the very best in the world. This NAV be n concln
siye argument with that gentlcman-It is not vii
me- Before enter upon the argument it will he
proper to observe to the committee; that had the
hohor lew days ago of laying upon the table a
scheme Tor the regulation Of the right of sufFragc
differing somewhat from the one now under consId.
Grafton 1t requires the citizenship Of every free
Whtc man. and orc years residence in his county
city or bosough, aud the payment Of all taxes or
leYes levied upon him the two years NEXT preccJi,
the one III which he proposes 10 VOC and also that
tax Of twenty-five cents shall be levied on cyerv FREQ
whe man. 10 be collected and paid into the public
treasury. Al such citizens. hayin,, so mid tIcir
taxes, would be entitled to vote. II also requires
mat portion OF The property taxes equal to The
WhoIc amount OF tie taxes required TO be called
anu paid IN shall be set apart and these two sums an
19aly appropriated and vested IN the permanon,
Literary Fund, for purposes Of education vbc
amendment now under consideration requires two
years residence ~ the State, aud one IN the county
CITY or borough; and the payment Of all taxes mi
evies, lowed on all such free white men within fbo
year next preceding he time Of election as n nioIiG
cation requires no specific tax 70 be- levied bnt
TIC payment Of those which shall be- levied This
amendment meets my appreciation as fully as my own
cHcepi as 10 the subject Of education. IL is PERHAPS
rs UTCnt an extension "a o moe