Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-04-14
Editor ofihc "whisn i. requested to publish tho above.
,, FOR THE E.NQ UIRLR
THE Al.BEMARLE ELECTION.
". m.

the contest of Col PSrriott VS. Mr.. McI.urc will H.
raised, but perhaps in more complicated orm-A dis.
pue existed for many years about removing the site of
justice of Ohio county, from the town OF Wheeling
winch gave rise TO curious scheme for the increase OF
voters Some gentlemen had deeds for LARGE ouantv
" ana' supposed TO be IN the mountainous part of the
county and OF little or value Deeds were executed
70 consitcr1Dle number of persons for fifty each
vi uhu'lueu parcels OF this land. liz is said that some
OF them were made about the time of the election and
ante dated, six months. he question, however which
IL Is understood was settled was that the partv claimn,
The votes should be required prove not merely Doo5
te an te rocr but the actual existence and dcntv of
the t0nd If proof were not rcouircd of n yooJ ~ ~
ne dety OF The land, who could say whether the voter
mad tins right at all, where he should exercise it
lnueed II TINS were not the law, it would be an easy
matter Tor lew men in the Western to procure
patents tor Mountain lands worth nothing or for lands
previously granted and in possession Of other persons
Swihont even survey) and in this way, make deeds
bearing date SIX months before the annual elections to
such partzans. not otherwise entitled TO vote
hold The deeds up without mourning the expense of re-
oorunS lhenIand IN the moment of necessity, PLAY
Them oB as good trUapA title to land will mass by
adeed not OF record to confer the elective fran.
Many years ago. in contest from Wood countv :,
was decided that deeds made shortly before the election
M ne purpose OF comforting the right vote ante
dated were fraudulent and therefore void and conse
quently nothing passed TO the grantees
Unless the Legislature shall examine closely and for
ret out all the fraudulent practices have heard of in
ySar OF TWO we may see large land holders deed out
whole estates to political partizans in undivided parcels
oJyty acres or OF teenty IRE dollars ,cortt hold the
ueeus mp from the record TO be cancelled after the cleo
ions, or continued at the will of the grantor with de-
Je"Sance by which he may pleasure defeat the cstae
granted and thus WELD influence in elections never
htendedb the Constitution. Not only So but these
votes may be doubled, triped, quadruped by making
deeds to the persons in two three or fopr conn
In this way the good city of Richmond could I'll orders
IA any oil the closely contested countless from the sea
ooard 10 lhe mountains with cool hundred by hav-
ing timely notice OF the necessity.
heretofore, it considered that the benefciory ua
oil the SOIL or the soil ITSELF the real subject of CON
veyahce oi land; that the right to appendant TO
the condition Of the otener the quuitv of nix and tb
quantity Of land L00 de held by him; that the elective
acriSe, OF itscii was not subject of conveyance
nut aecd TO be cancelled by deeasance or without
roma dc intent of possessing the real subject be per
united to ereate franchiseto live during single
election or the pleasure of the creator onyour system
Is subject to the greatest abuses The towns with f
ses IN the country might bear down all the counties in
And while upon this subject I cannot ref,,;, r
indignation at the enormous influence which Richmond
is at his moment exerting upon the Elections in Vir
gina ana be 1T remembered, that but few votes may
aecue .ne struggle IN debateable county. In Abc-
marie ves has inst been beaten only three votes ont of
mass OF more Than HOO Richmond sends off her vo.
