Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-03-31
EDe constitutional gV:bio-
MONDAY MORNING., MARCH 80, 1923.
THE Observation-Disclosures.

award OF their tyranuica. conduct in Withholding
fun tens cf thou-lns OF their fellow citizens their
natural and unsurrendercd right, Of participating in
the formation Of their govcrnuont.> As the repeated
rejection of the Coav eIton law ut three several ses
sons Of the Legislature, strengthened the C; s and
swelled the ranks OF the conycntionists instead of
extinguishing their hopes as was vaiuy and weekly
Imagined, so the exclusion of TIE non ticGhodcrs
from suffrage i'll the CHOICE of tue convention is pro
duciantSe opposite effect from that anticipated. The
Lien roiised by the insult, and his roar will be
lard lad the encni Of The cony ention acted IL
sssaily--had they acted conscen.ioisly, and
conceded the right which they very generally aclnow
lodged they had no right TO rcstrain-had they per-
In:tted the tree men Of the commonwealth to choose
The convention, instead ofrestrictng the right to pr
Vi.eged casS-it would have heen better for their
own views and wishes. They would not in that case
have reused and organized the whole BODY of non
Observation-Disclosures last would have mixed quietly
with their land-holdng citizens and raised TO
separate standard-thc convention itself would not
have been agitated by the popular storm which pa
1herpg---alld there Wonlt not have been the danger
which now threatens, the indiscrinute extension
OF suffrage, under the influence Of popular excite
ment Nothing certainly could exceed the faulty of
the ante onyentionsts throughout their legislative
opposition, but their rank and aristorratic injustice.
They deprived 10000 Of their fellow citizens of
right which is the foundation Of all republican govern
nlent, for the purpose Of organizing the conven-
ton by the votes Of freeholders to prevent the ex
tcTIsiop OF suffrage under the governments; and
they will be most rightcously punished for their usllr
patton, by this usurpaton itself becoming the means
OF their defeat, and throwing open the dou:s of suf
frage much wider than many convcntionists them
selves desired. IfsufTrage is made universal--if all
Landed qualification is abandoned by the convention
ds certainly will be-let the arti-conventonists
thank theiy own stupidity, which made them believe
tilat they could Cypress tile non-tieehoders with
impunity.
These remarks are induced by perusal OF the pro-
ceedings Of the treeholders meeting at Harpers
Fefry---who have designated mode of proceeding
different from any other suggested. What it is may
be seen below. Wetake occasion again to express
orr sorrow, that there not general adoption Of
the course lndicatedby the meeting in Richmond
not because we had part in that meeting, feel Oh
that account any Partially for its opinons-bnt be-
caursc that course was the most simple, and would
prove most efficient. BY the general law of elections,
under which tho sllerifs required to conduct the
ecl 'ctions for the convention, the sherS required
toput all votes which doubtful in separate poll.
ronthe back OF the poll. When non fraeholder
applied TO vote, the sheriff would not dare to reject
hut under his oath would be required to put it the
back of the poll. Thisis ali that is wanting. The
votes of the freehodcrs would thus be as ehectu
ally authenticated TO the convention by the officers OF
election fthose votes the front of the poll
Coming before the convention in this authentic shape.
the great question would there necessarily arise whe
thcr these votes not good the of free
holders-and whether the law deprving the nonfree
holders of the rg'., ofagency III change of govern
mcnt, was constitutional unconstitutional AMI mo-
pcrativc. How this question would be decided is
not matter of doubt. But few Of those who voted
in the Legislature dsfrancisc the non frccioders
bnt admitted their right to vote. Mr.. Madison is
known to be Of that opinion, and headed by such au
thority as James Madison and supported by justice
and the rights of man, the right of the rcchoders
TO have voted for members of convcn tion will un-
questionaby be sustained by that body.
To thc.aan freeholdcrs in Louisa, Loudoun, Fro
derrick Rockingham, Lynchburg and Peters burg--to
all who have acted or mean to active earnestly
recommend this view Of tho question The bAt way
20 get the right of suffrage extended IS tn be reore
6eaieG the convention. To be represented there
they have nothing do, but 80 Tie polls md votc
assured that the officers conducting the polls, are
compelled by the lar itself, to receive, record and
transmit their suffrage to the convonion--and that
that enlightened body cannot, acting under such SO,
Tenn sanctions, reject their right.
S5onc people talk about pc1eeobte means as if, tins
course involved breach Of tie peace! Why should
II involve any such consequence Cannot non-rrce-
holders vote pcaccably and quietly, as well as
treehodcrs2 II is not contemplated to non-frec
hold tckctsbut to vote for any candidate, who vii
respect the wishes Of bis electors. We humaly con
ccive that there smorc apprehension ofdsordcr from
some OF the other courses suggested, than from s
The proceedings at HarPcrs Ferry referred to- III he found
on tie succeeding page