Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-08-05
CoMMUNICATED.

RISM OF SuVrdge under me NeW ConstHWIon
of Virgiaia.-By the 14th Section uf the Sd Ar
tcle of this Constitution, it is provided, 1st That
every male citizen Of the commonwealth. resi-
deat therein, aged twenty-one years and upwards,
being qualified to exercise the right Of suffrage
according to the former constitution and laws.
nav vote This leads to the enquiry who, uf;1er
the former constitution and laws, were entitled
10 vote.
By the Constitution adopted in 1776, it was
declared, the right of suffrage shall remain as ex-
ercised at present By the act Of assembly; pass
ed in l7O5 and reenacted in 1886, it is declared,
every fiseholdsr Of certain quantity of land,
shall have the right to vote for members of AS
semblY. The quantity OF land was, originally,
100 acres unimproved: BY subsequent law the
quantity was reduced to fifty acres, or twenty
FIVE with house in his possession. BY the same
law. resident frtsholdsrs were liable to be prose-
cuted ard 6ued for not voting. There is no
penalty imposed on nonresident freeholders for
not voting. Then, under the first clause oil the
I4th section of the Sd article Of the new Consti-
tuition, all freehplders in Virginia, where the
freehold is 10 fifty acres of unimproved, or twenty
five acres Of improved land, may vote, it lie De
citizen Of the State and resident therein.
The next enquiry is, who is citizen? The
Act of Assembly, passed in 1886, declares that
all persons born in the State shall be deemed CT
tizens, until they shalrelinquish the same IN the
manner in the said act directed before Court OF
Record. By the Cd section 0! the 4th article OF
the Constitution of the United States, 1t is de-
clared, that ',the citizens of each state Shall be
."enti,led to all the pricilesss and inmunltes OF
citizens Of the different States" Under this
clause Of the Constitution, any person who is
native or naturalized citizen of any of the other
States, if he becomes resident of Virginia, be-
comes a citizen Of the State; and if he possesses
freehold in that State. he may vote. There
fore, citizen of Maryland or of Massachusetts,.
when in Virginia is entitled TO all the privileges
and immauitles of a citizen Of Virginia. -And it
resident citizen Of Virginia, having the other
qualifications Of voter, can vote.
The second class Of persons entitled to vote
under the l4th section of the Sd article OF the
Constitution, every citizen who is aresident OF
the State at the time of the election. is possessed
of an estate of freehold, in land, OF the value OF
TWENTY-FIVE dollars, and so assessed to be, IT any
10 required by law.
Sd. Every such citizen, being possessed as te:
nant IN common, joint tenant or Parcener OF an
interest or share Of land, aud having an estate OF
freehold therein, such interest or share icing OF
the value of twenty-five dollars, may vote.
4,h. Every such citizen being entitled to re-
version. or vested remainder in fee. expectant, or
an estate for life or lives, in land OF the value oil
fifty dollars-Every such citizen (unless his
,ossession or title shall have come TO him'by de-
scent, devise, marriage or marriage settlement,)
having been 50 possessed or entitled tor 3 months
may vote.
5th. Every such citizen who shalt be h'"'sey
in actual occupation of leasehold estate, with
the evidence recorded two months before he snail
offer to vote, of term originally not less than
five wears, of the annual value OF twenty i've
dollars, may vote.
9th. And every such CITIZEN who, tor twelve
next preceding months, has been housekeePer
and head Of family within the county, CITY,
town, borough, or election district where he
NAV offer to vote, shall have been assessed with
mart of the revenue of the commonwealth with
in the preceding year, and actually paid the same'
may vote.
From the proceeding provisions OF the Constr
tuition, actual residence is requisite to give the
right to vote; but no length OF time as to the re-
siJeuce is necessary. II the person offering to
vote, is at the time of the election actually domi-
ciled with lis family in Virginia, aud has Tree
hold in the county in which he offers to vote, OF
twenty-five dollars value, he may rote.
A FREEHOLDER.