leIs 10 Aioehlae She sends them to Powiaan She has
sent them to Chesterfield She said to be sending o
or ihree voters under false hope of deciding the con
test OF King Queen. She will send her voters TO King
Wiiiian where last Spring she decided the Election
and gave the good People of that county refractory and
dsobcdient servant who almost scoiGd a liar Istrn
tons She viii send every She can raise and scran
from her counting houses all her Federasts and her
Bank men, to dictate to the gallant Vo,atcers Of Pc
SOnfg she VIII send C pompous cavalcade of saoes
and hacks, and carriages and horsemen to Cole Har
as she did last year TO override the proud resi-
| zeal
and her organised Party she operate all around her
SIC would again have given a Delegate to Henrico if
the virtues and 6rmness of her yeomanry had not
tis Tune saved her from the collar. BY this system she
stands up before this Commonwealth as rich nristo
cFntic and privileges Corporaon-who is not content
win haying one Delegate of her own. generally able
almost always lawyer, oquacious bold and turbulent
oil tongue-not content too, with exertinp her great in
tlucbce upon the collective body of Renresen,,,;,,
from every other county, when they get to Richmond
but she must be douby and treby herself by
dctatng the elections in all the surrounding counties
/ fpIar rrnff Al
controlling influence, which the rchECity of Baltimore
continually practices upon the yeomanry of MARYLAND
ms ta"not 1e rtg1t! We ought "to reform atogetLer
IN TACT INC time has now come when it behovcs the
country gentlemen ofVrgnia, to look into the Constn
ton, and see whether it ever did authorize feeholders
10 Vote IN as many counties and towns they may have
tree holds If the usage originally founded unon
ia construction of the Constitution the Legislature
may arrest the progress of the evil but if otherwse The
only remedy will be CONVENTION upon this riobt of
suffrage which cannot be called too soon
Let us contemplate for moment; the corrupt power
that may be welded the country gentlemen NV
this system-One hundrod city gentlemen Of Richmond
may acquire each frceold Of ffty acres on of noe
Joe tooTn 81 G"d permanently, for valuable
soeratlon, or temporarily without any consideration
to be cancelled at future time in caoh of The
counties Of Abemare, Powhatan, Hanover King vii.
nam, Chesterfield and Buckingham and concentrate
their votes upon such persons will subserve the pnr
poses OF the city; secure the return Of ee delegates
which, taken from the cOuny side and added IN The fo
Side will make difference of SIXTEEN Can an,
man doubt that this will be the case in few years CO
10 me elections OF the counties naned examine the
never abused until since the days of the Bunk penie
III is now increasing in manners which cannot fail TO
alarm the country gentlemen every where-t is known
mat the gentlemen OF Richmond preDarnp to extend
this system into the surrounding counties.
Let the Borough Of Norfolk PETERSBURG LYNCH. |
burg, Charlottesville, fredericksburg Stanton Win.
chester Martnsburg and Wheeling put forth their /
strength IN aid OF Richmond and the counties |
VIII absolutely be little better than colonies to the
towns; No country gentleman need nattcr him |
Sell that the expense and trouble of going ont i'm the
counties will prevent the evils Of this usage; on the con-
uafy III matter Of amusement and recreation for the
wealthy bankers, Merchants the silk-stoc kinp Clerks
and politicians. The best evidence Of the fact is that
II mas been done, is now doing, aud win be continued
~ Is no argument to say, that on the weak side
III is the weak who need protection. If am defeated
in common assault and battery Il is no reason tbst
shall not claim the right of protection The parlv 10
which belong has in no instance within my knowledge
carried an election against the will of the residents II
any county The other party has and will auain If they
can IT is question Of EQUALITY OF RIGHTS !
and no matter who has abused IT, it ought 10 e correct
ca The greater the abuse The greater the corruption
and hence the more necessity for correction We mas
York 4" all hollow 90
There isanohcr precaution which the Legislature If
virginia IS bound Immediately to lake-Thcy erect n
corporate Dody, at oil times very suspicious feature of
monopoly IN Republican Government They erect
Tor example, Cation FuctOry They permit the nonied
capitalists OF the Towns 20 invest largo stocks i'm it.
but, not content with having this decided advan.
a2c over private dealers, OF cxemp6ug an tie for.
time OF the partners from responsibility for the debts
Of the Corporation, except what is actually snb
scribcd they do tlis-they claim upon this inycst
cd fund the great political PririicQo Of voting in
onothcr county Tins IS an inolerablc abuse in a Re.
E.Fnf ft.n