Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-02-20
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA No. III

A. the only question: then, submitted for your deter
in'naon, l. the single one of preference between the
existing and the amended Constitutions as you have
no al,erGave,-ad "a the effect of your decision will
not be Temporary. but permansn';-rvery principle OF
'ea'on,-of prudence, aud OF corrsct policy would d-
rect that your choice should fix upon the one, which
most equitable AMI just-upon the ONE, which is least
defvcuve-,a' t unequal and oppressive. The enqui-
ry ought NOT 10 b., whether either 10 perfect, but
,chch II BEST Such, surely, is the dictate OF wsdom
and her voice il is no doub, your wish and your intsn
ton 10 ebey.
Which, then, OF the Constitutions 10 the be.t!-
The existing or the amended one?-In order to come
to uDpr- dicsd AMI CORE decision Of this ques-
ton, ii will be Necessary carefully aud candify 10
compare them;It will be necessary to examine the
points wherein they dfer-to investigate the reasons
and the on'eqnsnce+-to weigh we'll the advantages
and the disadvantages OF the changes which you may
discover. Let Va pursue this enquiry.
In accompanying you through examina ton of this
subject, it not my purpose TO point crcisc
every complexion or shate Of difference, which may
be found to exist between the two Constitutions;
is IL my design 10 remark those changes, proposed
by the amended ono, which may notice, in the order
of thei occurrence arrangement in that instrument
" will bs 'uticehf and IL IL my insnion5 TO examinr
only those alterations in the Of your gov.
ernn'nt, suggested 10y this new charter OF consitu-
iional law, which may he most prominent anil vital
those, which may most proba,ly have an influence
upon your opinion aud decsi'n in regard IL its merits,
when called TO respond TO the question Of its rahca
ton r. lection.
These topics-the features Of ths snr.n ded Con-
stuiion, which propose changes OF this character
which may ~ Indicated and which il may be enG
lied, by lis intrinsic Importance, toy the interest that
you may feel in il.
In this number, invite you to compare the two
Censu ions in their proyi.i ms upon the important
subject Of suffrage.
without eh'ering at all into the question, whether
man. In any age or CLINE, existed in state Of
turo;a condition Of his existence often spoken of
by elementary wrI'ers upon Government aud tho In-
'ue< OF society," state 10 which poi ical relations
and rights must have been unknown; without p
nj Tn Oiy n,,, -.
termiGshI. qurson,-we may be allowed 10 say, that,
when man departed from such st,to Of natnre,-il
indeed there ever was such period in his history
AMI " there W. not .rmit 10 uspose IT, I'VE NAV
b" allowed 20 say, tba when man departed from such
state OF nature and passed IL {, the social .ta.e-en
cred mo soceiy,-reducrd it's elements into order,
and proceeded TO Law The found atoms of
system or establishment, supposng ri fermini
authority to govern-a right and a power some where
70 regulate the relations OF The sooiey;-the first in
pont OF ''me' " not also he most important question
lot ms decfion, NUT have been where this right Of
confrnl,--in whit portion Of the community this prI.
Teal power Of the state, ought TO Uniysr
con'ent-the voice OF reason. and nature
directed That part ri the community, "a for instance,
females infants, idiots. &c should b.. excspted or ex
cluded from its exercise. In these ca.c.-so far a,
the rule Of Disqualification operated upon these classes
Of indvidnals,-it wac 10 he considered as much in
he light OF an exemption privilege. OF an excIn-
sion or deprivation. But when society /, formed and
Government i. organized, The dictates Of expectancy
and IT prudent policy, mpe rsveiy rednir. that others
b-'ide the'e classes, should be excluded from parti
c'pa'ion IN the political power Of the State. Some
a. Pauper'-.fniy po'sess no interest or stake in tho
common welfare and property. Ohers-a. persons
convicted OF crine-may, nv their own violations OF
The social compact, have forte ted all further claim TO
p'flicip"ie IN is regulation and control And o her,
again temporary resdents, aliens, subjects Of TO-.
reign oate'-msy owe tri'r allie glance, may have
iorneA pr. viotIs atacbmsn's iucompatihIe with The
'a OF their loyalty and fidelity to tho community.
Hence, In all political societies. there are and ihrr.
ever must be. regulation upon this subject and re
ricons upon the unfortunate p1iicipa lion i'm the
ercie OF The sovereign p Aud l. according
be p'incipe of IFS exsrcie il s7uIpd-areording a.
this political resides In, ard IL exereised Nv the
sw or The many, that o determine the cbar,e.
ter aud The very denomination n the government So
only determine whether II IL atstocratcal or
popular This subject fherefore-the arrangement o
This pfinciple-ies at the very foundation Of society-
IN popular governments. where this political power re
SIDES IN the great bulk Of the people; II is Impossible
or The people, majority OF them, 10 assemble Tor
We eNercie, or 10 exercise II with any concert
p'eoi from the nature and necessity Of the case be-
comes Indispensable, that their power should be exert
ed through III" Intervention ri deputies or agents. such
~ ,heir primary assemblies, they may themselves sc
lec.' VINO, wh.n selected, will exercise their power,
ana represent their will Tits right Of the people to
choose their agents which We calf The rio bt of
V therefore, in reality the exercise Of he ol,icsl now
er OF the State. The enquiry then, where mi. poi.
cal power ought to be vested upon arranging The fan
daenial law Tor any soriety by which law alone The
limitation OF s exercise be property REGULATED and
confronted, " not The most important question 10 he set
Tied, IS certainly one Of deep interest and concern
Where, them ought this political power, or th, tlgh
OF suffrage, TO resdel In what portion of the commu
nifty ought It 10 be vested BY whom should II be
ereisedl