Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-02-20

10 pertain to mum anu their poserty the basis
foundation OF eDt;fhose fathers Of the repub
lic that ih.iromcnt, answered these enqres BY de-
ciarnx sThst elections OF members To serve .. repre-
sentaves Of the people, In Assembly ought TO he tr-s
anI that all men, having Sufficient evidence Of permd
n,nf interest tcit and to- the com
unity. have the right II suffrage in other words, that
the political power Of the State should re lite in those
members OF the community, who possess sufficient evil
dence OF permanent, common interest and s,;achme n
Such the geperstPr ncips responding the enqui'
above stated This charter OF fundamental principles
has, in all its parts, met with your approval
and admiration; it hA. become 6rnly established in
your v-neraon and fctons; and. a cole OF politi.
cal truth, has, with great propety, been prexed by
the Cow ention, unchange the nded a. il
to he original Constitution.
But this general principle must be defined and ex.
psined. before can be carried out into any practical
ef..t or operation And hence the question recu,s,-
who then possess sufficient evidence fpe,nanente
mon interest 10Th. and attachment TO. the communi-
fy?-The correct answer TO this alton alone
determine, who ought to exercise the right OF suffrage.
Various and discrepant have been the opinioss
entertained upon this subject. They have varied.
through every degree OF gradaon, from a suffrage,
the most limited, to suffrage, the most universal
While some have held, thu the exercise Of this por
tant right should be confined TO the restrict ed land
or freehold q.al caton; others have as warmly and
confidently affirmed, that the privilege should he err
tended to every freeman. who may have answered to
his name at ro'lcail, or contributed tax, however
Insignificant.
Between these conflicting opinions / shall not at.
tempt to decide; to point out which Is entitled the
excIu.ive elaine of orthodoxy II shall only bring
gether, for notice aud deiberstien tho
Of the two Con.iu'ions-ths existing aud the amend.
ed one-upon this interesting point; aud. hey ma
rally differ, test their comparative merits. by COM
mensuratoD comparison with the principle which we
find asserted in yosr Bill OF Rights; document which
you recognise your standard Of political rsctude and
truth.
What tho provision, upon this subject, contain.
ed in each Of the two Cons i,u'ion.' How, and 10
what extent, do thsy dif.,!-L-t compare them.
Under your existing Cons tuition, az IL operates a.
present the right Of suffrage, with some local excep
items un moortAn'o the purpose Of our comparison, 10
confined to the freehold owners OF the sell; aud il
he exercised by such Jreeholders only. as may. BY
themselves or tenants, possess fTenty fpe Of
land, II improved by house thereon Of certain dimeu
'ions, and plantation; or ty acres II nninproved:
the number OF acres d t-rmning the right.
BY the amended Con.tuti this imp ortant right /.
to be- secured and extended to tho following clA,es Of
individuals:
l. To every white male citizen Of thu Common
wealth, resident therein aged twenty-one years and
upwards, being qualified TO exerc-e the right OF suit
irage according To the former Constitution and laws"
q To every such citizen, being pa.re.,rd. or whose
tendnt for years, will or a: suferace is possessed
Of an e'a,e Of freehold in land Of the value of tw-ni
hive doliarS, and a'es.ed to be if any as,esine MT
thereof be required by law"
8. To every urh citizen, being possessed, as to.
nant in common ont-t-nant or parcener Of an inter
est in or share of land, and having estate of freehold
therein, such interest share being Of the value OF
twenty-five dollars, and assessed 10 he il any a,.
se'smrnt thereofhe required by law"
To every such citizen being entitled 10 a rsvet-
sion orvested remainder in fee, expecant an estate
for life lives in land OF the value Of fry dollars. and
80 Assessed TO be any Assessment thereof be re qured
by law"
S. To" svsry such citizen, who shall own and be
himself in actual occupation Of leasehsld estate with
The evidence OF title recorded two months before he
shall offer TO vote OF term originally less than five
years, OF the annual value of twenty dollars"
g. To every such citizen, who for twelve menihs
next preceding has been eper and h. al Of
family within the county, CITY, town, borough or cleo
ton district where he offer to vote and shall ave
been assessed with part Of the revenue Of the Com
monwealih within the preceding year, and actually
paid the same and no other persons"
Such are the provisions. contained in the ecnst-
tuonss upon the subject Of the right Of suffcase-
emitting some modc atoms, either to both in.
sirumcnts so nearly SIMILAR make il unneces.
sary to notice them particularly. Let examine
which approaches nearest to the 'stand,rJ, which you
recogni'e-whch best carries out the principle
ed in your Bill oil Rights.
The first question, which occurs in tn enquiry il
this -D,es the provision under your sscnt Consti
tuition upon tn" subject Of suffrage up this STAN
dArd! Does your present Constitution bear out the
principle a.srried in your Bill Of Rights to its proper
full and Legitimate extent Or, in other words while
your present Contribution confines the privilege Of .ui-
fAge TO rcehoders, doss it comprehend all, who pos
cess sufficient evidence OF permanent common inter.s
with and attachment TO, the communicable these in
terroga'oriss you answer, No;that by your present
Constitution large portion Of the community are ex.
cluded; whose interest in IT, and whose attachment to
it, must be beyond the reach of question or of doubt
that Oh. provision Of the present Constitution nav per
haps, he safe, but that IL IL unjust And the truth OF
reply cannot he denied. The most zr aou, stick
ers for landed qualification will hardly dispute its
correcne.s and no doubt can be eriaine hut that
conviction of It's truth OF the principal in
ducemens, which urged you to the call Of Conven-
ton.
D.. then, the provision. of the amended Constitution
upon this subject approximate nearer to the standard
recognized
have no h..itaion in giving an affirmative repIy
whatever exceptions may be taken TO the provisions
IN the detail, am convinced, that, upon the whole
and when compared with tho provision. of the old
Con-huion, they comfortable to the spirit of
true liberty; and more in accordance with the repub-
lcan principle, that all individual, of the community
who possess snfh lent evidence OF permanent common
interest and attachment, should he admitted to psrtiri-
patton in The exercise Of the sovereign power If the
interest which freehoIder may take in the conrnuui-
w. depends upon the value well the number OF
his acres; IL an estate in expectancy may he Apr ecia
ed as highly az the same perhaps less vaIuabI,
one i'll possc.sion; f the easeboder for five years of
an estate yielding an ANIMAL rent Of twenty dollars.
may feel az much interested for the proc con hi.
rights, as the freehoder Of ossts viii would not
perhaps, command rent Of twenty cents
house Keepers resident for at isast year. and who
must also be head, OF families, likely TO feel ssf
bc nily deep interest in The common welfare and pro.
perity;-i hese POSITIONS may be affirmed, tho ar.
gument In fsvonr OF the Con.iitntion eorparrd
up"n The subject OF suffrage, will be clear aud concIu-
siTs.
Are then, these cis'ses OF individuals 10 whom the
right OF suHrag. s to be extended under the amended
Constitution, likely In posses the required
oy the standard, which we have assumed! Are they
likely 10 feel this Common interest and this
attachment To the community!
leave the question for your own ref .ciion and
iudgmrn 10 he decided by each Of you, after casting
around him, and renarkipg the instances where the
extension Of the privilege will operate, a, his indivi-
dual experience and observation may influence and d.
81 II -. n. IL