Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-04-28

Stplsu " oc ust VIII OF TIE 10 cicCt
Ia member Of the Convention, 4 will serve them
o the best Of my ability. well know, howe
YER that ability TO be comparatively feeble, and
declare without hesitation ctation, that had
much rather the choice should fall on some other
Citizen. JAMES PLEASANTS.
At a meeting Of the Freeholicrs and Non
Freeholders friendly to an extension Of the right
of sufrage, al Thomas Booker's tavern, i'm the
County Of Cumberland, on Saturday The 18th day
Of April. 1926 John a. Trent was calied,to the
Chair and John Daniel, Jr. appointed Secretary.
The object of the meeting having been explain
ed BY Francis u. Deane, jr. who moved for an APP
pointment ofa committee to report u Preamble and
solution expressive of the object Of the meeting:
Thereupon, Abner Nash, Merit III. Booker,
Francis d. Deanc, jr. Robert Henderson,, John l..
Trent, John Daniel, jr. Frederick Hatcher, Tar-
ton Woodson, aud Thomas Booker, were appointed
: committee, who retired for short time, and
made tho following report
Z Believing crisis has arrived in the political
History OF our country, when 1t becomes the citi-
zen assert his aid and the people TO declare the
great cardinal principles upon which all compacts
or Fundamental laws should be based having for
their object the common benefit, protection and
sec uriy; and believing that many of these prn-
ciples have been dsregarded in the law passed by
the last General Assembly, entitled, AN act TO
organize a Convention'-we have assembled for
the purpose Of asserting these rights, declaring
these principles, and for the further object of So
lemnly protesting against their violation. g That
an power is vested in. and consequently derived
from the peoples" :" that government is. or ought
to be, instituted Tor the common benefit" I" that
no man or set of men entitled to exclusive
privileges" are the great principles upon which
free institutions alone rest: they adni, Of no
compromise with expediency, but demand the PRO-
lection and support of all classes of citizens, who
are not prepared to rctrogaie in the march OF ci-
vilizaton, and again rely upon the exploited here
sizes Of fe,Ida despotism guarantees for their Ii
berty. That they must form the political creed OF
the friends of freedom in all ages, we are war
ranted in asserting, when we find them constitute
ing the prominent features in the confession of faith
promulgated June 18th, l776. They are too plain
iy ieneatec in the bill of rights, that great chart
OF Virginia liberty, for her SONS ever to renounce
them either the advocates of feutla aristocracy
or other invaders Of liberty, under whatsoever cir
cumstances the demand may be made. That the
ireeholders of the commonwealth, forming only
portion OF the community, have been, by the ex-
listing constitution, the sole repositories Of politi
cal power, and are sought by the conven ton law
so to be continued, are facts that none can deny.
That there exists in this class of citizens over all
others, a peculiar fitness for its exercise, cannot
be admitted; that their nvestiture with il is wi
oaton of that principle which declares all power
TO rest with the people, needs no argument, since
their superior privileges admitted by all to be
enjoyed to the exclusion of large and respectable
body OF citizens, II not majority OF the whole
community. We hadsupposed that those doctrines
OF political right upon which the freehold suffrage
has ever rested for its support, had yielded with
many other poliSca .heresies, having u common
origin with them, to the advancement in the sci
ence OF government which so conspiculously dis
tinguishes the present age. We were not in any
manner, prepared for the avowal OF such opinions
as were advocated i'm debate the convention
law during the last session Of our Legislature;
much less did we expect to find those opinions
ceiving the sanction OF tat body by their incorpo-
ration into the provisions Of law, entitled" an
act 10 organize convention to reform the cons,i-
futon" The power to reform, alter, or abolish
the form of government under which any people
exercise the attributes OF sovereignty upon princi-
Piles OF equality, we have been taught 10 believe
belonged TO the people, unalienable and in
defeasible right, which cannot be exercised by any
class OF the community. We have as authority
for this opinion, not only the bill of rights but
declaration OF the Father of his country. fr. his
valedictory TO the people Of the u S. be says the
basis OF system is the right of the peo
pie TO make and alter their constitutions of govern
ment; would il not be than waste of time
10 offer arguments in maintenance of principles
claiming such authority for their purity, their va
lue, their correctness. 1t would be presumption,
indeed, amounting TO insult TO assemblage Of
Frginians, to attempt to sustain, by any course OF
reasoning, principles Of civil liberty that claim as
their author George Washington; his name alone
hallows them in tho minds of his countrymen.
Resolved, That the declaration OF rights unani-
mously adopted June 18th, 1776, by the Repre-
sentatives Of the people Of Virginia. should be re-
arded as the basis Of her government, in all ae.
Resolved, That the provision of the Law eDd-
tied an act, to organize convention, which ex-
cludcs the non -freehoders from representation in
the Convention, TO be holden at Richmond in &C.
to5er next is in violation OF the Bill OF Rights and
discordant with the principles get forth in the pro-
ceedings OF this meeting, and therefore solemnly
protested against, violation Of the rights OF the
citizens.
Resolved, That the non -freeholders of Cumber
land, assemble on the fourth Monday in May
next, at their courthouse, and appoint two discreet
and proper persons TO take list of their names in
order to ascertain as nearly may be, the number
OF non-freeholders throughout this cominonwe alth
who are deprivedof their political rights, and that
such citizens sign the same and attach an affidavit
thereto, certifying before Justice of the Peace,
that such poll has been justly and fairly kept by
them, which they shall transmit to the President
or other presiding officer of the Convention to be
holden in October next, at Richmond within ten
days after the said Convention, shall commence its
session.
Resolved, That the enjoyment of every section
oil the state, oil ITS proper proportion OF political
power, and just participation by all classes OF
citizens Of the blessings as well as the burtbens
OF government, can alone give stability TO our in
situations
Resolved, That Francis b. Deane, ir. Abner
Nash, Robert Henderson, Merit III. Booker, John
j.. Trent and Robert Irving, be a committee to
prepare memorial to accompany the polls Of
non-trecholders TO be taken on the 4th Monday
IN May next, as prescribed in tho Sd resolution
adopted.
On motion. Resolved, That the foregoing Pre-
amb!e and Resolutions, be signed by the Chair
man and Secretary, and forwarded 10 the Editors
OF the Richmond Enquirer and Constitutional
"hg, for publication in heir respective papers.
The meeting then adjourned.
JNO. A. TRENT, Chm'n.
JSo. DANIEL, Jr. Scc'ry.
A. e Il -.