Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-05-26
Che Constitutional gubt q.
MONDAY MORNING, MAY rs, 1928.

At ,eting of treeholders and non freeholdcrs
OF the county OF Essex, friendly to extension OF
the right of suffrage. convened in Tappahannock on
Monday, the 18th day of May, 1929: Edwin Upsbaw
Esq called to the chair, and Capt VIM Fisher
appointed Secretary.
The object OF the meeting having been explained
Try Mr.. c. G.. Griswold, motion, it was resolved
that committee be appointed to prepare and report
preamble and resolutions to this meeting. Where
upon the Chairman appointed the following gentle
men to compose that committee C.. G.. Griswod, E.
r. Montague, B. F. Pitts, VIM. Blackburn, II. b.
Brooke, b. S. L. Matthew'S VIM Eubank DR. Jas
Hagan and G. w. Shelton, who after retiring few
minutes, returned, and by their Chairman, reported
the following preamble and resolutions which were
adopted with but one dissenting voice.
While the members of this meeting deprecate all
unnecessary excitement, they are not insensibe to
the odous ususpations of the existing government,
nor conented to remain passive, when the inaienable
rights of great body cf their reemen
OF Virginia, ans tramPled under foot. We hold it to
wealth ID, under the present Constitution vested in
the hands of q minority Ct the people that maio
rity and large majority of the community are taxed
without their consent, and subject to the operation
OF laws TO which they have not assente-that ssset
Of men, the treehelders, are in the enjoyment of an
ercIusice p,ritege," the privilege of being heard in
the enactment oflaws, while large and respectable
portion of their fellow citizens is held in servile vas
saage by an odions vcstge of aristocratic rule. We
hoidit equally evident, that these fragrant abuses
these pabie alteration from an equal distribution
ofpocal power and political privileges are in di-
rect and open violation of the plain and simpe priuc
pies Unnatural right regulated liberty and republican
rule, set forth with the spirit of inspiration in the
great charter Of our liberties, the Virginia Bill of
Rights
men to prove the right of all freemen of Virginia
who give sufficient evidence of permanent COM
mon interest with, and attachment to the communrv
to the exercise of the Elective Franchise. 1t is a
right recognized by the Bill of Rights and which fv
have bad the hardwood to deny. We will not stop.
therefore, to prove by argument what, to our view
bears upon its face the impress of truth Nor can
we admit the force of that reasoning, which views an
interest in the soilthe possession of few acres Of
sterile land the only possible evidence of attach
ment to the community" There are other and
stronger, and dearer ties which bind man ndissolu
bly, and forever to the land of his BIRTH the home of
his kindred aud the mausoleum of the tirnebIapchcd
bones of his ancestors
Entertaining these Sews, we cannot, but consider
that provision. i'll the act for organizing Convep-
ton, passed at the last Session of the Lepslature
which restricts the privilege of voting for members of
Convention to freeholdess alone as arstocratic in
Its nature, oppressive its operation and as an unjust
and unwarrantable encroachnent upon the inherent
Indefeasibe rights of the non-freeheIdr community
An encroaehment, against which, we had supposed
their long suffering moderation and patient forbear
ance would have afforded them an insuiInou.table
barrier
For than fifty years have the non .frceboldors
With patience submitted to the violation of their
rights. They have bowed their necks to the woke of
oppression, and yielded their limbs to the letters
which power had forged, and which tine was contin-
ually rivitng upon them unnindful Of their wrongs
and regardless of every thing but their country when
the hostile mercenary bands of England sought to
dragon US into submission to tyrant's will, they
rushed to the battle field. Their expressions and
their oppressors snk together in the DUST, and with
The souls of frecmen, each nervcd frecman's arm
and amidst the clankng of his chains struck CON
Quering blow for liberty. The battle wop-ueace
yestored-and independence secured they locked
forward to the restoration of their rights as The sure
reward for the blood they had shed in defending
tiose Of their oppressors. They were disappointed
Still they murnured not. Still, with patience thew
in hope, submitted. They were good citizens Tn,
wiling to disturb the harmony of society Just
emerging from the horrors of dcsolating war thev
yielded cheerful obedience to the laws and confirm.
led their proportion OF money and personal service
10 the exigrncios Of the country. Again was our
country invaded and again they stood forth in her
defence. For than half century, oppressed
their rights usurped, and their liberties trampled
upon, amidst difficulties, expressions, and discour-
agemcnts, have they continued to confide in the lib
erahty and justice of their freehold brethren for the
recognition of their rights and the restoration IF
their liberties. Their confidence has been continual
y abusCd--thcir hopes have been uniformly dsap-
pointed. And if, in moments of great excitement,
when smartng under the corrosive CALLING of their
chains, and when their hearts were sickened bv
'hopes Deferred, they have venurcd to assert their
claims, and appeaLto the justice of the Lords of the
eol,' their appeals have been characterized with
cairHness moderation, and decorum. Yet they have
been invariably treated with silent contempt or in
sulting derision.
This patient endurance in long suffering willie il
affords unequvocal and irresistible evidence Of their
permanent attachment to the community" should
have proved an al-powerful advocate of their claims
But so far from its thus operating, it is made an
argument against them, and they arc now rrave1y
told "For fifty years you have admitted our right to
+rule,-havc acquesced iii being our slaves-have
"borne ALT ndigntes, injuries and insults we have
"6een pleased to heap upon you---havc not complain
'ed when tJampled upon nor murnured when spurn-
cd as worms Of the dust, and ii is now too late to
complain. You have forfeited your rights forever"
Whilst thus suffering, whilst thus patiently await
ing their enfranchsement, the non frecholders have
not been lnsensble of the gross injustice which held
them in vassalage, nor have they ever waived their
caimso participation in the councils Of the coun-
Try. They have steadily looked forward with anx-