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

dollars: shall they be entitled to vote? Under on
provision of the new constitution they will be entle,
to vote. but under another provision they are prohib
ited-whch principle is to prevail in this confctior
of langusge9 These are but some ofthe dificnltie,
which seem to me to present themselves in constru.
ing the section of the new constitution now unde,
consideration. But there is q proviso which con.
cudes this clause, that seems to to be not only
unjust, but totally inexpcabe. 1t is in these words
Provided, nevertheless, that the right of suffrage
shall not be exercised, by any person of unsound
mind, or, who shall be pauper, non-cozamis.
stoned officer, soldier. seaman marine, IN the serpice
OF the U. States, by any person, convicted of anv
infamous offence" confess that am wholly una.
bic to account for the introduction of such prov-
sion in the constitution. Why should persons, who
are honorably engaged in the service of the United
States after returning from long cruise to therna-
i've home fox the purpose of seeing their friends De
prohibited from voting, in their native country,
where they have fifty acres OF land? Yet this IS the
effect OF the provisobut under the old constitution
they have the right to vote under such circunstan
ces and by the first part of the 18th section of the
Sd article of the constitution, this right IS Sc
cured to them; notwthstand the prohibition con,ain-
ed in the provisoi and how is this collision TO be
settled?
4 consider the 14th section, of the Sd article ofthe
constitution, as the most important, in the whole in
strument, and II is most sincerely to be regretted
that It should have been so badly constructed Whe-
ther the objections which may be made to it, be of
sufficient magnitude to induce its rejection leave
to the good sense of the voters 10 decide.
AN EASTERN FREEHOLDER.
For THE WHIa.
GENTLEMEN: General Haynes speech which isnow
before the public, and which the Jackson men will
think the Plus uftra oforatory until they read Web
sters contains several passages which ought not to
escape remark: Speaking Of Colonel Benton, the
orator says Sir will not be dragged into the de-
fence of my friend from Missouri confess when
read this passage felt not little chagrined I
had always thought that distinguished men from
the South, however mistaken in political VIEWS were
hOn 10 ,1~I Il
level themselves with those whom public opinion had
pronounced to be far otherwise. If General Hayne
Is really on terms of friendship and intimacy with Col.
Benton, then am free to acknowledge, that acting
upon the trite maxim that man is known by the
company he keeps, for entertain no very favor
able opinion of General Hayne himself 1t is true
that what one humble individual Thinks is matter
OF no great consequence-but it mistake not there
are many, very many, whose Impressions in this re-
spect are precisely like my Colonel Benton,s
Senatorial robe cannot conceal the scars of wound
ed regulations and even the eloquence of his friend
from South Carolina, employed in his behalf would
be more likely to tarnsh the orator himself than to
whlten the hero of the famous East room letter.
Passing over the various positions of Gen. HAYNES
speech, which Mr.. Webster has broken into fiae-
ments as easily as an Elephant would trample down
mole hill, will briefly notice what to me seems
singular Inconsistency in the southern orator. In
describing the great advantages of slavery In the
southern States, he represents, aud no doubt,
recty the value OF the whole domestic exports of the
United States for the ten years from 1919 to 1927 in
elusive, amounting S5e1 81 900, of which tho
three southern staples alone cotton rice aud tobac-
co, eproducs Of siare iabor) yielded 1889 200 O00
or about taoo-Hirds Of The arhoie. Notwithstanding
this fatterng picture of southern prospery-a pic
ture, which represents onethrd of the population of
the country monopolizing or enjoying two-thirds
of the export tradeGeneral Hayne in the very next
breath when speaking of the "accursed tariff de-
scribes it as having spread ruin and devastation in the
southern country, Prostra1g their hopes in the dust
Can any thing clearly demonstrate the ltrenzy
of these southern statesmen, than this unguarded
confession by of them who is said to be so wary
and sagacious, and highly gifted What but the deep
infauation could hurry into such extremes of
folly and absurdity!
In complimenting Mr.. Webster for his celebrated
speech the tariff In 82l, General Hayne contrasts
'the clear folcible, and convincing arguments by
which he carried away the understandings Of his
hearers'on that OCCASION with ssthe narro1o viers
and wretched sophstry of another distinguished ora
tor"-meaning no less parsonage than Mr.. Clay
This Mr.. Senator Hayne, who within a short time
past better known on this side of the Little
Pedee, than Nathan Dane is in South Carolina, is
modest enough to charge such man as HENRY
CLAY with narreo oteos and aoretcsd Sophstry. Pray
gentlemen, what will your readers think of this most
exquisite specimen of South Carolina oratory?
QUID NUNC.
THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 4, 1880.
CONGRESS-
Saturday, in the Senate of the u. States other pc