Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-04-15
CONVENTION,

CONVENTION.
At crowded meeting Of nonceholders o the county of
Frederick assembled pursuant to public notice. the aSe,
square the town of Winchester Monday the 9th day Of
The following preamble presented and unanimously
adopted;
Virginia has been called republic and It's government,
preventative democracy, for than half century And
about ousaad four hundred male citizens of age
residing the county of Frederick alone who have voice
cectins the ma this pretended republic, and
taxed the will and pleasure OF egat,s
bo,lirs in which they are not represented ..c .
When the British parliament in i76l claimed the right ami
exercised the of imposing taxes the British suscs
styauny and oppression resoundcd from Maine sa
fr6m foot of the Aleghany the shores of
The enshtencd statesmen the distinguished patriots of that
memorable era,ren whose Ia the
collections OF grateful pos,ery,-proclancd with voice
that taxation without representation was grievance which
they could and wouli The wrSi aud dis
tinGuiscd of the of England proclaimed the
opms"n even within the walls Of he parliament house, and
open 'd armed resistance OF the colonies, TO this tyodte nea
that Them would rest the awful responsibility for a the blood
that would be she'd IN the conc't which they had wantony
evoked.
side of the Atlantic taNation tyranny" the
other csisiance no rebelonr I'm that war the infant rep,-
lie of Virginia acted prominent aud distinguished part, 10
the assertion OF the priNes of that she sacrificed many
millions Of treasure many thousands of her best and bravet
mud urmpyed her DESTROYED her arcltuc
rete her reduced ashes; in good, her whole
sGasoard laid waste with fire and sword The war at
length ended, the battle won, and e stem and stubborn
patriots of the revolution thought themselves well repaid for al
their tolls and for the widespread deoaon OF their native
land the could
not rghfily he taxed but by THEN representatives
But they left their work unfinished Spent with toll and in
love with repose they did the leisure iai given
them for entrenchng within good lors the rights for which
they had bled They left the asistocatc institution of e
freehold limitation Of suffrage, which hal been imposed the
feeble colony of Virginia in 1917 by the ect Of podsaIe
tyrsnt and the oayoneis OF English soldiers to The beauty
and undermine the strength the glorious fabric they had
PaIed Their descendants have the bitter fruits this
iher illtmed relaxation from the la5ours OF ,etonn
ipft -1pe
the great commonwealth Of virginia One hundred thousand
Of age have voice in the government Two
thousand four hundred citizens in the county OF Frederick
'joy on this day higher privilege than that which even
trants concedc 20 er subjcciste privilege of complaining
cf their worgs and acknowledgements while half the number
are exercising the g OF saying who shall make laws to
Z n them and who shall not
Ru the members this assembly, while tlev thus coula,
o. rights withheld aud woncs inflicted would do injustice
t'cir feelings II they did say that they acqut the Je-
r and engc,ed ieehodcr Of them county Of all vol.
iutary participation IA this ui s and antIpuhoau exclusion
They believe and affords them high and unnixed pleasure
70 thor belief that nine OF the reehodes
Frederick would gladly them this day, enjoying the
fullest extent al the rights that withheld from them
The hope hat this feeling prevails great
is of the privileged class Of virginia. alone reconcile t.
members Of this ssemby the idea grating feelings
o eemen of seeing constitution Fundamental law which
is define the rights Of themselves aud postery peha
Tor 10 come framed by the representative. of at prve
ged class alone.
On this hope they live till ,e shall show il.
faacy, restore them their rights and fee,nen
May heaven inspire the conventOn which assemble
with wisdom aud honesty and republican feelings and
thereby avert hpn Virginia all the evils and nores Of civil
After the adoption Of the preamble the following resolution,
unanimously adopted:
Resolved That deem the present limitation of suffrage
- De of royalty inconsistent with spirit of our
free Institutions and at variance with the principles epub.
Cansr
Resolved That consider the sixth clause in the bill OF
rights containing sound and republican pncipe-a SAFE
and polite directory proper regulation OF the elective priv
lese.
q Resolved, That deem it solemn and sacred DUTY
which the violated rights of man, country and
poscty duOunce tie late OF the general assembly
this state, restricting the right of suffrage freehoders in the
of To
sacred axious contained the bill of rights epgnan To every
principle OF genuine rePubcann, and violation nat
raj rights. -
A. Resolved, That we heartily approve s proposition "a
fake OF the population Of the staie believe such
will show that twohir of the free white male adults
Acknowledgement, and that knowledge of this
fact will impress the convention about assemble with con-
vcon of the proey and eXpcdency ofeXendine right
Suffrage the persons DISTINGUISHED.
s. Resolved, That committee OF corTespon lence be
pointed, consisting of five members promote unity and
of action such measures deemed prorer
effect extension of the exercise Of the right under
the constitution about to be framed by the convention
Whereupon Mr.. Davis Mr. STREET,, MIR Reilly Mr. Richard E.
Byrd, and MIR. VIM. Gore appointed
Resolved That the above named committee of corTespon
ence be instructed to prepare address the eehodes
the expressive of our views the subject Of extension
6fthe right suffrage and soliciting them lend their aid by
cectn such the convention avowedy in favor
a extension of the elective franchise
Resolved, That these proceedings be published in slc;
rapers as are friendly 10 the object ofthe meeting.
GEORGE REED, CbalfmaH
JAMES p RrftEy, Secretary.