Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-03-25
From he HS,chktsr Republican.
THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE.


our late delegates in the contention, and OBJ
tanned their sanction to ats accuracy. %
phraseology in the constitution IS veTy dhlcul
TO understand, from the law technic allie
with which it abounds In this s'mPAicaa9i
they are substituted by ether words, and Ia
whole rendered perfectly inteiiiSihle 10 th'
plainest capacity:
Every white male citizen Of the common
wealth residing therein, agcd II years ah'
upwards, with the exception oil taose
unsound mind, paupers non commissioner
officers, soldiers, seamen or maI1nes IN th'
service offhe United States, or persons con
victed of any infamous offence and pesessing
some one Of the qualifications which follow
! will. in addition to those citizens who are q
presentlentiiled to exercise the right ofsufirog'
! under the existing constitution and laws, be en-
titled 70 exercise that right underline new con
stituhon if adopted and are entitled to vote fol
I the adoption or rejection OF thatinstrument, a
| tho ensuing spring election.
| Isl. Every such citizen (as above) who is HIM
! self, in possession of, or has tenant on a
piece of land, it matters not how small aquan-
tity. or has dwelling house, whether there be
attached any more ground than that on which
the house stands or not, provided IL be OF The
value Of s25, and so assessed to be, On the
commissioners books III fequreu Dy law,
win be entitled TO vote
cd. Wherever, for example, tbere is an un-
divided estate, say tract of land or ont lot,
or a house and lot, and there are two, five,
eight, ten or any greater number of parties
entitled to share in the division, and having
an assessed freehold estate in the same, and
provided each share be the value of SIS, and
so assessed 10 be, If required by law, all will
be entitled to vote; but when the value Of the
property would no be sufficient 10 enu1e all
to vote, they, together. will be entitled to as
many votes as the Dalae Of the estate would
give, divided by s23.
Sd The next class IS reoe'sioners. IT, Tor
example, any one be entitled TO the Teoersiaa
Of AN estate, eithcr IN fee simple, or for HE
or es,--thatis to say, il the estate he held
by another during his or her hfe, hut after
the death of the party IN possession Is to go
to the son, son in-iaw, ar any other, such
.person would be entitled to vote, If the estate
he worth $50, and so assessed to be, If ne
CURED by law, and provided also the title OF
1the same ION the part Of the reVersloncr) shall
have existed six menths previous to the time
Of his offering to vote. But, ia case man
becomes eHt.tled to All estate, IL lana worth
$50 by descent, devise or marriage, such per-
son is Immediately ,eAti1ed to vote. without
limitation to time.
4th. A Householder for FIVE years, If in &C
tuai possession of tire estate, whether it be
an acre or two of land or house and lot ,
and provided the same, be recorded two
months before he offers TO vote, which is IN
dispensabie, and provided also the annual
rent or value of the lease be not less than
800. will be entitled 10 vote.
9Th Every,citzen, who for ] 2 menfhs pre-
'yioas 10 the election, has been a hossekeep-
err and head of q family, within tie county,
city, town, borough or election district,
Y.hese he may offer to vote, and shall have
been assessed with "a part of the revenue Of
the Commonwealth, within the preceding wear,
and actually paid the same, will identified to
vote. For example, a housekeeper and head
Of a family, having a slave, his own property
or hired,--a horse, or pleasure carriage
and paying tax upon either, viii be entitled
to vote merchant also, who is a house
keeper and head of a family, and paying for
his license 10 retail merchandise, viii, in such
case, be entitled to vote.
4 ne,r Propositions The Hheeling Compi-
Ter contains grave proposition to cede the
counties of Brook and Ohio, in Virginia, TO
Maryland or Pennsylvania The editor thinks
that their inhabitants would prefer an annex
Tilon 10 IdafylaHd, ana mtlfDdteS uati tne
insulated condition eftbose counties should be
urged as an objection, there is nothing to
hmder the counties OF Preston, .Moi0ngal.G,
3Nter, and SO much of Harrison and Wood as
The eztention Of the southern line Of Preston
TO tile OHIO River, would cut off, being in
clHded N the transfer BY such acces SION,
SAYS the Compiler, Maryland would have an
outlet to the Ohio as well as on the Atlantic,
and he hopes his suggestions win receive the
serious consideration of the people OF Virgin
ID and Maryland generally.
The following are the concluding remarks
of DIR. Reds Introductory to series of Lee
lures to the Franklin Institute, Rochester.
Gould persuade the mechanics and man
ufacturers, who now hear me, of the truth OF
what now say--if could inspire them with
the courage to devote one hour every eve
ming after their daily is done, to the study of
these truths. should deem myself almost a
benefactor; for they would soon find, that
their work would be accomplished in less time
and with more ease. The profit would be
double. In a year 800 hours thus spent
would be worth as many dollars--more---lor
who can calculate the amount Of information
-pract teal knowledge that would rush from
the ramifled rivulets thus brought into views
DO we need demonstration? Here it IS
look at it. A distinguished civil officer IN
sister state scas brickiayer till ttUenty-sir
yrarS Of age; and previous to this time, quail
fed himself In single hours, after work, for the