Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-28

when the tax shall be either abolished reduced in
amount below that certain and specified There
are, incident tn this qualification, two principles of
mutabiiity or destruction, errinSic, the other
essential and Observation-Disclosures recommended as
Ia part ofthe fundamental ino IF the country, which
of course, should not be changeablc by ordinary
legislation, it is liable to be destroyed, at any mo
ment, by the within, or caprice, or settled policy If
you please, of the legislative bodies. And this too
OF the colourable aud popular preteyt of diminishing
the burthens of the government, by the abolition or
reduction of the taxes. You put the tax, for en-
ample, the paymen, of which is to confer the right
of voting, at twelve and orc halt cents and ct the
time # the adoption Of the constitution of which
TINS provision forms part there happens to be q
tax on horses of twelve ami one half cents a head
a Legislature Il chosen, in which there is found
majority Of members who honestly, and deliberately
think, that the poouar classes of the people, cannot
safely he entrusted with participant in political
poWcr-that the good order, and we'll being OF the
community. require them to be DISTINGUISHED.
Legislature composed of such materials, has only to
abolish the tax on horses and it DISTINGUISHES once
all those poorer citizens who have beast he plough
but neither land slaves. And this, too. ms said
before on the popular fpreteXt of diminishing The
tburthens oil government. Nay, sir, the tax on hor-
ses, may became, in the of events wholly I'M
necessary. For OF the great objects Of our as
sembiny here. is to reduce the expenses of govern
ment, and dispense with as many taxes as possible
But by adopting the resolution in question. YOU would
put it out Of the power of the government, to PER
form of the most benefcent functions of gov-
ernment, the dmnution of the hurthens of the peo-
pie, without, by the act, DISTINGUISHING consid-
cradle plrt of them.-Can Il constitutional pros
vision. which Involves such consequences, recon-
mend itsdf to the good of the people of Sir
eina,
But hive said that there is in the qualification
which considering, principle OF mn, ability
essential and inherent. ! alluded To the provision
which males the payment of certain fired and I'm
ctangeabi Of nancy in the shape of taxes, the
| qualification of the voterNew, sir. it appears to
me, that few things more unsteady in their val
tie than money, and that worse standard couid
scarcely he ounu, by which to measure and amor
ton political power.
II we look hack into the history of other aces and
nations. we shall find that, i'll England the value of
silver decreased between 10 and 1910 seventy five
per centnm. So that forty stjNilgs, in 1910 would
command no Iapre lahour wGud purchase no more of
the necessaries of life. thar Ten shllings in 1870.
We shall find that the perpetual rents, reserved in
money some centuries ago, have become, by reason
ofits diminished value, nero nominal incumhrance
on the land IN the hands of the tenant while those re
tanned i'll have preserved their proper propor
ton TO the fee simple value Of the land That in the
same manner the DlDdLs communication of tythes
in kind for fixed sum OF money, payable annually,
established by Contracts, made some centuries asa
blythe Church, and the propreors of particular tracts
of land in England, has become mere nominal III
cuulbrance on land so situated.
Bat we need not resort, f instruction, to the his
tory of remote ages distant nations. We have
still more forcbe illustration Of the unsteaduess and
mutabity of that stanard by which it is now propo-
scd to mcasurepolitcal power and distribute among
the people. Between the year 1871 and the year
1917 the dollar depre:iated in Virginia sixty-sx per
cent SO that dollar world command i'll 1917 no
more labour and no more of the necessares of life
than thirty three cents would command in 1912
But still more striking illustration is seen in the
fact that since 1917 the dollar has risen in value too
hufired per ce1Eso that thirty three cents at pre-.
will and T,,ripl Iah a
quantity of the neceSsaTles of life, one hundred
would have commanded or purchased, in 1917.
9'he scheme of qualifications which have had
the honour to submit possesses at least the negative
merit of being free from these Objectionable features
1t VIII be perceived that the proposed amendment of,
or substitute for, the resolution of the select COM
mtee is founded on the assumption postulate that
all The free white male citizens in the commonwealth
of mature age, have, PriHn face, right to a
voice in the GOVERNS snt.-I shall not repeat the
arguments by which this opposition has sustained in the
discussions which bave tahen place analogous subject
hope may allowed express the opinion that those argu
ments have not been answered. and tire belief that they
unansweraie.
But those who believe in the original universally this
right insist the ne for which have been Civ
again and again, that the majority Of the male adults
members of the community have right adopt and enforce
fundamental law. by which certain classes descriptions
of persons shall be excluded from the OF the right
That the majority have right that the good order well
bearing and safety Of the community, require such exclusion
IN conformity with THIS view of the subject have submitted
the Committee, series of disqUafcaons, which
leave, with the utmost bTeviv, 10 call its attention
The first disqualification includes all citizens in the Uni
ted States but without the limits of the commonwealth init,
they shall have tsaniesied by residence Of dua-
ton, inenOn reside permanently among us; until they
shall have afforded, by residence least evidence of "pe
interest WITH and attachment to the connu
nifty" This Disqualification attaches great and think de-
served Importance to the feeling of love for the natal soil
shall attempt sir to prove 10 this assembly, Gt men lore
their country.
The second disqualification but aBohe exemplGcaon Of
the principle ltsuppoSe that foreigners tho nauralzed
the attachment IF the heart which is felt by tie
country and should be required bind themselves
the community by the acquisition Of aud,hy the facors
of utsrebeforc they shall be admitted TO share Of fe
sovereign power.
Passing the disqualification Of persons convicted Of nfa
eences because they have ewn by their conduct, that
they merely indifferent but hostile to the community
which they iveo persons of uDSouDd mind because of their
ncapacity exercise the rgbof P7upers because of their
dependent condition. ard consequent Of free agency and
Their Of interest in the vcbeiug Of community in
which they have stake ask the attention of the Commit
tee to the only one which remains.
II is that which denies the right Of suffrage those who neg
sCt refuse to pay the government the local authorities
the taxes and eves imposed them bv law. confess, sir