Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-26

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Mr.. NICHOLAS observed. that he did no, know how
ne could be understood to have spoken under excite
ment when placiity Of countsnance at the nome mt
was attributed to him. incompatible with the feeling
he expressed. He continu-d-I receive with Measure
the assurances of good will. and good feelings
ed by the gentleman from Loudoun, and cordially re.
ciprocate themHe said he should disiain himself IL
ne suffered difference Of sentiment public subjects
70 inspire him with i'll will TO any gentleman Ii was
not MS habit Every thing which had occurred la his
intercourse with the gentleman from Loudoun during
their short acquaintance, had impressed him with lar
Mr.. N. said he should proceed to discuss what was
the real question before the committee stripped of ho,e
exiraneous considerations, which do bear upon it,
and which are rather calculated to mslead than TO
tighten This subject has received from me, Mr..
Chairman, my anxious consideration, only since il
has been agitatrd in this Conventions but whilst during
the canvass which preceded the elections. il was dis
cussed In the public prints, in speeches to the people,
aud in the addresses OF various gentlemen who were
called on to declare their sentiments Amongst the argu
ment' relied upon by the advocates OF very EXTENDED
suffrage, one OF the fllAcous, is. that which at
tempts to found the right upon principles Of natural
equality. This pre-suppose, that suffrage il derived
from nature. Now nothing can be clearer, than that
suffrage 10 Conventional, and not a natural right
In state oil nature, Qf such state ever existed ex
sept in the Imagination Of the poes) every man acts
Tor himself and is the sole judge Of what will con,r-
butte 10 his happiness When he enter. into the social
state, which he is compelled TO do, to guard himself
against violence, and TO protect him in the enioym0n
OF the fruits OF his industry he give. up the society
the powers of governm, nt and surrend-rs 10 it. so
much OF his natural rights essential to secure
him such portion o. those rights which he retains
or such other rights grow OF tn. ne relations
in which he is placed In the rudiments of society
anu whilst The people are few, the making laws
and the decision the most important concerns such
Tor instance as war and peace, exercised by the
body OF the people in their collective capacity Such
the ancient Republic OF Athens, and some of the
other Grecian States and such is said be the liz
tie Republic OF st. Marino When the community
became large, it was found mprActicabe to exercise
their sovereignty in their primary assemblies -
These were too numerous for deiheraon, and
were too much under the control Of violent pa ssons
and too liable TO be naHenced by the seductions of art
tul men, who Hitered the people only DESTROY
1t was found absolutely necessary, to enrust the max
ing oil laws and The management of the public affairs
gents or deputies and this gave rise to
The power oil voting for these ants deputies con-
stitues the right oil suffrage This plain exposition of
the origin and formation OF soctey ncone ,ibiy shews
that both representation and suffrage social nsu-
IONS Ii proves that II IL solecism, TO insist, that il is
proper TO refer back 10 state of nature for principles
TO regulate rights which never existed in it-whch
could only exist alter mankind abandoned it, rather than
by correct estimate oil those relations which 10 be
found IN state OF society, OF which both represent
tioh and suffrage the of,prng. IL has been at
tempted to sustain almost unlimited suff age, q know
not whether in the Committee, as did not come in I'M
Ill after the gentleman from Louioun had been peak
ing some time, but certainly aisewhsrel by reference
to those general phrases in the Bill Of Righ, which de-
clare THAT all men are By nature equally free and in
dependent But the same section or the Bill of Rights
plainly discriminates the state of nature snJ
The social state, aud admits the modic which ma.
tura rights may receive by entering into society," Ii
true IL speaks Of inherent rights, Of which, men when
'hey enter into society cannot by any compact deprive
or dives their posterity namely, the endowment of
lie aud liberty. with the means OF acquiring and
possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining hap
piness and safety" But it is most obvious that this
last clause does not comprehend suffrage represen-
tation, or any fanced rights growing of then-fr
because hese are not natural rights; and next il they
the clause iareferredto enumerates the rights
which man in social state cannot alienste and that
enumeration has nohag do with suffrage or repre-
senta'ion, II must in candour he admitted, that these
subjects surrendered $50 far the Bill OF Rights ia
concerned) 10 the regulation of society These consds-
rstions, Mr. Chairman, appear TO clearly to prove
that in deciding upon suffrage, deciding Guss.
ton OF expediency and policy, and that ought so to
regulate IL, as will best promote the Happiness. and
prosperity OF society Our opponents have themselves
all rded unequvocal evidence Of truth of what we
contend for by advocating scheme. of suffrage which
profess TO impose restrictions the exercie of the
right, though those restrictions I'm my humble judg-
men) are totally inadequate and usory
have reflected much on this subject, because every
one must have anticipated. that il would be- one,
the most important which could employ the deIibera-
lions oil this assembly, aud that with the alluded to-
1t had the most intimate connection. In forming nv
opinion, am perfectly ,ati,hed, that the rule laid
down in our Bill Of Righ., is the one on this
subject-hnd, here, Mr. Chairman, permit me to
join most heartily in the eulogiums which have been
so repeatedly pronounced by the gentlemen the
other sde on the profound wisdom. exalted pariosm
and unbounded devotion to free governments of the fra
mers OF our Bill OF Rights subscribe entirely TO
part of it, and adopt containing the articles Of
my political faith 1t il much however, TO he depor.
ed, that whilst these gentlemen pay such alteration to
the Bill OF Rights and its authors they should in the
breath deny that they under their own prn
cipe, and assert that in the formation OF every e-sen
tial part Of the Constitution they were guilty of IA
grant violation of them What then, is the rule laid
down by the authors Of our constitution on this subject
il, that all men having sufficient evidence OF per-
manent, common interest WITH and attachment TO- the
community, have the Right Of Suffrage" Every part
OF this definition MIR. Chairman, is highly important
First there must be sufficient evidence" and next IL
must be The evidence Of permanent, common interest
with, and attachment TO, the community" Now, |
contend that this sufficient evidence of common, perma-
nent interest, is only ITO be found in lasting owner
ship of the soil Of the country
This kind Of op,tty Is durable IL is niestrucble;
and The man who acquires, is the proprietor o IT,,
connects his fate by the strongest OF all ties, with the
destiny Of the country. No oher species Of property
has the same qualities, ahjrJs the same evidence.
Personal property is uctusng-it is frequently iuvs
ibe, well as ntan gibIet can be removed, and can
be enjoyed as we'll in one society as another What
evidence Of permanent interest aud attachment IL al
forJed by the ownership Of horses, cattle, saves! -
Can il retard impede the removal from The State, in
times Of difficulty danger impending over iR What
security IL the ownership OF Bank other Stocks,
in the funded debU None. may transfer TIL
kind OF property in few noments, take his seat ia
the Stage, embark in the Steamboat, and DO opt OF
the State in day, carrying with him all he possesses
The objection applies TO admitting persons who
havo only temporary interest in the 'oIl: Besides
that these temporary interests give control TO Others
the votes of the holder just AZ certainly, AZ that
" a control over a m1ns substance, is always a
troll over his will" In vain 10 gentlemen refer the
example of other States Here we have y safe rule
laid down by tire wisdom Of bgT ancestors. whom gen
uenen unite in oanonzing aud tested and approved by
! 4 Al. ~