Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-11-21
vIRGFNiA CONVENTIONS.

,lhra :, N the commit &c the following substitute iar
til. tnri tesolutionof the Legislative Committee
(Iierc tlr " read lbs proposed resolution on the
subject 81 tse Fight of suffrage winch being repo'-
cd by tho Cha the resumed IN substance follows
II must be evident ir, from the objections
which yesterday came from every quarter. 10 the
rcsou ion OF The Legislative Comm tee, that II lGeis
tae views 81 vtry small portion of the members OF
this ConN cntiot. have therefore thought proper
80 rid the committee at of the labour and trou-
BIZ OF ian jmcrabe amendments aud modihcations o
that eSnu'Ion BY placing before It. the subject OF The
RICH, of suffrage, ITS broadcast ground. | wish to
march boldly up TO the question. and meet il at once
and pre Ont in u shape that there will be no
room nr the iHpuiann of ambiguity, insinCe INV
The substitute propose, is short PLAIN simple and
easy be understood Ths proposition at least is
not Liable to The imputalion uttered Yesterday nv the
acnticntn from Charlotte (Sir Rand1lph) of ing
"a snake in tic grass"
Tue scheme here proposed for the regulation of
e right OF suifr Sge, is not open to the objections
raised Yesterday by the gentleman from Chesterfield,
(Ar. Leigh 10 the resolution of the Legislative Com
mite. IL does not exclude from The polls the ow
ner of small treehods, w,st IT admit the pay Of
four cent horse lax. who although ne might even
be ie ,-e-holicr und"r Of those small freehold
:, Yet would he entitled 90 vote whilst his land
lord Is excluded The substitute includes both these
classes. Mr. istt open to the objection "f the gen
tcmu FROM Charlotte (Nr. Randnph) 1t airSs no
fatal blow AT the rights of the ireehO drrs for il IN
Guides them III Nc- IS y :.-tia 10 th, oSicc,io-
raised by the gen cman from Spottsylvana Mr. Sta
nard) yesterday. agaius; the resolution for which II is
lntenred 10 be a substitute. IL dwell ruuriy and
Truly, on the difficulties attending any aitelnJt 10
es mate the value of mans property y,er annu,.I,
for The purpose Of Measuring nis r-1t 20 vote. the
plan now proposed, looks To property a. the test
ot mans attachment 10 the community, and. rhorc-
fore avoids the difficulties which mus ever attend auv
sc""me Of properly qualification Il seems 70 &c adj
mted that the arbitrary limitation Of the right of
sunFage TO the ownership of any fixed number OF
&C eS o. land, is absurd md unjust, be au,e of the
inequality of the value OF land. II is therefor, mo-
posed that the property Of the citizen 81 her real or
pesnnai, or both, shall he valued and his right In
vote. be tested by that value. This scheme, Womb
indeed b. liable TO great objections arising out OF the
dihcuiiy 81 carrying It into execution a nd the fraud
ofnegligeuce Of the vaiuers.
Two qualifications seem to be required by tie
sixth section OF the Bill of Rights in every pcrson
before he shall be entitled TO the rpbt Of sIT
And no wthstanding the decorations which this veue-
Tablc instrument has undergon, in the course o1 ,ir
past debates still feel disposed take text from
H. whenever am about TO discourse upon political
subjects. and matters of government; The first oua
hhcatcns required by that instrument. is that the
man shall furnish sufficient evidence of parnauent
common mt er'st with the communltv-and secondly
mat Ne S'aIi furnish sufficient evidence of att CHI
ment TO he Community. In other words wa. should
be convinced that his interests and afIcc ions brl
nun u rs before ne admit him to a'v share i'm the
government OF our state. The question beu arises
by what means can ascertain where his inter
ests and attachments conferred What test shall
we apply what requisites shall we demand, with
OUT wn'ch inc man shall be excluded from the exer
natural rights Aud here sir. hermit mo IN observe
that anding all the ridcule which has been
cast upon the natural rights Of iad.I BY certain a;-
temeD moi Notwithstanding the repeated denial of their
existence, except IN the brains OF moon-struck re
formers still believe thaunature or natures God IA
ther mas conferred certain original rights upon mai
anu among thein, none appears to me more clear and
umIemabie than the right Of ao,ointinr orr cum
agents. And this right nav exist anart from ord
anterior TO- my regular social compact. The fact al;
my having authorised certain individual transact
piece OF BUSINESS ior Int, does no: necessarily imply
any social compact with him, or any other individual
OF my race. But although this right of aopointing
our agents exists IN man by nature, vet when he en-
tiers inlo society, that right becomes limited and
ought to be controlled b. due regard 10 the inter-
essO that society, or II the gentlemen please bv ex
pedlency. Private and individual conyeniencv mn +
yield TO the good of the whole. We must rive nm
portion oi our natural liberty ~ order 10 eniov the
advantages OF social union and be secured in the I'M
disturbed enjoyment of those rights which are not
snrrondered and which the necessity ohe case does
not require us TO surrender. But Sill this surrender
should not De required to extent greater than is
necessary and eXpedient for the good of the whole
community. If you require the clt zen to vplJ I'm IN
tn" government, larger portion of his ma ural indie.
rendcnce and tree agency, than is necessary for tho
security OF the community at large and it's members
lnPaItlcuir' then SIR, yod take from him that FOL
which you render him equivalent The nnoInen;
you say TO tie ctIzen-yicld 10 the government NOR,
Of your natural liberty thuni requisite for the secu
tity pf the communication pass ont of tho fold nj
freedom, and enter upon the dornnins Of tvronr,, =
This | conceive to be the true rule. md the anpl.
cation OF 1t will Producce very different results ne
corning 20 inc y'ituc' intelligence aud patriotism Of
the pcople 10 whom II Is applied. When anoliad n
TIC corrupt and gnorant Italian, the result viii be ab
soluic monarchy When applied 70 the ,nore vir,5.
Gus and enlightened Inhabitants Of Enpland. The re-
suit VIII be limited monarchy. When aprl,.d
70 the viftuous, intelligent. and patriotic 5tanre
OF Vagina, the result viii be free r6prescn-oiiy, m
public, wherein the administrators IL npbi, EN-.
are the agents OF the people and chosen by thoe Of
the Peope who have, or are supposed 10 have n for
VIII, hatuTed intellect, AMI an interest in md n,
attachment to the community. With REGARD 70 r-cn
dom of wiIyand maturity Of intellect / have orv II
observe, that u gentlemen DO not already perceive
the proprety OF excluding women. children paupers
idiots, and slaves from the polls vain will be- an M
tempt on my part 70 Convince them Oft The bso,c,
ct the noon-day sun VIII he useless TO- him who shut,
his eyes against the light '''
But recnr TO the question what il tho nrcno,
test Of mans interest in and attachment T. a.,
community u is anSwergdtint property, d"N'tape
Cally landed property is the only true and afc iaet
To this Cannot assent. II assiIn~s thar man can