Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-04-17
CONVENTION.
IL .he Editor or the Enquirer.

cay, whether we would serve, il elected, to our
State Convention; and also, to declare, "the fando
mental principles tcliieh IRE are for laying do,on
for our future government"
confess, have found difficulty in determin-
ing on the proper course to pursue in relation to
this call 1t being solitary and anonymous, my
compliance may subject me 10 the inputation Of
ohIcious vanity. On the other hand, my non.
compliance mi ght expose me to the still more OPP
pIobrious charge Of fearing to make known my O.
pln'ons on the deeply interesting bjects stated
IN your correspondents communication. Under
dilemma so embarrassing,-should l be blamed
ior preferring 10 encounter the first hazard hope
TO be excused, when I acknowledge that have
been lmpelled TO it by sentiment which have
cherished as far back as j can remember. Ills
that the want Of civil courage,-in other words,
the fear OF declaring freely and uneguivocally up
on all proper Asons, hatever we conscientious
BY believe TO be right-no matter who, nor how
many we may expect TO differ from us, not only
utterly dsqualies man for all high public trusts;
but justly subjects him to be despised by every
person OF an honorable and indepe ndent spirit.
Yet, how seldom does il happen, that such honest
declarations of opinion,-especiaHy on political
subjects, can escape the most foul and odiOus i'm
puatIons from the greater part Of those who think
them wrong! Many of these imputations are al
ready circulated by some Of our public Journals,
IN anticipation OF results that may never happen,
and against all that portion of our communi. sup
posed 10 be adverse changes in our present Con-
stituion:-as if itwere impossible and inconceiv.
able, that any could prefer living under our Old
Constitution, TO mourning the acknowl lodged diff
eultes and dangers Of making a new one. Can
those writers sincerely believes that such very I'M
necessary eAaccrbstions-such hostile arraying of
one large portion of our citizens against the remain
del, IS favourable to that calm, deliberate, unpre-
JUDGED consideration and discussion OF the many
vital interests, the various complicated embar.
RAISING, and a-iInportant matters on which the
Convention will have to decide? cdr is il posi-.
bic they do not perceive, that the excitement
OF angry, discordant, and sectional passions thew
nnh Heat tf,al
less prospect they will have Of procuring such
Constitution as they themselves want? They NAV
rely OMIT that the two parties TOO nearly equal
both in numbers and strength for either nationally
10 expect the attainment of their ends by attempts
10 intinidate Still less their purposes be ac-
compiished by mutual abuse. If we really desire
10 have the best constitution which the combined
wisdom, knowledge, and virtue Of the whole State
can form, let us ail,-n the name, and Tor the
sake OF all those political rights which we hold
most dear, assist each other TO the utmost extent
OF our several abilities, in calling forth the whole
intellectual power OF the good old Dominion, hay
ing regard IN selecting men for the Convention -
specially to their talents,-their mental acquire
nents,-their political experiences above all
to the incorrupubity and tirmness OF their moral
principles: There surely can be no necessity for
our provoking and maddenipg each other, even
before the Elections for members come Ones
pecialy as that Body will not finally decide upon
any thing. Whatever is done, must be submitted
TO the People before ratification, that none can
ed Constitution, which will be merely PrOpOsi-
tons, and nothing more.
Hoping, MIR. Editor, that the magnitude OF the
interests involved in your corresponds nt's COM
InnnIca'lon VIII be deemed valid eXcua, Tor this
depression, proceed to reply to his queries -
well as i can. All that I will premise is, ttra,
should appear TO be less full and explicit than he
or others may think ought TO be, they will as
cribe II rather to the impracticabiiy of compress
ing within the limits Of Newspaper reply, salts
factory answers to all the queries than 10 any I'M
Willingness to crafty his wishes
Il his trst enquiry" whether am disposed TO
serve, il elected"
reply, that should the voters Of the District
chuse Inc as one Of their Representatives, whate-
yer talents possess shall be sedulousiy and faith
fully exerted TO discharge the duties which will
devo!ve on me.
Respecting 4" the right of suffrage have al
ways thought il should be founded on the posses
SION oil land, as more permanent and essential
interest, than any other; aliho' should be willing
10 extend this right to such az had sufficient re.
Vefsionary iDerest,or leases for ives-op for long
term oil years in the same. For this opinion I
could assign more reasons, than have here room
to detail; but shall suffice on the present occa
sion. since, vastly the greater portion of all en-
pences OF Government come out of The land /,
appears maniiestly just and right, that the laws
winch impose these expenses should be made sole
ly by the landed Propretors and occupants.-I
II Is not true that such Limitation of the tight of
suffrage secures exclusive privile pc to the rich
only; for ii is notorious that very MANY of orr
holders are among the poorest people in the State
while many wealthy persons are not freebolders
al all The most that justly be said of H. is that
II Is limitation in favor Of particular species of
property. Some limitations of the right of su( |
TRACE exist in all our State Constitutions those for
instance, oil sex,-sge,--residence for stated
time, &c. Now, all such provisions are liable 10 ,
pIeciseiy 70 Inc same objections in point OF pfnci-
pie, that Is urged against the Limitation 10 ireeold
ers;-that IL, each excludes some who on the
ground oil what certain politicians are pleased &,
eau natural unaenabe rights, have reallyas good
ute TO the privilege of voting, as those 10 whom
1t is extended Even those who claim IL loy ali |
who pay taxes and perform militia duty, are in
consistent with themselves, in DENYING il To nm |
married women OF full age and TO free white |
Males under I'll years;--for they are both made IN
pay taxes,and the latter TO perform militia-dufy al
So so that the question which all our Constit,,. |
ZION makers, throughout the United States have
had todetermlne in regard 10 the Right OF Suf- |
rage, Is neither more nor less, than one of mere
erpehtency, having little more TO do with hat are |
truly natural rights, than an exclusive claim
would nave had, set up by either party, to larger
portion OF brains than the other. In this il-oneo
ed controversy, Men may Willy each other il tbey
please, by all imaginable party names--hovoc,o, .
odiOus,-none, unfortunately, having either sr,,
natural or acquired right, 10 prevent co disgyacc
ful practice; but would most wiIIinyIv forfeit
al my own rights. OF every nature Il kinJ-coulI
any TAR Test he applied to TO the two az
many good RepGblicans,-I will not say -
were not found among tie friends OF the freehold
luaIibcation oi voters, as among those opposed 10
mem ne truth is,tbat this controversy never was
n or can DE, lair test Of The repUbcapsIu Of the
Disputants The want Of charity towards each
otner, amounts nearly TO forfeiture Of title in
both. Let the question then De tiled uyon iis own
insulated merits auort from all such Il