Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-12-02

denied the position that Virginia was be-
hind any of the other States in the Union,
and dwelt with ardour on her literary, NOR
al and political character and history, in
which he Insisted that she stood proudly
nre.eminent He believed that her char
acter was greatly owing 10 her political in.
stituions. and, therefore, he was attached
to them unto death
He denied that the French Revolution
furnished any arguments IN favor, but al
together against the measures proposed to
he introduced here, and adverted TO the or
der that distinguished the elections in Vir-
0iDia-but deprecated the addition of CO..
600 new voters without any permanent at
tachment to the soil, as leading to cleo.
tons by ballot and political corruption.
Mr.. Doddridge proposed that in taking
the vote the names Of the committee should
be called over.
The Chairman SAID that this mode was
not according to usage in a Committee of
the Whole; and further suggested its in
congruty with the object Of the consulta-
tons of Committee which was free in-
terchange of opinions with view to the
adoption Of such as might appear best;
but when names were once recorded, gen
temen we're apt to view themselves as
pledged. and thereby to become less la
bic to conviction. The names were net
called.
Mr.. Baily of Acomac, was in favor Of
the amendment of Mr.. Wilson. HisO own
county were unanimous in their views On
the subject, and be had himselfbeen among
the first to bring it before the notice OF the
Convention. He went into an explana-
ton of the local circumstances oFthe Ieo-
ME Of the Eastern Shore, and showed The
difficulty of acquiring freeholds there
lie insisted that the proposal was not tobe
considered as coming from Non Ereehol,
ders; II was the Freeholders Of the State
who had called the Convention, and tbs
was one chief object for which IT was as
sembled. As for excluding soldiers, Mr..
b. streuuously objected to the idea, so
far as his people were concerned-they
had ever been prompt in voluntary service
both in the last war and in the Revolution
in which latter they had raised the 9th Re
ement which fought under Washington
Il was hard the old soldier should be e1.
cluded, while a Scotch tory pushed him
from the polls Mr.. b. apprehended no
confusion at elections which might easily
be prevented. by subdlyldIng the election
districts and avoiding great collections Of
people. Our condition was widely differ
emit from that of Revolutionary France
but Mr.. Jefferson and Mr. Monroe, who
had seen the excuses there, were warm
ad, COATES for extending the Right of SUI.
frape here. We were a wholly different
people. An who came from the frontiers
of the State and had witnessed the practi.
cal effect of the system IN other states,
were IN favor of the plan. No freehold
was required as requisite 10 the highest
officers of the Goyerument-Why should
it be the she qua aOR OF voter! Mr.. Is.
replied to the speech Of Mr.. Nicholas, in
the course Of which he made some allusIon
to that genteman's former and present sit
uation, and compared the old continental
paper money with the modern bank bills,
not much to the advantage Of the latter.
He adverted to the use of party names, bat
declared ms belief of their ineficacy, with
the People of Virginia. He urged gentle
men to give up something for the sake of
Cancellation; declared hts conviction, that
if Convention shall refuse to give the Peo-
pie a Consututio9 such as they approve,
they will have another Convention that
shall do it; and concluded with a compll-
ment tothe silent members.
Mr.. Mccoy declared his intention to
be, not to vote FOR this amendment at pre-
sent; but to reserve himselfuntiI he should
see what was to be the basIsVf representa-
ton; If that was to be fixed upon wealth,
then he should resort to an extended right
of suffrage, as the only mode OF resisting
its effect
Mr.. Scott inquired if Mr.. w. meant to
include ~ has amendment persons on whom
no taxes were levIedl
Mr.. Wilson replied in the affirmative.
As to delinquents, they deserved to be
excluded, because they were returned as
able, but unwilling, to contribute to the
public burdens.
Mr.. Morgan of AIonOngaIia, spoke in
support of the amendment, that as theught
of suffrage was one Of the sovereign rights
OF the People, great caution should be Ia
ken 10 invading or restricting 1t. The Oh
ject Of Government was not to restrict, but
to preserve the natural rights of men.
After a few rather sharp remarks in re-
ply TO 4Iessrs. Nicholas and Trezyant,