Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-03-24
COMMUNICATIONS.
CONVENTION.

| CONVENTION.
-aidress Of the minority of 81, to their Fellotc-
Sn:sens " the county Of Campbell, Bedford j.
Berkeiey.
Notice having been inserted in the several
newspapers that circulate in our Senatorial Dis
| trict, OF the result of meeting at Buckingham,
March court, to appoint delegate to represent
THIS District in Convention. ii is unnecessary, at
This time, to go into farther statement of those
proceedings. But, we would respe ctfulIy ask your
| greatest attention, to this our solemn protest,
against system of political mana cement, now W.
believe, for the first time introduced no the State
oil Virginia, and not confined to buckingham
| alone. In speaking OF this political management,
we wish to be understood canvassing the ina
Portant subject in the abstract. We do not wish,
even by the remotest construction, TO insinuate,
| that the respectable gentlemen, who moved this
subject before the people, designed it as such; but
the result OF such proceedings in those cases. is
political management. Ii is against the principle
that we contend.-In freely discussing this sub.
ject, we would not, in the sghtes, manne wound
the feelings of the highly respectable gentleman
VINO was nominated. but, we hold it our right TO
appear before you and the world, and exhibit free
ly, our views on this momentous subject. And if,
thereby, We can gain any thing to tie cause OF
Civil Liberty in this Country-If We can promote
the great objects OF the formation of a new Gov
ernment-the extension of the Right of Suffrage
the combining the powers OF the Judiciary in
| their proper limits-with many other reforms,
having for their objects plainness and economy in
the administrator OF our aff,its-if, indeed, we
can extend all civil appointments and military too
when practicable, To the direct choice of the peo-
pie, Saving the Judiciary, which will be hereaf
ter mentioned,) then will our object be obtained
then shall we be satisfied with what we have done
for our country, and not befnre
But, to return TO the subject Immediately before
us, viz: The practice of nominating Candidates
by the Press or otherwise, with an understanding
that we should support the candidates Of the other
| counties in our District, and they should eurrort
ours.
In the very first stage of this attempt TO regu-
late your Electious,a writer in Lynchburg Press,
copiedin the Enquirer, out boldly, and
throws the ban OF prescription over any that
should dare TO come out before the people, on this
all important occasion, and recommends, that the
different counties composing the District, should
appoint delegates to meet at central point i'm
the District, to choose Delegates to Convention
This is the substance of proposition made at the
Courthouse, and very wisely rejected.
Is it not high time for the people to awake, and
look at this matter as it ought and must be viewed!
We do not charge any concert between those gem
tlemen and the Press; but, who knows that there
is noti" T. only speak Of the thing as il is-and
as before observed, we do not charge those highly
respectable gentlemen, with design to regulate,
or manag e your Elections; but we ask you dis
passionateiy to view the result, and say il il is not
so.-leok at'the facts. 1t is design always, that
constitutes culpabity; and we char ge no design
on those gentlemen, in this matter; but believe,
| that their designs are patriotic and pure. See the
point to which their ac,s lead. They cannot
have sufficiently reflected on this matter.
We will proceed TO examine the most promine mt
arguments of our opponents, and present them
| naked to your view.-They say, it is The people,
acting in their highest sovereign capacity, and to
! this there can be no obection.-We answer, that
there are upwardsof 1000 Freeholders and Non
Freeholders In the county, and when the vote was
taken there only 10 votes,o 81. in favor of
progressing in nominations all; and shall this
| majority, Tx candidate you and the balance of
the District, whose views known to be inimica al
to the great principles Tor which we contend.-
Shall we acquiescc and say, this gentleman shall
be our representative, when he is inimical TO the
objects we have, more than others, at heart?GAs
we understood the Chair, the principle of this
| nomination was based upon compromise that is,
that we would present candidate TO the other
counties OF the District, under the expectation OF
their support, and vice versa--Now, is il not clear
that this is not the people acting in their sovereign
capacity-that we should appoint candidates for the
other counties, and they should appoint candidates
tor us? Is il not striking deep and dangerous
stroke at the sovereignty of the people! Our can
didates may not suit the people OF the other parts
Of the District, and their candidates may not suit
us. We hope there is more independence in the
District. At least, we not willing to be tied
hand and foot to the car Of gentlemen, and COM
promise our principles for the sake of compromise
and leave our principles to be scattered to the four
winds oil Heaven, unheeded and unregarded.-
Fellow Citizens, in order that there NAV be con-
cert Of action in our District, we here present TO
you, what we consider the best basis for the ex-
tension OF the Right Of SufIrage-whicl, we trust,
no freeholder non eholdcr can disapproye Of
We would limit the Right of Suffrage 10 this -
That every fee white male citizen, Of 81 wears of
age, who had resided i'm the county two wears
who is, at the time he votes, enrolled in some COM
pany-who would, on the day of the Election,
bring certificate from his Captain, of the fact
bring a receipt from the Sheriff Of the payment OF
his taxes, the year previous, should be entitled to
vote. We would, that an article be inserted in
the Constitution, that Senator possess freehold
qualification to his eligibility 10 that Office
Under these saluary restraints,w we think the Right
OF Suffrage might be safely extended.--So that
you will perceive we are not wild theorists, and
wshers Tor, what Is generally called, Universal
Suffrage. We know the gentleman, who got the
majority Of votee, 10 be entirely opposed 10 the
extension Of the Right Of Suffrage at alive ask
ed him, and he answered us.
Now, Fellow Citizens, we appeal, in the most
earnest manner, to your good sense aud patriotism
to many Of you who are enlightened on the
subject Of governmental some thing must not be
done in this maiier' Is IL probable, that MAORI
ty OF the white male citizens Of this Common.
wealth, can remain disfrancbised can he brought
I'VE kn010, tba, there is no sort Of concert be-
tween ourselves and any other nominees or nom
nators whatsoever. We will publish no mans
nomination, that we know or suspect to be made
by himself directly, or at his instance or who has
personal interest in any nomination or mode OF
nomination With these exceptions, our columns
are open to any one who wishes 10 recommend any
particular nominee or mode Of nominaion--And the
treer the Press is on such subject the better for
the people. We furnish the materials, and they
must judge for themselves --EpiroRs Eve.