The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1834-09-27
STATE CONVENTION.

Mer's freehold qualification.
MIR Dom observed, that anciently,
when our Election law was first made,
there seems to have boen some color Of
reason for extending the right Of suf-
frage to the eldest son, because, ancient
| ly the eldest son inherited the whole real
estate Of his father, and was considered
his fathers successor to the political
privileges and burdens attached to the es-
tate. But this aristocratic feature of our
formei system has since been happily
changed, for something more reasonable
and republican. Estates aud the burden
Of taxation belonging to them, are now
equally divided among all the children
One son expects to have as much inter-
est in the soil and prosperity Of the State
| as another. Why, then, cannot one sun
be as safely trusted with the privilege Of
voting as another? Several members
have remarked, that they voted for con-
tinuirg the privilege to oldest sons, no,
OH the ground of ,primogeniture, but be-
cause his vote is based upon the freehold
qualification Of his father. Why is not
the same reason applicable to the other
sons?
JUICE PITMAN observed that, he early
learnt the principle that when the reason
of the law ceases, the law ought also TO
cease and he believed il to be sound
one. If (as has been shown there is the
same reason for extending the right ot
suffrage to all the sons as TO the eldest,
why not extend il to themi Have not all
the sons an equal interest in the estate
and in the public good: Why, thea,
should they not mingle in our primary
assemblies. and there attend to that inter-
est? On principle we must either admit
all the sons who are of age, or reject then,
all. 1t is said that ;ihe people will not
sanction this course. But why should
we suppose that the people have less prin-
ciple OIL this and other subjects than our
selves?
Mr. HAZARD opposed this motion on
the ground that it would amount in prac.
tice to general suffrage, ami that no in
convenience had resulted from confning
the privilege to eldest sons. This had
often induced fathers, who were able, to
qualify their younger sons, and thus in
,troduce sound and safe voters. Ii this
motion succeeds, it will take away this
inducement. MIR Hazard also proh6u unc-
ed this motion to be aristocralic in its
tendency and consequences.
Mr. DoRR admitted that "fathers who
are able can qualify their younger sons"
but objected that fathers who are unable
caunot. Wealthy men (he said) can
qualify all their sons, and thus have an
undue advantage. He asked what there
was airstocr4fc in his proposal to give
all the sons Of a man, who possessed but
1874 dollars worth Of land, an equal lnlu-
cnce atthe polls with the sons Of the lar
gest landhoiders in the State.
MIR ATwELL-If it benefits the middling
interest TO extend the privilege of voting
to the eldest sons Of small freeholders as
has been contended, it must benefit that
interest still more to extend the privilege
TO all their sons. And if the freehold of
the father will so attach his eldest son to
the soil that he may be safely trusted
with the right of suffrage, it will so attach
the younger sons who have an equal in
terest in the freehold with the eldest to
tho soil, that THEY also may he safely
trusted with the right Of suffrage. Ii,
therefore, the freehold can qualify one
son, it can, for the same reason, qualify
all the sons.
MIR SIMMONS observed, that the ten
dency Of this motion was to give to poor
man with large family of sons an infiu
ence in lieu OF wealth, and to bring all
the power of native settlers attached TO
the polls |; and that for these reasons he
approvedit.
Mr. CRANsToN said, he was in favor of
continuing the privilege to eldest sons,
simply because it is an ancient priyilepe
OF no practical inconvenience. He I'D
mltted, however, that in strictness the
privilege was based on mere moonshine.
lie was, therefore, unwilling TO extend a
principle any farther that was so il-lound-
ed, and the success OF which was so hone
less.
MIR RANDOLPH observed, that the Con-
pention were assembled for the purpose
ol compromise, not to carry out extreme
principles. lie was for continuing the
privilege to eldest sons, not on the ground
Of right in them, but on the ground of
ancient custom of no practical mischief
MIR DoRR's motion was rejected by a
very considerable majority.
In the Jamaica House of Assembly. a
motion being made for leave to bring in
bill to prevent delrauGs of whM fingers.
one Of the members arose and said, HMr
Speaker, second the motion the whar-
fingers are, to man, a set of rogues
know II well 4 'sos one myself for len
yearsP |
Hon Thomas CHIFFON has declined !
reelection TO Congress from Ky.
Seth Barton, wealthy planter, belong
Ing TO Baton Rouye haa heen c,,,nX,,,'.,