Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-03-27
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.

Debate in the Senate on the Contention,
FEBRUARY 4, 1929.
Gen. Dddes amendment to the Bin, and M
Jnorgan's amendment to Gen. Dade's, being
under consideration.
MIR. MORGAN'S SPEECH.
CONCLUDED.
Mr.. NJ. said the non- freeholdcss and others of
the free white men Of the Commonwealth, who
have no right under the law TO vote for members
of the Assembly have been burdeued beyond what
any could believe, without examining the
subject closely-Few would fail to be astonished
at the burdens ofthese men, on reducing them by
calculation to their actual amount-they were far
greater than he had any idea of, until fully deve
oped by examination ofstatisticai documents TO be
found in the several Offices III the Capitol. Mr..
NJ said he must beg leave to call the attention of
the Senate 10 a close examination Of this part of
the subject, and 10 submit 10 them the result Of his
Investigations.
He said by the censu, Of 1920 there were of
free white males of lS years of age, Ids, 2I3.-
Those OF is and under q years, 20,Sl0, leaving
I2i,403 OF the age of 81 years and upwards. The
freehold voters do not exceed $4,000 at the pre-
sent time, and there doubts whether they will
amount TO that number. At the last spring cleo
lions, there were ri ,S96 polleti in favor of Con-
vention, and ,637 against it, making the whole
poll to consist of 1888. 1t must be observed
that the voters have the advantage Of their in
crease since 1920 as we'll as the addition of 6,i67
to make up the number of $4,000, while no in
crease is allowed since that time, 10 the non rosers
in this calculation. Take from the whole numbe
OF free white male citizens, above the age of II
years, the voters, and there will remain 80, l03,
who excluded from the polls in elections. But
exclude from this number 1900 persons, who,
from various causes, might be excluded, accord
log to the restrictions in the amendment and there
will be ,903, deprived of the privilege Of voting
This statement shows that the government is in
the hands OF a minority of the people, which is of
itself sufficient reason TO induce the Legislature
10 permit the free men TO vote in the election of
delegates to the Convention But the voters claim
their superior right TO the controul of The gov
ernrneat, by virtue of their title to the SOIL and
the notion, that they bear the burden OF the ex-
penses of government; and it is supposed that the
owners OF the land tied to the country and the
public good, more securely than any ether class of
This is the doctrine advanced in the pre-
amble of the act of the 22d Of Charles I'd, and as
is expressed in the act, it was intended to follow
the English law. The system of taxati on 10 this
country, has been favorable to the land-holders,
and so it has been in England 1t is consequence
resulting from the restrictions the right of suf
frage. The whole land tax of the State, at this |
time, amounts TO Sl75,536, while the whole rev.
enue amounts to 1923 363. Deduct from the sg- |
gregate land tax $40, $780, the probable amount |
paid on the estates OF infants, iemes sole, and TO-
reigners; and on lots in towns not established I'M
improved lots and small farms, taverns, and mill
property, where the owners not entitled 10
vote, which is less sum than ought TO be allowed,
and there remains Sl35 900 paid by the voters on
their lands, less than lid of the whole revenue Of
the State. 1t makes the average sum paid by |
each voter OF SO per annum.
MIR. M said, he would now enquire into the le- |
vies and services required by the government |
from the nOn-v0teTs. lie said the county leyies |
and poor leyies, might safely be estimated at 81
per annum for each tihable, that in some counties
they amounted to much more, and IN but few 10 a |
less sum. There have been instances Of these !
levies amounting in counties to 4 and So and |
it is not uncommon for them to amount to and |
SO. The labor on the public roads is a very con-
siderable service and of great public benefit. The
landholders derive more private benefit from good |
roads, than any other class OF the community
The value of the lands and the products OF the
soil are enhanced or diminished according TO the
state OF the roads Yet the landholder contributes
no more to this kind OF improvement, than the
man who has no title to the soil whatever; and, in
deed, sometimes not so much. The service may |
be estimated at 8 days labour per anDum, at least
The surveyors in nearly all the counties, call out
their hands few days before every grand jury !
court. These courts come six times year; but
ia the western counties, the hands are called out
much oftener. In some countless the hands labor
from 10 10 10 days in the year. But, Il is pT0ba-
bic, less labouF is required in the East. We may
fairly average the labor at days per year; and at
The value Of Scots per day. When ii is consider
ed, that the farmer, the mechanic, or merchant is
compelled 10 leave his business pay fine, it is
not extrayagaDt TO estimate his loss and the value
OF his labor at Scots; ahO' in some parts Of the
State, men may be hired FOR a less sum. Another
very impor lant service required Of the free men,
is that Of the military, not only in peace, but in
war. We may estimate The value Of this service
10 peace, at the same sum per day, as That iorToad
services and this for tho same reason According
10 the present organization OF the militia, four days
81 otr7ice y required o. each r'.i7sman