Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-21

this he would could only have good govern
men and equal laws But, Mr. Chairman, only
present Limitation of the right of suffrage prevent the
population by migration from other States bu, drives from
the bosom of the Ancient Dominion, of her valuable
IL may not be known the gentlemen of the East
fact well known to those rem the Western part of this
state mat many valuable cit zens have LETT their native State
and awaiting themselves the facility
border, have departed those splendid regions West
where, addition 10 the exuherant fertility of the and
oher physical advantages they enjoy the rightly free
men Yes, sir your government banshes numbers Of
young the Western States this odous
does not exist Those general require little than
residence as evidence attachment and interest," en,
perSonsto the right OF suffrage The consequence that
o an me nnent 10 tne'r native soil, their home and
me cees OF sports and pass away into some OF
tanning reemen by RICH, nature net by purchase Al
though freehold may be chcapy bought, they dsan pur
they are deprived by an unjust government.
Sir there continual and an discriminating warfare carried
Throughout wide Extended Commemorative She bleeds
at every poreAnd who the parties this dosolating
war! Every Of the community driven o, from "a" b
he operation of an Unjust Constitution, much lost us,
as the bayonet or cannon bell had done Its work upon him.
Yes, sir, il is a'cruel 'ad exterainating
speak of Western Virginia., when say, that if the
were cale upon To furnish annually he of troops aid
tine General Government, resisting the of ali Europe
com,ined it would not consume strength, our
population more than does the restrictions imposed by laws
the right OF suffrage Many soldier goes the battle
field aud returns gain his home with its comforts and
mentsbu the voluntary eXiehe who is compelled for con-
science sake 10 ren asuder all tie ties which bind him his
native country and Ike tie Pilgrim of New England
seek liberty in distant land, returns. Sir have
respectable, intelligent, viruous uien-men who had
benches
wno Their fellow citizens chceus coniied the protection
Their rights OF property aud their personal were
weliaic- lave known SUCH sir prohibited by your from
exercising the right of suffrage Is something wrong
counry-,he mechanic, the merchant, the farmer of mature
age, OF intelligence superior half of eeholders and
dea, IN defence of their county,, have such com
manded to stand back from the poo give way owner
Away am holer than thou tis is sacred ground upon
which you have RICH, ,ead ough, such things to be-
Surely not Mr. Chairman, shall extend my remarks any
all the evils Of the pese,, system sa"e or oo of
he advantages of that which have TO submit, to
the COMMITTEE My present remars were only intended to
TITS broad one admit submit this projet gentle men
as base which they may build their schemes of suffrage
tits open amendment have no doub, requires an,end
nlent such as it is, submit my Substitute your considera-
Mr.. HENDERSON addressed the Committee in
| support OF the substitute of Mr. Wilson as amended
Tie expressed the qualification be had felt on account
o. tie man"er IN which the interesting question:
Gently under the consideration ftl.e Committee had
been debated by the gentleman from Northampton,
| lMr. Upshurj and the gentleman from Hanover
lMr Morr!s) He remarked that he felt pride in ma
King the tribute OF his acknowledgements to these gen-
tiemen, alike for their ability and eloquence and or
their courteous treatment of those who with himself
Offered from Them in opinion He minated an ear
nest wish that the same temper might mark the de-
bate about to obtain upon the great subject be-
fore the body.
! Mr.. H said before proceed, Mr.. Chairman, to
trouble the Committee upon the merits of the ques-
ton under consideration Will brief, aiver to the
origin and history OF the freehold suirage in VIRGINIA
1t Is now, sir, 2i0 years the ss blage of the
hrst House Of Bnrgesses. Fiom 1913, when it met
till 1877, period of SO years. the suffrage with the
eXcep ion OF q single year was exercised by all the
Lfreemen of the Colony. During the excepted venr
1t was In ted 10 houSefeepeyS, In tn wear 1877 af
ter the death the gallant Bacon, the freehold sui.
frage fist introduces, by any act of the To-
gslaure OF the English Parliament or OF the peopl
OF either country II the offspring of REGAL in
terpo5ltion entirely. has been aptly and frci
bly, shewD by my friend from Fredcr ok, mr.. Cooke
Yes sir, said Mr.. H., was the precious fruit al
despotism. Charles H. of the most odious and
proiilgae tyrants who weldedthe British seen
tire, transmitted to Sir William Berkeley, then Co
vernon OF the Colony, an instruction, signed bv his
rWn royal hand, commanding HIM permit none ey-
cept fieehoderS, To exercise this ines; imahc pr,v
ege. 1t is curious 10 observe tie refined spirit of
tyranny which reigns Throughout this document
1t commands Sir William not TO ,ermlt the House
loI Burgesses to meet more tian once in fapo
years. TO limit IFS sessions to fourteen daus and TO
reduce the moderate recompence or their services
which the freemcn of the Colony lad cheerfillly nc
Corded to their representatives. is obvious sir
that the policy and aim of this disgusting cdict was
to dlshearten the people, to DEGRADE their agents to
make mockeEy Of their legislation fortnirbt
for the whole business ofa ane rising Colony bv
| agents who were to be humbled b. subsistno inon
''to'o and coarse diet" ask, Mr. Chairman if in
the face OF these striking and GRAPHIC facts gentle
men can cover with the hoary rpIntle of antioutv
the monopoly which assaIP If al abuse founded in
fagtlous and scornfu disregard all decency and
right, and fastened, at the point OF the bayone upon
an indignant people, challenge to itself the fayo
rablc notice of the reemen of Virginia in the nine
teenth century, Having thus continued Mr.. II
stripped the argument of our OPPONENTS of the inter
est which IT claims from the pretended revolutionary
origin of this usarpaton, respectfully invite the
Committee to follow in the imperfect effort which
shall make to discuss on its merits lay down these
principles as applicable to the subject. deem them
clear day, postuaes in the science of politics First
that all the " socety are entitled to n yoice
IN framing its organic hr,o secondly that nojory
OF these men has an undoubted right to decide what
that law shall be; thirdly shat as corrollarv from
the second proposition, this majority has legitimate
authority tn prescribe rho sha ererrise TIE right of
sutTdgein The ordinary legislation If tie Society; and
ourthy, that to withhold the exercise of this r,eht
from my man in the society except ,0here is ,leces
rnryJor me common good, is unjust and tyrannica
do not think, said Mr. II. that the truth of these
principles, either Of them. will be denied IN lie