Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-01-02

society Of simple herdsmen and hunters. asscn,bl,,
to form government for their infant community with
minds unsophistcated and unwarpcd by ingenious |
theories or invcterate preudces and with no light 20
guide them but the light of reason.
The people Of this infant community have dwelt TOR
years, or ages, IN contiguous villages or hamlets
united IN war, under an occasional chietan, but v
ing, in tranquil times, without any government, in
friendship with each other, because they nre connec-
ted by tho social feeling aud by blood and MARI ,gc
and because they sensible that union and harmony
of the neighborng tribes. But the community has
increased greatly in numbers, and property has been
inquired, consisting of flock and herds and prisoners
taken in battle and detained in slavery. The right
OF property has been frequently invaded by the ndo-
lent and the vicious. and other disorders have arisen
which force their native sngaeity tho conviction
that the restraints Of government and law are essen
tinl to tho safety and web being OF the tribe.
| They asscinb!c On 'nasse, ut central point, 10
choose council of wise men, who shall regulate the
affairs of the community and rcprcss tho disorders
that have af'ictedit When they have thus assem-
bcd, the question occurs to them, for the first time
whether every member of the tribe shall have VOICE
IN the election of the council whether the right of
suffrage should be limited, and on what princ;olos.
The irst idea that occurs to the assembly Is, that
as the community, collectively, possesses, beyond
dispute the right Of Turning n. government, every
member OF the community must, of necessity be- en-
titled to share of that rightBut little reflection
convnces them that this proposition is OF too sweep
ing and comprehensive character. For to say thai,
right belongs to who labors under natural in
conpcency tn exercise it, is 10 inter gross etr,uri-
ty The right TO choose rulers, implies :rce-arcncv
IN the person making the choice. And as Nature bv
making women weak and nlcu strong, has placed the
former under the control of the latter women ure not
trcc-agents and so not competent to exercise the
right; which Is only saynp. in other words that the
law ct nature has denied II To them. The same OBJ
lection applies to chldrcn; with this additional one
that, rs the safety and happiness of the community can
be ensured only by wise choice Of rulers, IL would
be folly, IT would be running counter to the law of
% choicr
Immature reason.
The consideration Of the Question, in rcrrar, 70
children, has thus suggested another principle of lin
itaton. The safety und happiness of the community
being the great end ind object Of government il is
clear that the electors ought feel souc interest in
its otanmrnt because, if they feel no such interest
or are Interested IN preventing ia attainment. they
will not vote for wise and honest rulers. The thieves
and robbers who have harrassed the community by
their thcfs, disturbed il by their violence have
shcwn by the whole tenor OF their lives, that they
feel no interest III the public wclfar but the cont "a
Try and cannot therefore, be safely trusted with
voice in the election OF rulers It cnnnot be eypected
that men who pass their lives in the habtual commits
SION OF crimes VIII vote for r'ilcrs, who will faithfully
ic'schargc their duty by the punishment of of;udcrs
/ All these limitations Of the right of snfrarc are
accepted, at once by the good of the comm.
nifty; bnt there arc others still to be considered
ISraggers, from the neiuhborn, tribes have intrud
Ell themselves on the community, they arc alien in
blood, foreign in habits and feelings and unconnectel
with the tribe BY marriage. They hang loose on the
skirts OF society, possess little property and
have, III short, evidence Of permanent con,yno,
interest with, attachment tn, the community II
Is Obvious that such safely b. entrusted
with voice in the election. for it can be- TO them
matter of little impor' nee, whether the affairs
of the tribe conducted well or III.
Those who remain, after al these exclusions made
on the ground Of nconpctcncy exercise the right
or on the principle that the safety of the people is the
supreme law, agents BY situation of n,ature.
reason, unlicensed by crimes, and possessed of suf-
clcnt evidence Of permanent common interest with
and attachment 10, the community.
Inese principles OF exclusion having born settled
The election is about to proceed. BIT new question
arises. The tribe has been engaged in fregucnt wars
and some Of The most valiant oil warriors have
prisoners in battle andliave detained them in slavery
These valiant aud ambitious men dcrnard ,b,t in The
choice ofrnlcrs which is ahot be made thcy SIN,
h1vc not only their individual vote but three votes
more for every five slaves that they possess Tlrcv
assign no reasons for this demand, except that slaves
eve valuable property, that the majority OF ti,c tribc
have slaves, and that, if rulers are chosen bv the
-savehn'ing majority, there is Just reason to a
preAend that laws VIII be made by which their ain YES
VIII DC taken from thcH or restored TO liberty.
lhc Understanding members of the community
are struck dumb with nston;sIimoRt this SINGULAR
and unexpected demand. But when they have SOM
what recovered from their first SURPRISE they endea-
vor TO convince the savcIuiior Of ;L. lurrnsonoLI,
ness OF this strange prctcnsion.
There are say they, very plain and obvious reasons
why man should have nc is M ntellipcnt
and free agent, with mind, and one will, But il
SlOuld
have more than ono vote, thmn another
man. 1t is clear that the Great Spirit made us all
equal at first; for know That SIC and cur fathers
have lived III state Of equality for agcu past and VIC
nave no tradition Of any other state. II each man
have one vote, ond only This natural and orirnal
state OF equaity viii be preserved under the govern
ment we are about 10 form. But if, for any caus1
more than ono vote be given 70 each individual ofnny
particular class, the natural ancient and we-estab-
hshed principle ofequaity is abandoned and there is
substituted for It principle Of inequality vague and
indefinite 1t ITS character, and without any pcrccptibe
!3undatlon IN reason IL we conccdc to you now, FOR
the sake ofpcnce, three additional votes s every i've
slaves you porsess what principle is to prevent YOU,
nj the next election, from dernandipg fire. or an af
ditona vote for each slave? BY what process Of rea-
soning have You ascnrtained the precise degree OF
political power which you must hold, in order TO be
secure in the possession Of this description Of propc
tH Why should not the benefit Of the rulo be OK
tcnccd TO TIC possessoIs Of hocls and hords more
valuable than all the slaves that tho most valiant and
successful warrior among you pnEscrsrr3