Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-05-10
SEVERAL MEMBERS oF.THE COMMITTEE.
= FUR Ut. F-T HCINEH
THE DANGER NOT OVER!

against the abuses and corrupionS inherent III Gil human
institutions Things which, in themselves al first APP
pear quite innocent aud harmless are oentines capable
Of the mast aboInnabe perversion through the grasp
ing cupidity and unprincplcd arocity Of imam. Who,
for Instance, could have predicted, at the ne when the
late Convention framed Constitution for Virginia, HAT
that clause in it which qualities and Gzes the right Of
suffrage: was 10 be perverted even in our own djt to
the very worst purposes of faction? Who could have
oreseen that that provision in it which gives The right
Of voting TO every individual possessed of freehold Of
the value of twenty five dollars WAS to be- rendered sub
srrvicnt to The srshness, lust, and thirst for polilcaJ
power Of the would be Aristocracy Of our country
Late events have but the mo'c strengthened the beea
a. unless efficient remedy be applied to this daRl
gerous maady in the body polite, the at eonse
qmencrs 10 Republican, purity and virtue, neuita-
bly, ensue. For that is odiuus and nn,enabe psrci-
pie, indeed, to be asserted in Republic which assumes
the position that man Is entitled TO hars 3Hst auun5
roes, 0nd consequently TO possess political pOn,er, just
proporlion to Ills RICHES In what ask does this prin.
cipe differ from that deeslab!e prncp pie which, FOR
many hundred years before the RriorD Bill SO pre-
vaent in Old Engands corrupt and arisocalic govern
meno alluje 10 the Rotten Borough system, which,
in the scandaous Of old Sarum, and many others
in nearly the situation, sometimes enabled one,
two individual to send several members
present them in Parliament, whilst pnpulous cities with
hundreds Of thousands Of inhabitants remained without
any representation whatever do, therefore, contend,
that the rotten borough principle is perfectly identified
with that now attempted TO be introduced for the first
time into country. They bnlh obviously rest
the assumption, that wealth make up for the of
nunbers-or, that minority of the community has a
right TO control The majority, provided the collective
wealth Of the should exceed the collective wealth
of the other. If man can have two, three, four
votes, because Of his uftluence, why not fifty, why
not hundred, why not thousand! The principle
is the same through ont Men ale pretty much the
thing every where. In other countries they
have their Lords, their Dubes, their Kings. In
America, it is true, we have Of these yet; but
that we have them not, clsewere not owing to any
want Of inclination i'll men, for their introduction
and establishment here. We. too have aristocracy
much less wealthy than that Of England, but in their
contempt for representative Government fully deter
nned-nen mnnarchical in their views hollow
hearted, and entertaining Geeproolcd hatred and
contempt for the great body OF the people, lived
Let us remember, that have amongst such men
Southland, hlangum, Leigh, Tazewell, and Biddlr,
who delight in Offering insults and injuries to the legt
mate authority of the people, either directly through
their representatives. Had these men and their COM
peers, the opportunity given them, there exist
doubt of their Willingness to become in name, what
they have already attempted 10 becomt in fact the nbso
lutte masters and dctulnrs Of the country? That Re-
publican government still exists amongst US, is, there
FORE chiefly OWN. to The compaIa tiye youth and limo;
Of America and 10 the intelligence and uncoT-
rupled and incnrruptblc virtue of vast portion of her
population For tine yet to come, her extensive
tertiary and the bengnant influence shed by the good
genius of her institutions will preserve her. both from
anarchy and nonarchy-but 10 the day that shall be-.
hold her cities grown pDpnOus and mighty to
keep the whole country in subsection -Wo to the day
that shall behold her rich in accumulated wealth, aud
consequently as pregnant win vice. The long Seeu
countries Of the old world are The primitive sim
plcity Of her will then have become corrupt
those Of the parent sloca and her glory and her free
dom will be hui as the shadow OLA shade
But, to return from this dgression-As things now
are, wherever there is close contest, the purse proud
Of the cities and of the large Federal counties Of
the State, are sure TO in, and elect their
ddate, in direct opposition to the will and wishes Of
majority Of the resident, bona de constituency OF the
county. Thus Richmond, not content with debating
she DleaSps within her lImS.-nOt
tent with electing 20 the Legislature such men as
Mr.. Chapman Johnson {of John Quincy Adams
administration memory) and the GopLstlcal, Stanardy
Zone of the famous ii who voted in the last Legislature
against the Resolution asserting that Senator ought to
obey his Instructions reslgn) mot content With all
this, Richmond attempts to influence, and in some in
stances has successfully Influenced, the elections in the
country. Who for example, can doubt that bad The
true resident voters of Powata been left themselves
they would have elected Hopkins the Republican candi
date instead OF having Scott quarteed on them n0ienS
rolcnS, who does not and cannot represent them for he
not indebted ~ them tor his election but to hand
iu of Bank Aristocrats from Richmond and Manchcs-
Through The fundamentally Of these, he was elect
cd lie may be their representative but not the represen-
tative Of Old Republican Powhatan
There however, other view OF the subject, ny
far important and ransccndant in its consequences
to be passed. in s!ence-whch Is, that This odlous
practice of allowing men TO vote worthless scrap OF
quilted old field, when such purchased for the avowed
purpose Of controlling the elections in the country (nnd
than this for sometimes not cent is actually paid
and the whole is sham and mere nockeryD and IN
order to prevent the honest subsapal, hard working
yeomunry of the land, from eecng the ren OF their
choice is liable To the additional and formidable danger
OF placing it in the power of any one moned poason,
to elect Legislature of is own; and tiSs control the
whole State for very rifng consideration. US
make short calculation In The present lstlng slate
of parties in Virginia, it may he laid down almost Is
settled rule, that. wcsoever party can getthe ascend
ancy in ten doubtful counties, elecng from ten 10 six.
teen delegates, is almost sure 10 command majority IN
the Legislature. Now, twenty individuals living IN
Richmond, cam with five thousand dollars, buy up ten
ireeholds piece in such counties as Campbell,
Buckingham, Powlatan, Cupeper, &c, where the con-
tests always close, and where twenty votes VIII &C.
morally be more than sufficient 10 carry the election
And now appeal to all nparta observers OF past anu
passing events 10 saw whether all circumstances consi-
de1ed rational doubt can be entertained, OF Tie Wiling
ness the part Of the Bank OF the w. States 10 give not
only FIVE but en fifteen, twenty thousand dol
urs in order to elect Wing Legislature, who would not
scruple admit It's branches OF agences INTO the State
and thus once mole enthral the Z Old Dominion"
What dark and revolving picture do these things
present to US, in mag naiou! Let then, the next
Legislature remedy this growing and fearful evil Let
the Right Of Suffrage be- hat the trainers OF the Cons,i
tuition intended il to be- not the vile tool of faction, but
one of the highest and most iInportant privileges Of
free people Intelligent Of all parties should unite
in the etorl-putriOe men, Of all parties will certainly
unite in mutual cndeayor 10 eradicate this monsrous
abomination. For. let be remembered that there is no
vice in politics deteslable than is the mockery
of representative in country protesting to have equal
rights and equal laws. .....
A VOICE FROM GoocnLASD:
ID SM KEWAKD.-Ne6 seE-Ra;n away Syi from
Der last = Yellow Of The name of EDWIN, Die some
times calls himself Edwin Burks about ieet ~ no1
high rather raw-boned, little stopped IN ms snJu
ders his countenance very good hair toerany ousny