Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-03-03
FoR THE VINO.
TUE NEW CONSTITUTION

The writer Of this article, may DO Chased with
those who have advocated extension Of the rirhl
o. suffrage. and he has been little surPrzed, to End
the advocates Of the same principle, generally Sat
isfe with the l4h section, of the third article Of the
new Constitution, which declares, and regulates the
power and rights OF the citizen, upon this vital prin.
the Constitution with all due Difference to the great
men who framed III il badly eonssrucfed, as Ian
guege could well be, when formed into sentences
and' considering the high privilege, which il involves
could mako it. The first objection which may Be-
urged to 1t is that does not carry, upon ito face
the acknowledged rights Of the citizen, and before
these rights can be sscertained, we are obliged to
iook, hrs, to the new Constitution then to the old
and lastly to our own laws, both in colonial and
sovereign character. This, will at once be seem
when the first part Of the l4th section, examined
IL declares, that "every white male citizen Of the
years, or upwards, being qualified to etsrcise the
TtSnt o. outrage, according to the former Constitu-
eon Gnd laics, shall continue to exercise the great
privilege OF voting for members Of the General As
s say &C. Now, If PLAIN citizen should, ten
hence be called upon say, what rights belong
ca 70 him, when he was about to approach the polls
Ior the purpose OF voting, he would, in doubtful
case naturally look TO the 18th section of tho Sd ar
uele Oh the Constitution, and upon examining its
provisions, he would find himself compelled to look
oack TO the old Constitution, which in all proba ability
w thcn be difficult ~ procurc and, if he should be
fortunate enough to procure II, he will there find,
upon the subject OF suffrage, only this language
VIII, Ihe right OF suffrage shall remain rs heretofore
exercised" HIS doubts Will then, not only, not be
removed, but Increased, because he will not be able
70 understand where he is to fina the law or laws
which regulated the right OF Suffrage before the old
Constitution was adopted, and If he could be inform
ed upon this branch OF the subject; few any, could
furnish him, with Hennings Statutes at Large, In
winch book alone | believe, the principle is to be
found at this day. The objection therefore, to the
rst part OF the 18th section OF the Sd article of the
rsfer
eessdry instead OF which, II ought, IN my humble
Judgment, to have detailed all the separate cases
upon which, this great constitutional privilege should
fest-"The next objection which may BIZ iairly NJ
geo IS, that, under the old CONSTITUTIONS the right OF
Suffrage was unequal, and which ought ~ have been
remeuied under The new; but which not remedied.
ihe hrst part OF The Attn section, which have area-
ny quoted, confirms the right oi continuing to VOTE
To ali those, who enjoyed this right, Tie old
Constitution; and consequently the pot 6oiiers of Nor
ioik anu Williamsburg will, under The new Constlu-
ton, continue TO exercise the important privilege of
voting Tor representatives, whilst the same class OF
cti1ens VIII be excluded from the exercise OF the
same privilege elsewhere, am aware that It will be
SAID that these persons enjoyed this right under the
oIu CONSTITUTION and II would not do deprive them
of II under the new. There nothing IN tins sen-
tinent when examined. The few persons IN the CITY
Oh w iiiamsburg, and borough OF Norfolk, who have
heretofore, most nn1usy exercised this superior Div
iie9e, bear but very proportion to the rest OF
ther fellow citizcns, aud, II The ,ndny could not be
then the few ought To been paced upon The sumo
ground win Inc maDy.-Inere Is no Justice IN this
inequality of rights, ana the Constitution ought to
have swept away The distinction
Ihe next objection to the section of the new Con-
suuon, now under consideration is that II does not
extend the right OF suffrage far a. at first view
II would seem TO do.--Let 1t BIZ properly examined
and think will be admitted, that no great exteu
sion OF tins privilege, wall be found to operate IN The
country, although II may be otherwise IN the towns
a. lNnrr 4
tnnk II rather unwise, To increase the power OF the
towns over the great interests OF agnculturc.-rhe
extension OF the right of suffrage, under the new
Constitution, goes farther than this; or at least
th6 II Vii De found so, IN Its practical operation-
First, every white male -riti.en, aged twentv.ons
years, or upwards, who may be entited to a
or REMAINDER III fee, expectant on for lite or
lives, IN land, OF the value OF nifty dollars &c. sec.
ondiy every citizen who sha own and be in IN.
actual possession Of easehod estate, with recorded
title, OF teIm not originally less than fire years OF
the annual value, or rent, Ut twenty dollars anu
thirdly every such citizen who shall tor twelve
months, next preceding, have been q house keeper
head OF family anu an addition thereto shall ha We
been assessed with and p0s, part OF the revenue
the preceding year. These believe, are the onjy
cases, TO which the privilege OF voting is extended,
under the New Constitution. Now how many ca
ses of this description will be found in the countryl-
Under the first class, admit there will be always
few, in every county and town, but, in the yery ma.
ture Of things, there cannot be many. How MANY
CaSeS vi Ieasee ioI 'e yours, VIII DC found the
country Let every man look around him III his own
county, and he will be very able " count Them
Lands are not held In TINS way In Virginia.; and the
instances arc very rare In regard to the last class
Of enumerated cases, themost difficult points OF dis
elimination, will be always occurring. Who Is to be
denominated the head Of family? IL frequently
happens that TWO or more persons, live together anu
work an estate for their common benefit, each hav-
ing an equal interest, and possessing n common
right. Suppose the case of two brothers renting for
one, two, or three years estate aud that the mo-
Their and sisters shall 1--we with them; which of those
shall be the headS Fifty cases oil this kind may be
supposed. What is to be considered family? h
single man who has been more than twelve montbsa
house keeper, to be called a family Ii he has
slaves, will that fact make 1t family! But suppose
the case TO be either way or the other how ma
ny cases will occur in any one county,
tmay be SAID that overscers will BIO embraced IN
this provision, but when 1t is considered that over
seers arc generally moving from year to year, and
frequently into new county, IT Will at once be seen
hat not many of them will be entitled to vote even
1t they had paid part of tho revenue OF the pre-
cedng year. But what TO be considered an asses.
nent with part OF the revenuc' Must the asses