Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-03-24
.tctosea0ttD SEe1Da9.
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

dcrs to vote for members of convention. We huubly
conceive that our brethren in Rockingham, Lynch
burg, and elsewhere who have determined to resort
to the Of rcmonstrancc and petition TO the
convention, have given up the great principle of the
Bill OF Rights, that "a ajori.y er the community
hath an unaienable, ndubtabe and indefeasibc right
to alter, amend abolish the constitutions" The
fact being clear and undisputed, that the treehol-
ders are not majority of the community, the posi-
lion of tic Bill of Rights is reversed and the priv
lege Of amending abolishing the constitution, is
surrendered into the hands of an acknowledged mino-
rlty 1T appears to us, that our brethren in Lynch
burg and Rockingham, have taken too contracted
view OF tins great question. They seem to limit
their wishes to securing extension of suffrage unde,
the new constitution and if this were guar altied to
them to be content to rclinqush every thing else
But are they ready to surrender their brthright:--
Can they reconcile it to themselves to foreeo rsht
which is admitted to be valid and iniefcasible by
the very men who have deprived them of it, Do
they wish To be represented in convention for the
single purpose Of contributing to extend the RIGHT of
suffrage: HaVe they not an equal interest in set
ting all the principles of the new constitution? and
VIII they barter this interest and this sacred right for
the stipulated price of extension of suffraces
The non-freehoders of Richmond, were actuated
by very different considerations. They did not con.
fine their views to procuring merely an extension of
suffrage They for their rights for all their
rights They wished to vote for members of conyen
tion because they had ndceasibe and sacred rpbt
to 10 So They wished to be represented in conven-
ton, because they had right to be represcnted
there, and because they wished to have an agency in
constructing the government under which they 70
hVe' As to an extension of the right of suffrage
uader the new constitution they never would have
concerned themselves about that because they know
at such extension is necessary and inevitable They
let more concern Ill other matters which are to be
settled by the convention of more Importance, and
whose fate is much more uncertain
w Nh these views. we much regret that our non
freehold brethren in Rockingham and Lvnchburo
nave struck out different course from the one sup
gested by the Richmond meeting. We reoret d NJ
lheS maze surrendered the ereat lrn,inIe tho truth
OF when they equally acknowledge with u.s. and in
stead OF asserting their rightto an equal voice in
the formation OF new Government, condescend 10
beg the boon of enlarged suffrage from the conven-
oh. lfad they stood up for their rights voted for
members ct convention, and had their sutfra9e pro
perry authenticated TO that body, their voice would
undoubtedly have been as potential as that of free
holders with that body in determining elections. As
1t is, they have lost the vantage ground and 90 ~
suppiIcants to the bar of an Assembly into which
they might, ought, and would have entered on eouaI
terms as free men. In our view, the extension of
suifraSeris as pinch ofsnu compared to the great
principle thus tamcly and we think must rnfort,,-
nately surrendered.
With these observations, we submit the f,IIovipo
hOnI, tbat; -.
circulated by favourable presses, and extersivel,
adopted.
For THE RrouMoSD WHie
10 me People Of Pirginia and cspeciaIly to the Fee
hotdcrs friendly 10 The eriensioa of The u.;rM oil
sND'nge and TO the Non FreehoAlery
Inc true question at this time is not who shall or
VINO shall not vote in the new government tha, ia
question ofpolcy to be adjusted in Convention hn,
the question l5 now when we are about to form -
new gorernment) who have the right to adjust th,t
pohcy' The exclusive right of the freehoders to do
tins Is denied by The great principle that man S 800
bic Of sclf-government. The frceholJers WIN mo -
der the present constitution, the exclusive sovereigr
nave reserved to themselves no such RIGHT mr. SaT
they conferred by any instrument, that have seen
power on the Legislature to oso-'rhn nrt ne 6sen
bly, which DISTINGUISHES the ron free holder is most m
queStIonably noperativc--the limit 70 the RIGHT or
SURFACE, under the present constitution of ,Lc S,te
io i"n',efnentui iby, md is binding in all cioc
OiiS 10 winch IT. has rofe enee but any eYter.;o,
OF the principle, to objects not contemplated bv tI
constitution, IS arbitrary and unjust An ortIinnr
legislature mas no more right prescribe the free
hold qualification it exists in the present constit,-
ton, as the rule of action in elections to the Gomez
ton' than they have to prescribe any other eualifcn
ton. Indeed the principle which admits the autbor-
1ty OF the Legislature TO extend one feature of this
constitution, TO operate on the new one. would
confer on them, authority tn extend any other foat,r
oiIt-N any such extension not warranted by express
right, is Tefcrable to their ideas of expedonrv and
may or may not be, as they please or do not please
perpetuatcd by them. FN''
The public vote the frccholdors in favor Of Con.
Vc"ton without restriction has placed us where we
would stand, IT wehad no constitution at all rpou orr
natural Tights--every free white man has an canal
right to participate in forming new cornDact--tIc
right of the freeholder to vote in elections 70 rom
Tentlon IS found, where the right of the freeholder Is
found, d as no restriction is there made between ono
and the other, none be eDiorced it is found where
the right ofnen IS found 10 form social con1pacts if
: the Orlriu3l unfpfforod co,J;f;or ~