Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-08-18


contribute 10 the honor interest," pride OF the State
increase the patriotic devotion OF the Citizen or inspire
him with reverence for the superior wisdom, virtue and
justice, which flow from her political institutions
Bat, there IL another consideration that ought 10 in
dnce our opponents yield 10 wishes aud that is
the cssiy the country yet have for the servi-
ces Of the irceholders The souary effects Of their
timely AID have been experienced In great siruc.
giles for liberty aud there yet guarantee that the
feet OF mercenary aud ruthless invader may not again
pointe country and carry death and iesolaon into
the peaceful abolcs OF civil lie. Under such c:rcnm-
stances. with what pathetic emotion would they appea
10 the finer feelings o-the human heart and nplore
shr non-reehocr TO stay the devastating sword Of foreign
tyranny; TO protect their wives their children AMI do.
uescs; and TO snatch iron the iInpous grasp Of come
ioregE despot those very institutions, which deny their
protectors the invaluable rights OF freemen m IN.
reeholders still persist in their berai and unjust po.
hey In relation 10 the right OF susage they continue
10 disregard the warning voice OF the people, and 10
rvet the chains OF slavery large majority of their
czens-surcly. they could not complain If the
non seebolders. writing under oious and CALLING
acknowledgements should In their turn mock a, the mis-
fortune and lsugh at the calamity that might overake
their oppressors The desire of revenge natura and
the non,fr"ehoders. aroused 20 ns and painful sense
OF the injuries they have sustained, could not be sun.
posed to entertain the kndes feelings or those who
would deliberately and in the midst o. security s. peace
continue their unjust and ungcncron' prescription.
! In Whatever light are capable OF viewing this
subject whether Of Justice towards large
and respectable portion Of ctzen' long denied the
exercise of right dear freenen matter OF sonnI
policy the part Of the freeholers them~eIves-we
are rressthly horne the conclusion, that the cxcn.
sion oil the right of suffrage would imp,rt 10 the non
reehoider stimulus to honorable aud useful ambition;
contribute to the honor the interest and security of the
governmeni and promote the union, prosperity and hap.
| piness OF all.
constitution, in which we feel deeply Interested, that
require radical change; bnt against these the
standard OF opposition has not been deerminaieIy
nnfurled by those in power. Any alteration in those
departments would not aztec; the great prvileg.s ex
clusve'y vested in the freehold commnity nor would
they tend TO level the distinction now existing between
| .frseho fall nri,
licious about tho preservation Of tina, distinction and
seemingly Indifferent in relation the other al inter
ssts OF the state, to all they have
their energies in support Of this point The exis-
tence OF this much 10 be regretted ,c has induced Tie
10 address you. We perceive by indications TO be
mistaken that powerful efforts win be made proven,
redress Of grievances and we feel iinpelcd by
our love OF rounry by earnest soliciuIe for the
prosperity and happiness OF states by attachment
| 10 liberty; and BY sacred duty 10 ourselves
and posiey TO raise warning voice and TO leave no
JUST means unused 10 savo the commonwe alth-'o
snatch ner from the vortex of anarchy into which she
will inevitably be plunged unless justice in equa, mea.
sure is extended 10 all her sons.
On motion, II was Resolved That the proceedings Of
'his meeting be signed by the Chairman and Secretary:
and that one copy be forwarded 10 the E,or OF the
Richmond Enquirer, and another to the Eli,or of the
Constitutional Wing for publication. with a request that
Guo, throughout The state friendly TO the will
| give thsm insertion.
/ On motion, Resoved That the thanks of ,hi.
meeting be presented TO the Chairman and Secretary
| Tor the prompness and ability with which thew have
discharged their respective duties.
On notion the meeting aajaarocl: ,iae die.
Wa. FISHER, Secretary.
hher having read the Memorial, Dr. Hagan moved
the consideration of the following stnenlment, which
gave rise TO novel and animated discussion:
There is another subject intimately come cted with
the formation or constitution that has never ne
TAR ma we have been adverted to by the friend
its'orm; ana which, wc think not entirely unworthy
he consideration oil the Convention alius 10 that
period oil life at which is morally int ecuallv
and physically entitled to his freedom when he can in
The spirit OF republican institutions ciously exer
else all The rights, privileges and immunites of cit
Sen Our ancestors copied this part OF orr present
Consultation az well as many others from the institutions
oi Great ii iain without considering whether they we're
properly adapted 10 climate and Constitution and
precisely such would I've required by the manners
aud eusona, wants and necessities naturally arising out
OF our political, institutions British statesmen found
mat IN Englln man, at the of 2I had arrived al
sufficient maturity exercise the functions of subject
hu' when This rule is applied to Virginia, consider
u hI OF Ffocrnsfes bed topping of many years. enjoy
nent OF an invaluable right II is well kno,vnto Physi
oioe'sta that man, like other animal in creation
influenced In his growth maturity, decay and dssol
on by the latitude and climate In which he is raised
As YOU recedc from the equnocsl line Won find the
human race either retarded or accelerated in their
growth according TO their locality 10 the Grecian
Islands, females at the age OF 10 and males at ID or
- years have acquired all that maturity necessary for
Matrimonial engagements. When you arrive at tho |
cold regions OF Iapland the do not nantes SINH
lar devoiopenehts until the ages of 90 and 2S vears-
ne same course OF observation AMI reasoning which
Ponsec 10 he age Of ~ az the natural period of free
gina at is' and your me moriass believe. in revising
The Constitution this point, and in defining when
firgihans shall become freemen that the of
The Commonwealth wou. he promoted by taking for
our guide The inmnabe laws al nature, raj her than
The example OF a nation differing from us in climate
habs laws and political institutions II that govern
ncn be the wises and best which secures 10 the m
reTned the greatest portion Of happiness and if the ex
ercise OF the rights and privileges of freeman be
blessing which all are ready to Smitii would appear
70 io1o", mat az soon nature has endowed with
the capacity oil exercising those functions judicously,
We ought 10 be permitted to enjoy them"
IN support OF this amendment, DR. Hagan ieinOnstra-
tI at considerable length the effects OF the latitude
rscter and constitution; aud cited several examuns 10
shew with what force this general law OF nature apl-
ed to the State OF Virginia and the proprety of re.or
ing 10 1t at this particular time. He said that though
the amendment was stricken from the memorial by n
majority oil the committee, still hc bop-h At propi-
city Of embracing il would appear vident the meeting
That upon such important crisis the present. he
considered OF the utmost importance the future in
teres,s OF our country, that abandon the exAmple of
Ireat Britain when 90 obviously prcpos,crous and n,e
penden'y think Tor ourselves and resort 10 first prnci
pies. '
II was opposed by Captains HoskiMs aud Fisher.
anu hiessrs. Horace Warning. G. g. Griswold and
r. !. Montague II was objected, that the aloption
oil the amendment would DO undue inesmedting |
with the business of the Conyenion-hat though the
reasoning upon which it founded appeared sissc
tory, yet the novelty of the would prevent the
cooperation OF many who ardeny disposed TO unite
with us IN obtaining the great Obj OF the Memorial
The extension OF the Right Of Suffrage The proposi-
ton might be correct but the public mind had not een
directed TO The subject, and il believed that ma