Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-09-11
NtrD.suotp0 EzaDtg.
FoR THE VINO.
Proposition for Military arrangement Of The Rishl
Of Suffrage.
FoR THE VINO.


Sir: In addressing you individuality on a subject
designed for the consideration oil the approac ching
Convcntin OF Virginia, am actuated by consdern.
uons oil respect, Tor your profound literary acquire
incnts, ana for that sound ana discriminating iulu-
mcnt. you have always displayed ON great political
questions; and ot vencraton for your long experience
und well tried integrity and repubicanisnl SO striknr-
~ exhibited III private, well in your public lilo.
fclmt me then my dear sir, through YOU, toiircct
the attention of the Convention to basis for renrc
sentative ropublicansm, founded upon defensive pre-
partition.
Although no commonwealth as far as can learn.
mas ever adopted fundamental principle of the kind
would recommend the project can nevertheless
scarcely merit tn DC termed political experiment
For all commonwealth that have attracted the histo-
rians attention forcbly. aud in so many events
illustrate such Important effects and consciousness to
be expected from au armed community favourable to
h0esty that with me, it is matter of SURPRISE that no
rcpubhc o5scrvant Of thuse effects, has heretofore
constituted the right of suffrage, (which is the shee,
anchor OF popular power conditioned upon the ipdi-
vdual possession Of armour.
In every form of government, il has been found
cXpedent Tor dispatch and energy in business, del
cGate the ruling power to q few individuals who are
generally selected for given term Of service by the
people, from among themselves, by the exercise of
suffrage And in this to effect the end Of good 90.
veFnmen' LEGISLATORS have generally deemed it ncccs
sary III some degree 10 restrict the right. Graduatinu
It, TO some adequate test Of patriotism or evidence nj
permanent interest in the commonwealth: il being
received principle in all government that some share
niSt De surrendered pychaupp
lof safely, order, and stability, its civil adminstra
ton IL rs also deemed essential to freedom not only
mat all power should cmanate from the people; but
tlat those TO whom 1t Is given should be kept in
state OF dependence on the donors; holding their
power only IN trust, and returnabe at limited periods:
Anu governments are held more or less democratic i'm
proportion TO the greater less restriction of sui.
rage, and TO the longer shorter time for which the
ruling power is delegated. To regulate and control
which, the people should possess The porocr, Us well
the will.
The proper adjustment of the right Of suffrage,
ana the term ana degree of power 10 DO Delegated
has IN all ages nsitutsd n main difficulty with law
givers; but more especially the former; and the re
mote cause OF those endless dissensios and comno-
tons, tlat arc the opprobium of common weaths il
generally to be found pa rtia or irrational limo
ton of the popular privilege. ANY restriction which
is not founded on principles adapted purely for the
public good; but calculated only to create or s,,ppor
distinctions or classes in society, as at Rome of
IatIcian and Pebian, or Of Mobiles and Commons If
Venice and Holland, &c; engenders the Ground work
OF an endless series of trespasses and retaiaions
arising from encroachments Of PRIVILEGED classes or
OF me lew, upon tile natural rights of the nanv or
from the trespasscs Of the MANY on the frndsmenta
principles Of the few. Nor does it appeor from, bis
Tory That IN those etrugges either faction once en-
Venomed by contention) was ever contcnted with
acquisition, whilst the form OF government which en-
Scndcred their dsSeR;ions continued to exist
At venice and Holland. the Mobiles or Arisiocracy
ny gradual cncroachmens on the people, and more
al! more restricting suffrage among themselves rot
al 'astfo conceive Offices of power and emoluncnt
INC exclusive property of their order and nheren,
III 'eir families; until in ihc end, he Venetian Go
F'rihent became an Ohgarchy, Holland n Monarchys
me >iahtho!der, by help of oreignt MD ustrpinr the
sIyle ana prcrogalvcs ofsuch 1t is remarkable that
those commemorative prosecuted most of their IVA re
WIN hired mcrcenares. The Vcnetians particular.
~, never trusted arms IN the hands of the people
ana such was the jealousy of the nobles that tirey
would not even trust The command If ,ncrrnno,;o,
10 one OF their own order.t
nth tile Athculang md tho la -
racier OF the age, compelled frequent RECOURSE tn
lrming the people. In these governments, the en-
c'oachmen's were uniformly favorable tn lbcrty but
mere the people 10 their turn carried the princpos
of natural liberty To excess By not reourin1 of
IN government, sufficient evidences Of
Pa rotism and not sufficiently guarding suffrage from
corruption, peculaton and popular phreRzy. presently
Nsnrpgd the place Of wisdom and Justice in iber To-
5siaiYc assemblies; until at Athens such got 10 he
tfe Jealous madness and pronigacvj g., the neoplo
a' (h INC pienitudc OF their msrulo) to their Gene
,aIs anu statesmen, success was fatal defeat;
punishment or death wcro equally the consequence of
us Ihcton or disgrace. The consequence was whom
their country became involved in difficulty and ihrca
tened with destruction they too late discovered their
error III having destroyed the only men who could
have extricated them.
NJ Rome, utter many nncroachnents nm tho mar, |
Of the people, and many Advantages gained fnvnrable
10 natural freedom, the contests between the potri
cans and PIcbians grew heated. and discussions
arose ~ 80 great height, thasaTuics yvsYo brou4
lotism thence became tho order oftheir government
Tor more tinn fourth ola century. Whole portics
yFannzed over one another by turns MS fortune chan
ced to turn the SCALE until all casses weared and
harnssed with this turbulent state Of afhrs at Last
"r INC sake osecrity and stability cuuried the ~
nanny of n single dcspot.
And be it remembered, particularly nv the ndvo-
rates Ct unlimited suffrage, that tho military ,Vos
Fst invited mo Rome by the people, to help them To-
'onirouI The arstocracy; and that too after fbcv
nnd gained all FOR which they formerly cDulondcd-
Ihcy were equally with the Patrcians eliribc 70 thc
ngnest 1Hccs OF the commonwealth, aud were in no
unlimited enjoyment Of the right Of suffrage, Tho
privilege was extended too far, which unfortunately
or the nation brought into power, mon who were
by nature or by habit, uDfiltcd for It's oycrriscn
I'm every country there ~ be found considerable
'pr" ~ class OF people, who accumulate no proper
y make no improvements, and seem 10 have no res
I'ct OF rsgard' beyond ths present mornent, for
hemscYcsi the faniliGs. or ihoir country. To such
IS unsafe to trust matters ri 81 nrcn moment, a.
10 cho'cc III Fulcrs They ara too Liable 70 tcmptn-
ION 700 prone 20 bribery and corruption. and arc
'fcI"ly The gdvocn'es and addcrcnts, OF the baecst