Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-03-05

power and rights of the citizen, upon this vital prn-
the Constitutions with all due Difference to the great
men who framed it) is badly constructed as lam
Iguage could well be, when formed into sentences,
and considering the high privilege, which involves
1t certainly ought to have been PLAIN as language
could make it. The first objection which may be
urged to it is, that it does not carry upon its face
the acknowledged rights of the citizen and before
.hese rights can be ascertaned, we obliged to
look, first to the new Constitution, then to the DID,
rand lastly to own laws both in our colonial and
sovereign character. This, will at once be seen,
when the first part of the 4h section, examined
declares, that "every white male citizen of the
commonwealth, resident therein, aged twenty one
wears, or upwards, being qualified to exercise the
"rtSht Of suffrage, according to the former Constu
t.on and ta,cs shall continue to exercise the great
privilege OF voting for members of the General AS
lscmbiy, sc. Now, if plain citizen should, ten
years hence, be called upon say what rights belong
ca TO INN, 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 the Sd ar
tlcie OF the Constitution, and upon examining its
/ provisions, he would find himself compelled to look
back to the old Constitution, which in all probability
VIII then be difficult to procure; and, if he should be
fortunate enough to procure it, he will there find
upon the subject of Suffrage, only this language to
wit, The right suffrage shall remain as heretofore
exercised His doubts will then, not only, not be
removed, but increased, because he will not be able
to understand, where he is to find 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 subjects few if any, could
furnish him, with Hennng's Statutes at Large, in
which book alone believe, the principle is to be
found at this day! The objection therefore, to the
hrst part of the 18th section of the Sd article of the
new Constitution is that it renders this reference ne
cessa'y; instead of which, 1t ought, in my humble
judgment, to have detailed all the separate cases
upon which, this great constitutional privilege should
rcst.-"The next objection which may be fairly ur-
ged is, that, under the old Constitutions the right of
suffrage was unequal, and which ought to have been
remedied under the new; but which is not remeded.
The first part of the 18th section, which have alrea
dy quoted, confirms the right of continuing to vote
to all those, who enjoyed this right, under the old
Constitution; and consequently the pot boersof Nor
folk and Williamsburg will, under the new Constiu-
tion continue to exercise the important privilege of
voting for representatives whilst the same class of
citizens will 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
old Constitution and would not do to deprive them
OF 1T under the There is nothing In this SEN
timent when examined. The few persons in the city
of Williamsburg, and borough of Norfolk who have
heretofore most nnusty exercised this superior priv
ege, bear but very small proportion to the rest of
their elow citizens, and If the nlany could not be
placed upon equal ground with the privileged fep;
then the few ought have been placed upon the same
ground with the many.-There is Justice in this
inequality of rights and the Constitution ought to
have swept away the distinction.
The next objection to the section of the new Con-
stituton, under consideration is that does not
extend the right of suffrage far first view,
and think will be admitted, that no great extern
sion of this privilege will be found operate in the
country, although may be otherwise in the towns,
where buildings are put up on long leases and l
think II rather unwise, to increase the power of the
towns over the great interests of agricuturc.-The
extension of the right of suffrage, under the new
Constitution, goes farther than this or at least
think will be found so, in its practical operation-
First, every white male citizen, aged twenty-one
years. or upwards, who may be entitled to reversion,
or remainder, in fee, expectant estate for life
liyes in land, of the value of fifty dollars, &c.
ondly, every such citizen who shall own and be an The
actual possession of easehold estate with recorded
title, OF term, not originally, less than fire years,
the annual value, or rent, OF twenty dollars and,
thirdly, every such citizen who shall for twelve
months, next preceding, have been house keeper,
head of family, and in addition thereto shall have
been assessed with, and paid, part Of the revenue
the preceding year. These l believe, the only
cases. to which the privilege of voting is extended,
under the New Constitution. Now how many
ofthis description will be found in the country
Under the first class, admit there will be always
few, in every county and town, bnt, in the very
! ture Of things, there cannot be many. How many
cases OF leases for five years, will be found in the
country? Let every man look around him in his own
county, and he will be very able to count them.
Lands not held in this way in Virginia; and the
instances are very rare In regard to the last class
of enumerated cases, the most difficult points of dis
elimination, Will be always occurring. Who to be
cenoninated the head of family? 1t frequently
happens that two or more persons live together and
work an estate tor their common benefit, each hav-
ing an equal interest, and possessing common
right. Suppose the case of two brothers renting for
one, two or three years estate, and that the
Their and sisters shallbve with them; which of those
shall be the head? Fifty cases OF this kind may be
supposed. What is to be considered fanny Is a
single man who has been more than twelve months a
house keeper, to be called family? Ii he has
slaves, will that fact make 1T family? But suppose
the TO be either way or the other, how
ny cases will occur in any county?
! Itnay be said that oyerseers will be embraced in
; this provision, but when is considered that
seers are generally moving from year TO year, aud
frequently into county, 1t will at once be seen
that not many of them Will be entitled to vote,
/ if they Rad paid part OF the revenue of the pre-
/ ceding year. Butswhat is to be considered
n,eat with a part of the revenue? Must the asses
ment be bottomed upon actual possession of the
| property taxed, may individual cause himself
] to be assessed with taxes horse slave, when
in truth ne possesses neither: These and many more