Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-04-07
From shc samc.l
MIR VAN RITREN


The Opposition papers in Virginia laborng TO make
something of Mr. Van Burens vote i'm the New, York
Convention III regard to the extension Of the Right Of
Suffrage TO the People OF Color they would state the
whole truth it confidently believed that no upright
and liberal Vrginan would disapprove of his course
From the abuse of those whose nvariabe principe Of
action towards the Vice President it TO niisrepesent
isoonstruc any thing that proceeds from or relates to
him. he cannot expect that the truth should screen
kim
BY the report of ,he Committee upon the Riebt ofsue
age all male citizens, other than whites were exclud
ed from the right of voting but left subject to the paw
ineh OF taxes rms exclusion was effected by besow
ing the right upon all aoe male citizens possessing GER
tam qualifications a motion was made by Mr. Jay to
strike out the word lohde by the adoption of which all
citizens would in the first instance be placed anon the
same footing, but the subject would, Notwithstanding be
lett open TO future modification This motion was strong
ly opposed by minority Of MIR Van Buren's political
friends. They regarded the class as unsafe renosito
resoi the right Of suffrage and the Republican, n,rtv
had been the principal sufferers by the alleged abuse Of
lit being notorious, that their votes had generally been
given to tbs other side, and they believed that the
elections in the city of New York had been more
than once upon a, close contest, turned by their
votes portion of the Convention were for their ad
mission 10 the right or suffrage upon equal terms and
announcer Pouon, suihcient to control the question,
to their exclusion upon the proposed by the Com
mittec- Mr. Van Buren, belonged TO the latter and voted
tor the motion to strike out II does not appear thai no
took part in the discussion but the views by which h
was governed appear very distinctly from the DAYS
debate, from which we extract the following. WTbSre
were two words, continued Mr.. Van Buren, which
had come into common with our revolutionary
stTaggle-words which contained an abridgment Of
tallsmanic eiiect-which led our fathers from the
bosOms Of their families 10 the tented field: which
for long years Of toll and suffering had kent them
10 thelr arms and which finally conducted them po.
rious triumph They were, TAxATIoN and REPRrsFSTA-
RIOS Nor did they lose their influence With the close
of that struggle. They heard in our halls OF
legislation, without bringing 70 our recoecons the con.
secrated feelings Of those who won our liberties or with
out reminding Of every thing that sacred in prn-
cPle " 1t was said he, but yesterday that they az
iorded the strongest evidence Of their continued hold
aPon our feelings and our Judgments by the triumph
they erected over The greatest aversons aud preudces
OF our naturc tic question: &c continuing the fiph of
suffrage TO the poor, degraded blacks"
The whole subject referred TO a new committee
who reported propCstionby whtcit provided that
mo male citizen other than white should be subject 10 d.
rect bgra0Hor entitled to vote at any election unless in
addition 10 the qualifications Of age and residence IRE.
quncd of all others they should also be possessed of
frccbod Of the value Of $50 dollars over and above
all debts charged thereon, and had also within the wear
been rated and actually paid tax the State or eouu-
~ This proposition was supported by Mr. Van Buren,
and M regard it, ~ said ho bad voted against total
and unqualified &clusion for nc would not draw rove.
nue. from them, and yet deny to them the right Of eof
ffage Bat this proviso met his approbation they were
exempted from taxation until tiay qualified themselves
- vote The right not denad TO exclude any nor.
ton OF the community who will not exercise the right Of
suffrage in its purity II held ont Inducements TO indus
Try, and would receive his support"
The proposition adopted by vote Of Il to 49, all
those who are from the first in favor Of their admission
upon oqga terms, still opposing It, By its passage dc.
public opinion IN New York, disposed Of without