Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-03-30
&ectDeas QUO SSa MA.
MONDAY MORNING, MARCH 30, 1920.
THE Observation-Disclosures.

This oppressed and DISTINGUISHED class of citizens
in motion i'll various parts of the State and the
-conventionsts arc about to reap the deserved
reward of their tyranncal conduct in withholding
from of thousands of their fellow citizens their
the formation of their government. As the repeated
rejection of the convention law at three several ses
sons of the Legislature, strengthened the cause and
swclled the ranks of the conventionsts instead of
extinguishing their hopes as was vanly and weakly
imagined, so the exclusion of the non-freeholders
from suffrage in the choice of the convention is pro-
ducing the opposite effect from that anticipated The
Lion is reused by the insult, and his roar will be
heard. Had the enemies Of the convention acted Il.
beraily--hnd they acted even conscientously, and
conceded the right which they very generally acknow
lodged they had no right to restrain-had they per-
mitted the free men of the commonwealth to choose
the convention, instead ofrestrictng the right to pr
vileged class-it would have besn better for their,
own views and wishes. They would not in that case
have reused and organized the whole body of non
frccholders-- last would have mixed quietly
with their land-hoding fellow citizens, aud raised no
separate standnrd---te convention itself would not
have been agitated by the popular storm Which is ga
thering-and there would not have been the danger
of suffrage, under the influence of popular excite
ment. Nothing certainly could exceed the faulty Of
the anti conventonists, throughout their Legislative
opposition, but their rank and arstocratic injustice
They deprived 70, 600 of their felow-citizens of
right which is tho foundation of all republican govern.
ment, for the purpose Of organizing the convon-
ton by tho votes of feehodcrs to prevent the ex
tension of suffrage under the new governments and
they will be most righteousy punished for their nsur-
patton, by this usurpoton itself becoming the means
Of their defeat, and throwing open the doors of suf
froge much wider than many convcntionists them
solvos desired Ifsufnge ia made unversal---i all
landed qualification is abandoned by the convention
as it certainly will be---et the ontconventionists
thank their own stupidity, which made them believe
that they could Cypress the non-ffeebolders with
IMMUNITY.
These remarks are induced by Hpcrusal ofthe pro-
ceedings of the non-frooholders meeting at Harpcrs
Ferry---who have designated mode Of proceeding
different from any other suggested. What it is may
be below. We take occasion again TO express
our sorrow, that there was not general adoption Of
the couHsc Indicated by the meeting in Richmond
net because we had part in that meeting, feel on
that account, any partnity for its opnions-but be-
caursc that course was the most simple, and would
prove most efficient BY the general law Of elections,
under which tho shsrifs required 70 conduct the
elections for tho conventions tho sheris required
to put nil votes which are doubtful in separate poll,
or on the back Of the poll. When a non -raeholder
applied to vote, the sheriff would not dare to reject
but under his oath would be required to put il ON tho
back of the poll. Thisis ali that is wanting. Tho
votes ofthe nonfreehoders would thus he az efcctu-
ally authenticated to tho convention by tho officers Of
election, ftose votes were on the front Of the poll,
Coming before the convention in this authentic shape.
the great question would there necessarily arise who
Their these votcsworc not good the votes Of free
holdersand whether the law depTiving tho nonffee-
holders of the right ofagency in change of govern
ment, constitutional unconstitutional and no-
pora'ive. How this question would be decided 10