Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-21


When applied to the virtuous and frightened In
habitants Of England, the result will be, limited Mo
narchy.-wben applied to the intelligent vrtuous ami
patriotic people of Virginia. the result will be free
preventative republic wherein the administrators Of
public affairs. the agents oil the people, and chosen
oy those oil the people, who have or are supposed 10
have, free will. mstured intellect, and interest
in, and attachment to, III, community. With regard to
freedom OF will. and maturity OF intellect, have only
to observe. that IL gentlemen 10 not already perceive
the proprie'v OF excluding women, children, paupsrs
idso's, sni slaves, from the polls vain will he any
tempt, my part, 10 convince hsm Of il. The bsans
OF the monday Sun. will be useless 10 him. who viii
iuiiv shuts his eyes ag aust the light
But, lrecur 90 the question, what 10 IN" proper test
of mans interest in, aud attachment to, the
nifty answered that property. AMI especially land
ed property is the only true aud SAFE test To this
cannot assent Ii assumes, that man cannot love
country, or take interest in its good government
unless he owns portion Of It's soil IL il not my inten.
ton here, To enter into detailed history OF the rise and
progress OF the freehold Right Of Suffrage. That du-
~ has been ably and eloquenty performed by my
friend from Frederick (Mr. Cook He has shown, that
IL originated in despo'm II 10 my business TO shew,
that il il absurd and uau in it, nature.
IL is said that the pss.ession Of property is the only
test. Now. Sir, IL the security OF property the
only object OF government, there mig ut he truth
in this assertion. But, when know that the object
OF all good government Is to protect the citizen in the
enjoyment, not only OF his property but aso of his le
his personal liberty, his limbs. hi. character tho free
dom OF speech and action aud the pursuit of happiness;
| and that these are all objects oi equal, and
| OF them, OF higher importance than property,
sec, at once, this facy Of the. test In all, these
the rich and the poor, stand icveI-they
| are all equally valuabls to both; or. rather, the
poor more interested in the security OF these
rights, because tho enjoyment Of them, furnishes
the poor his only defence, against the overween.
ing influence and power, which wealth conlrrs upon
the rich, and which We know too often yranncaiy
| exercised. Besides this. however poor a man may
be, unless he be absolute pauper, and paupes are
excluded) he yet possesses some property; and sir. the
poor mans Piince IL Just az dear to him, the rich
ans treasure, because IL is his ALI ave. and more de
to hin. because it is hut piitance and therefore,
more liable TO beexhau.ted Surprising therefore, that
the rich and the poor have equal virtue, land this ina
CINE will not I've denied,) tho poor must, and does
take great ineres; in the good OF the
country, as the rich man.
The truth is that re.denc IL the best evil
dence Of attachment TO the community and inter-
eat in its welfare. The value OF land is huctuirg
AMI its tenure too uncertain 10 furnish this evidence.
IL may b. said that il loses his and and pa..e,
into other hauds that other person. will possess this
idsnce, and will be entitled TO the VOTE and on
through every mutation Of property but from this
would seem, that the right OF outrage the land and
NOT in the peop! Suppose virtuous s. intelligent
To-day possessed OF farm upon which he resides with
h@ wife AMI children, surrounded by large circle OF
beloved friends aud relatives Every body will say, he
| is en,cd to tho right Of suT age.
Wen, suppose that by Of those sudden reverscs
oil brtune, which III the uncertainty OF human atf,irs,
continually occurring, he should he deprived OF his
farm the next day; he to he deprived OF the right OF
suffrage? lie yet viruous. intelligent, patriotic
he has yet in this state lis residence his family hi.
friends, his all that is left him. Do you suppose tina,
his tachment 10 ht' native State AMI his nere in IL,
welfare - less now than before! Certainly not. Be-
ing deprived OF the all commanding influence of
wealth, he is still concerned in the procurement
of equal and just laws by which he. and all that
and dear to him. she'll he protected from oppression
Do you measure mans right 20 vote by the rdlue
| Of his landed property How uncertain and unjust,
test will this also be- of man. attachment and inter
est Will you say tina, he shall real estate OF tn
value of 25 dollars, suggested by gentleman?
Surely all know that piece Of land which this year
may he worth 25 dollars, may, by OF those
which are producing continual changes in the value OF
be q wear ed lar bp ~
that value. And yet you will mkt year deprive the
owner OF his VOTE although he precisely the
land, which this year conferred upon him the right Of
suffrage. IL sou don't 10 this You abandon your prin-
cple OF regulating the elective franchise according
the value OF mans landed property. And il you do
this, man may always hold the s,me tract OF land;
the same portion of the SOIL and yet have have
the right TO vote according 10 the variation, OF tie
| price OF his land and its produce!
Upon your principles sir, this standard IL nm
Just You propo,e TO measure mans right to by
the value Of his land and in the breath YOU give
to man owning $25 worth OF land one vote, and to
the man owning $4,000 worth Of land nibrc than
one vote! Is this just your plan? But il may
be Replied that though the Disparity of fortune j.
great, yet the interest il the samethat though there
Is not an equality OF interest, yet each has interest
ir the welfare Of the state. IL this be So then you
not measure a mans right 10 vote by the quanium OF
his intcretihe existence Of interest j. sufficient.
Agreed he who has property IN the state bat
ides here, has his family hsre and il here pursuing
some business TO procure livelihood, is interested in
| the good government of The communy A man may
% dollars worth of property in this stale and vet
care little nothing about its general Interests Yet
man who has not property valued at 25 dollars but
who has all his relatives, iends, aud associates in the
cOuntry-all his affections concentrated in its welfare
would be deprived Of his vote, ald would be given
| The other, who happens 70 much property as
amounts 10 25 dollars in value. Such is the result OF
| your real property quAlihcaon
| If we advert TO movable properly the bas. o!
the Right of Suface, il will he evident first light
that the same objections apply il with accumulated
force; Tor we all know that personal property il. i
possible, more uncertain ia its tenure, and subject
greater aid more frequent mutations in its value, than
landed estate. In fact, whenever You attempt TO pre-.
scribe such standard you will always find il imper
feet admit that perfect rule be pre- -crbed
the subject but confess, think that general rule
too Imperfect Tor practical application, the exceptions TO
which, are more numerous than the which il in.
cludes. There can be no perfect standards but think
a, the time, that there be none found more
worthy Of adoption, than residence, bearing aims and
paying tdx's. The possession OF property furnishes rot
an exclusive but probable evidence of attachment to
the community; and my proposition includes all the
possessors OF property who reside here, and presume
gentlemen do not Intend. to permit sideni. TO vote
because they may own a tractof lanl here. But
period OF residence must he fixed. II will do let
every bird o passage that fits through state enjoy
the Right OF Stuff age What shall thai term Ct resiienc:
be! Gentlemen may differ in o. iOion this suhec
but II appears 10 me that residence in the State Of
Two years duration, does furnish sufficient evidence Of
mans present intention 10 continue resident OF the
State so far outward nrnish such evidence
Ii gentleman think this too Short period, let them
amend the resou,idh by inserting or years resi-
dencc, or any oihor term, provided Ilcy 40
sumo too much Of Inv mans lite in nscertainng his in
teniion 10 spend his lie amongs, AMI thus privc him
ofthe right Of voting, duriag considerable portion of HE
earthly existence order ascertain hat he will eyer
s1.aN-. ILL Il IL. III Al