Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-02-14
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
To the Won Freeholders of Virsiniot

10 tAe Won FTeeHo!der5 or Virginia!
The time, il is 10 be hoped, Is fast approaching,
when you will be enabled 10 assert your legii-
mate rights in the political affairs of your STATE:
rights, of which you have been most uniustly and
illiberaily deprived for nearly half century,
How you could have remained quiet under such
an ignominious site OF thing9, surprises me not
litte considering that in the formation of the pre-
sent Constitution, $50 much hoas,ed OF by those
who enjoy all its benefits ) you have been ,lepriy-
ed OF all your political rights in the administration
of the government II ought to he recollecteJ
by you, that your ancestors, whether Freehoi,icrs
or not, aided and contributed 10 put down an odous
and oppressive government; which was managed
and conducted without their aid or participation;
and, in all human probability, majority of the ar
my of the United States, fighting for their indie
pendence, or, ia other words, (ior tGrGii0n and
representation cODiJlHCd,J was eon1posed Of those
who had, at that time, no real es,ate. You. too,
in the second war, have been mainly relied upon
for Defending your country against the attacks of
the epemy--and yon have not disappointed her
best expectations. You have, at all times since
the formation of the present Constitutions which
is now sought 10 be amended, been enrolled in the
Militia of the State. You have been compelled
to pay taxes and bear other burthens, withou, being
allowed that very privilege, which we thought so
all important to produce the revolution: | mean
the right OF taxation AMI representation. The
Frecholders, or, III ether words, the Land-hDsfers
have heretofore wrested from yOu that very priv
ege, which was deemed so inestimable during
those =" iiines that tried mems souls" They have
wrested it from you, when you had just as much
title to equal participation in all the benefits OF
the government as they could pretend TO: and OF
which you clearly had just much right TO de-
prive them, as they had TO strip you.
Ii is absolutely than lille, to talk about the
necessity Of having piece Of land, whether
rich or poor, matters nOt,) 10 order to give you
the privileges Of fTccHleH in the State. II adds
nothing 10 the intellect, integrity, or patriotism of
the possessor-not cubit TO his ststure-uot a ray
Of light to his mind.-it gives hin neither the sal
perior inclination ability To promote the inter
esis of his country. ~ Odious badge Of gen
uine arisocracy, and ought 10 be despied and ridi-
ouIed by every man who has just regard for Ii
beTfy and Equality Of political rights. man.
who has 10 love Of country ICitiOut his ucTes has
not much 20 be trusted with them
As, however, You have been most unkinIly ami
uufsifly deprived Of your privileges in the eve oil
justice and OF reason. equal 10 those of tho Free.
holder mean, IN natural right and juslice--you
should now, and all repair To The Polls n the
/ time wncb has been fixed by the present General
Assembly for the election Of Delegates 10 the con.
tcmplaied Convention. aud insist upop excrcisin.
I THE great privilege Of voting for your repro scnta
tive-uree the Sheriff 10 take yonr votes
and II he ,ciN not, h. m1y not, being IN o6fce,
0he Jyceh0i8eys, you gill 'hrn have NO difficult
~ in getting oGe more Intelligent respectful
, citizens, 10 take the votes for YOU. IN order that
Won may insist upon being heard IN lie C0ovcn.
ton, where !, - TO be hoped you may al last re-
ccive Uiat portion Of political weight in the Old
Dominion Of which yJu have 80 long hepn unjust
" deprived There o. .Esu n t7s T. Il iz'i.-,