Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-05-01

In the organization Of the whole government,
would have jrugatty in view, with just regard
TO fair compensation, to public fiduciaries.
Having thus explicitly and fully. as my intrusion
on your columns will permit, answered the enqui-
ries OF my fellow citizens oil Fluvanna, tho not
in the order proposed, will only add that u pro-
vision for future amendments Of the Constitution
should DO inserted. in the Que proposed: anu sub
scribe myself your and their ob't serv't,
April Esd, 1929.
To the Editors of the Enquirer.
FLUvANNA, April 18th, 1929
In publication which lately appeared in your
paper, signed &c Many Freehold.rs of Fluyanna,'
observe that sundry persons, residents of the
Senatorial District Of which that county is COM
ponent part, and 10 have been nominated as fit
persons 10 serve Delegates in the ensuing Con-
veniion, have been called upon TO declare and
make known their opinions as to certain points
deemed important, ami which it is thought will be
embraced IN any scheme or project Tor altering
and amending the Constitution OF the State which
may engage the consideration OF the Conventions.
and that among such persons, have the honor 10
be named as one.--As TO myself, l acknowledge
That cannot perceive the necessity OF the call
or The utility OF an enunciation of my opinions on
the points alluded to, likely to have any infiu-
ence OH the impending selection. 1t is true, l be-
Ilcve, that the people of my own county, or al
least a considerable portion Of them, have so far
manifested their partality towards me, as to
gates chosen for the Distrct bot il is known that
the District is composed OF five counties, and that
| In point OF population, Fiuvapna is tue smallest
among theH;' and j, 10 quite natural to expect,
thai each OF the other counties will put in their
claim Of preference, on the score of numbers to
member from each,to the exclusion Of Fluvanna
| as there can be but four Delegates chosen for The
District-a claim which, perhaps, ought not to be
| considered unfair or improper, unless decided
difference Of talents and qualifications should
4 make IL which. il is bpl led hat
will not have the vanity to allege on the present
occasion. However, as the call has been made in
the imposing form in which il has as
| most cordially do, in the right Of any portion of
the Community to call for and canvass at any
lime, the opinions and qualifications of any indi-
vidual proposed for any public station, in whatso
ever shape he may be recommended or brought to
the notice OF the Community; and especially, as
deem II respectful TO the citizens Of my own coun-
ty who have thus far cvinced their partiality TO-
wards me, to yield obedience to their CALL have
determined TO do 10 the best Of Inv ability; but
| rs succlnctly as possible, to do, what / may
consinerj Justice to the views which shall attempt
| to present.
In the FIRST place, will premise, that profess
to be one not to be satisfied with any given, even
toierable state OF things, while reasonable pros
pect exists OF material amelioraton or improve
ment. by the use OF proper efforts and exerions
TO produce the desired effect-and in the attempt
to produce the desired change, l would hesitate
not to encounter some risk danger of failure of
success, provided the good held out to view, bear
not an unreasonable proportion TO the apprehend.
ed risk, danger, in the way of its accomplish.
ment-but would proceed with all due caution
and circumspecton, so as not TO hazard too much
IN the way OF experiment; avoiding as carefully
as possible the shoals and quicksands of mere the
DRY and speculation selecting as judiciously az
possible the means best calculated to produce the
end, and endeavorng to be well assured, that the
end, when obtained according to the best estimate
and Judgment that can be placed upon il, shall be
substantial and practical good.
This is what would call that true spirit of Judi
cious enterprise, which leads TO that progressive
improvement in all the arts of liie whose tenden-
cy is to improve the condition and advance the
prosperity anu happiness oil man-and holds equal
iy good as 10 the science of government, as TO all
other branches of business, and vocations of life
have, therefore, long been advocate for Re-
form in our present system of State Government
Believing as have and still do, that there exists
serious, practical evils and abuses resulting from,
serious and important defects in the system, and
which are susceptible Of correction, by the appli.
cation OF proper and judicious reinedies-soine of
which defects consider have been proven and
made obvious by the best experience x
While others have resulted from the change i'm
tile state OF things, produced by the lapse OF time
since its original formation, | shall not al this
time, attempt specific enumeration of those de-
fects, as they appear to my mind, intending TO
conhnc myself chiefly TO the enquiries which I
am to answer. They will, however, in the main.
appear as my answer 10 those enquiries
1 will now proceed to the points on which nv
opinion is called for and first-as to the extension
OF the Right oil Suffrage to Non-Freehoders.-
My opinion is that Nom reeholders ought 10 par
tcipate in the exercise of the Right of Suffrage.
under certain limitations and restrictions-everv
free white male citizen, above the age OF twenty
one years, alter sufficient residence, TO give evil
dencc of attachment TO the country wifi the &C.
tual and bona hde payment of money in the shane
OF taxes, into the common stock, ought, in INV
opinion, TO be considered as admitted a member Of
the body polite, and entitled to all the rights and
privileges OF membership, and among others, 10
the exercise oil the Right OF Suffrage; and as TO
residence, feel inclined first, TO be in favor of
residence OF five years, at least within the State
and as to the county in which the right NAV be
exercised, would be infavor Of a shorter period,
gay one year, so as to gain what's considered a
common legal residence only. The ownership of
SOIL certainly affords the most unquestionable and
highest evidence as to character of herman inf
attachment, or at least OF residence az il is i'm
movable, tho it may be alenated and left; and
perhaps the greater the extent of SOIL the strong
er the evidence; but cannot conceive that there
is any thing magical in a particle of SOIL which
should make that the only true basis of patriotism.
On the contrary feel well assured, tina, there is
large portion Of the Community who arc M,
owners Of soil, whose patriotism is unauestioned
and unquestionabie. And, ought such to be total
ly DISTINGUISHED, because they happen not TO be
the owners of small piece of poor soil? And
how strangely inconsistent ii is, that we should
be willing to confide so much the patriotism of
those very men, as to trust the Couniry's Arms in
their bands,-aye, and invest them with high mill
tary powers as officers too and send them TO tho
margin Of our State, 10 meet and repeI an iuyad.
ing foe, and protect and defend us, when our all
is at stake; and yet, when they have shed their
blood in our defence, successfully FOUGHT our bat.
ties and returned home, forsootli. then pretend
that we have not sufficient confidence i'm their pa
trotsm, TO admit them TO the least share or bit.
lance oil Influence IN the administration Of the
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