Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-11-17
FOX TIE E-EQ UIREK.
RIGHT OF SCFFRAGE-FRAUD IN ELECTION COl"rON
FACTORIES, &C.
H.. Mem rs i.E

To tie .HenLcrs Of The General .7sscmjiy
GESrLEmEH: Great excitrnen;s sometimes exis. in
March and April, which cool eff and almost forgot
ten by December and January following In all trivial
matters, this is ght. But in great questions involving
the fundamental principles Of the Government the
policy upon which il TO be administered, these excite
of the very of the elections made I'M
der them; and mot INDEPENDENTLY give force and energy
both 10 principle and policy. Such, | think. was the
character Of some Of the excements of las: Spring.
seems TO me that nothing is more certain tan that the
wise and vrtuous men of al parties anxious last
April that your honorable body should provide eff
ftctual remedy speedily possible, against the ma
chinations and power Of the whole palanx of miern0
ry floating rioters, who t!a"el 10 Countless towns and
DISTRICTS where they do not reside, 10 ovcrveach and
subvcrt the Of public opinion. These floating
rioters consist mainly Of stockholders Cotton Factories
other manufacturing Observation-Disclosures roads,
and persons owning lands in counties and towns in
which they do not reside. BY combination Of these
classes OF voters the towns Of Virginia in few
years control the whole State. Thus eight hundred
residents of the City Of Richmond, by occupying small!
parcels Of land the stock Of these c"mpanlcs in the
crcun countless suited to the object, could cast
2G0 each, in four counties, the first Monday Of
April; 200 each, in four counties the I'd Monday
300 votes each, in four countless the I'd Monday and
200 votes each, in four counties, on the 4-corering
sixteen counties. In general much less than POO votes
thus grating to county, for single day, would cast
the election against the resident voters And there
fore if 300 400 should be required in counties
they could lie supplied from this phaanx. Thus it is OBJ
vous, that these 600 residents Of Richmond beside
eec,ng their delegate, might each vote in four Tor
more) other elections: and thereby exercise fire times
much political power the farmers voting at home. In
this ay, public opninn may be entirely snbvercd and
the Country laid under Town influence and Represent
atom. In The proportcn can all the other
of the State exercise this power the county, (or in
deed county otlers) whcIe there ate men so
ardent in politics The danger is mainly from the large
towns. Let person ila,ter himself that practice
dercgatory the Virginia character will not he intro
duced among us The of events last Spring has
exhibited that we, Frsinians, ought not to be led
into temptation. But gentlemen look to the corup'ions
Of Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. and the
means there resortcd TO- far the purpose of gaining IN
aucnce and power the country Money enough
might be rasrd there at any election, to purchase
two hundred reelolds each, in sixteen counties, if they
could he used there, they may be here. And when
the towns shall increase little consequence in
Virginia. and politics become much trade here as 10
the North the supposed case of the $40 voters above
mentioned will be realized in fact pray you. there
FORE gentlemen open your eyes to the evil and shut the
door against it while you
enclose you. Messr, Editors, article oil the sub
icct of corporation votes, which hope you will have
room to re- publish: and to request Mr. "klwaFden, if
he pleases 10 look into the subject of these msrot0ry
floating freehold rioters, and 10 tell US how far they
compatible with the principles of equality and Liberty
HENRICO