Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-04-21


am not in the habit OF making noise about my
b. political opinions, yet l never hesitate 10 give
them when asked for them by any persons in pub
lie or private; and on the present occasion. it Is
particularly proper that the opinions OF every in
dividual, who is thought of as candidate for the
Convention, should be known 10 the Delegates be.
fore they recommend him TO their Fellow Citizens
for election
Ii is impossible to anticipate the various propo
sitions which will r-obably be presented to the
Convention. ON which the votes Of the members
would be required, and all that can be required,
or expected Of Candidate ia, to give his
general riers and opinions on the different.
subjects most likely to come before the Con-
ven'ion, and it must be left t. his dis
cretion to vote for the best plan that il presented
! coinIormably TO these opinions, UNLESS He
is SPECIALLY INSTRUCTED ON a PAR
IT!CULAR SUBJECT, AND THEN IT is
THE DUTY OF THE REPRESENTATIVE
TO OBEY THE INSTRUCTIONS OF HIS
I CONSTITUENTS.
| One Of the first political opinions formed by
| me, was, that the constitution of Virginia was de-
| fcctive aud required amendment, and 1 have
never changed that opinion. The first petition
believe ever presented to the Legislature from Ac
comack for the call Of Convention. 10 revise the
constitution OF Virginia, twenty years ago, was
written by me. 1 known that some persons have
said that returned from the Staun.on Convention
in 1925, opposed TO a Contention. This is a mis-
| take, and the votes given by me and all my col.
leagues in that Convention. the last day we were
OF Resolution declaring that the "defects Of the
Constitution ought TO be remedied by Conven-
tion." But at Staunton, discovered that the prin-
c1pnl object of some Of the leaders in the Conven.
,ion was, to change the mode of Representation in
the House of Delegates Qor the purpose of promo
ting their own views for the Internal Improve.
ment OF the w estern part of the state Yin such
ner as would have deprived the small counties OF
sepes ate delegate in the Legislature which might
be organized by the proposed Convention: and
cndeavoured to defeat that object by proposing an
amendment to the resolution calculated TO secure
70 each County, however small, one Delegate, and
I to the larger Counties more than according to
population. In this proposition W joined by all
the Delegates. TO that Convention from Accomack,
and Col. Bayley, Joined with me in the discussion
before the Conventon.-aIy proposition failed for
reasons unnecessary to be here repeated, and re-
| turned home from Staunton opposed to any made
OF Representation in Contention ichich ico,ld
not secure one Delegate IL, convention from each
county, however small, and more than one from
The larger counties; and still of opinion that
that is the best mode of Representation in conven.
! ton that could have been adopted-but my opn.
ions relative to the defects Of Tie constitution were
not affected by any ching that transpirei at Staun-
! tdn-Durng the present session of the Legisla-
ture, Col. Bayley, Col. Drummond and DR.. Read
voted for proposition for representation in con-
Yention according 10 my idea above suggested.
entirely concur in these principles Of the Bill
OF rights which declare, That all power is vested
IN. and consequently derived from the People.
are tIleT trustees anu servants
| md at all times amendableIto them:'' And "That
no man, or set of men are entitled to exclusive
sep arate emol"ments or privileges from the CON-
munity, but in consideration of public services"
With respect to the right OF suffrage. am Of
opinion thotit should be extended 70 ar trhiie
male citizens nboue ftcenty-one years of age,
WHETHER FREEHOLDERS OR NOT, tcio
are capable ofJtynishing sufficient evidence Of
permanent common interest aoth, and attachment
| 10, the community. I believe there is a general
disposition prevailing throughout Virginia. to ex-
tend the right OF suffrage very considerably, but
there is some difference of opinions TO the pre-
else extent 10 which it should be carred.-Some
are in favour of extending it to all Freehoders and
housekeepers, and some for extending il to all
persons upwards Of tweny.o years Of age.
would not agree 10 extend the right of suffrage,
1ss re ssrsens Aad g SSssa sengiets Of lSa
| ported by public charity is the Poor House-3d
.Y0r to persons telio had not paid all Tdres and
AeU.es assessed upon them for the gear preceding
'Ae finle fhey otered to vote--4M Nor to persons
aoho had not resided in PiTsu1in mare than ON e
gear previous to the .iD,e then offered TO vote; sta
Nor to those acho had been convicted of being IA.
grants; and do not know that should be dis.
! PaSeo toimpose any other restrictions upon the
exercise of the right Of suffrage by free white
male citizens upwards of twenty-one wears of ace.
THE OD!OUS DISTINCTION BETWEEN
FREEHOL.DER AND NON-FREEHOLDER
OUGHT TO BE ABOLISHED.
Letthe right Of suffrage be extended az i, nav,
am aware that some bad men will be admitted
TO the polls and who ought to be excluded, ifMeye
lneTe GnymoTai standard by Uhich men could be
Tiea; and such is the fact under the existing re.
strictions on the -ight-but If extending the right
OF suffrage upon particular principle, would in
| ciude 800 men who had before been deprived of
that right, 400 OF whom were good men, rs no were
wen qualified 10 exercise the right, and the remain
ing 80 were bad men, who ought (norally speak
ing) to be excluded. it would not be With me sui
Gent argument against extending it to the $50 good
men, that you would include the FIFTY bad men.
ny principle IS, that the right of suffrage should
oe ertendedS public education encouraged, so as
TO 9,tdtVy every Dlanta understand and nppreci.
| ate has rights.
In determining upon representation in the ir.
ture Legislature. would not agree TO an equal
representation by counties, by which as under
the present constitution. one man in Warwick has
as much political power as ten men in Accornack.
or twenty men in Frederick. Representation had
heretofore been appportioned according to popula.
ton or taxation, Accornack. instead Of having two
members, ought TO have had certainly three and
| probably four members. I would adhere 10 the
principle proposed by me at Staunton, by giving
one delegate to the smallest counties, and more
Than one, according TO population, to the larger
counties, and upon that plan the relative weight
| oil Acconaek would be increased. When the Con-
vehiion Bill lately passed the House of DELEGATES.
providing for representation in Convention upon
that plan, was highly gsa,ifed / considered IL
right in itself, and was moreover gralified be-
cause thought that thereby each small county
could secure one delegate in the future I.egisIa.
iure; but as The Bill wNs amended in the Senate
and finally agreed TO in yle House of DeIepa,es
the small counties have thrown away that chance
and must now depend upou the liberalitv If ,ha
| larger Counties to grant them az favour, that
which they might have claimed as a right.
| think, that the Executive Council ought TO be
abolished as a useless expense 10 The State and [
should have no objection 10 the Governor being O.
lected directly By the peoDis 1voutd also ,;,,, .,