Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-30

vcstigalion of the merits Of the candidates This indeed
extruor binary ideu, and he (Mr Peyton) felt |
convinced that the good sense Of MIR. T. would after
little reflection satisfy him that the opinion he had ex
pressed not correct Mr. p had always been OF the
opinion that GOODNESS md calm deIib ration, un
purlnnl in aiding TO arrive nj correct decision upon
any subject; and that this was no, possible when the
mind Influenced strongly by passion and agitaed by
the fever Of excitement. Surely The gentleman (Mr
T had not reflected, he certainly would not have e3.
pressed such opnion.-Mr p. fell assured that when
lie came to reflect more rnaturey upon the subject aud
without excitement his part he would then &c
knowledge that il was not possible for The public mind
when excited by party question, to be better quahed
to decide, than when free from all such excitement
The gentleman (Mr. IT, takes also another ground,
and argues that the law sought to be repealed is an
infringement upon the constitutional right OF the citizens
regards the elective franchise lie says that we have
right to prevent The citizen from voting IN seVe
rul counties, by this law than have TO deprive him d.
recty Of that right by any nher means II lie (Mr ~
will reflect the subject he must that this argument
is not tenube any than the other which he before
advanced. Even under the old law, where citizen had
votes (os it has been said that citizen had IN ~
counties under that law, the RICH, could not be
exercised in every county, for ii not possible to DO
so; citizen could not be enabled 10 vote in every place
where lie mi ht have the right 10 do so, without aloge
Their defeating the election Ii, therefore, The former
law good and that law necessarily deprived man
of the power of voting in nil Places how shall II be ar
gued that this law is bad which only does the thing
The which lie (Nlr ~ urges against the present
|
Gales This argument therefore, appeared of weight
to Mr.. Peytun. Another of the gentleman s arguments
will answer itself Formerly the counties were much
larger than many ofhem urc, and then il would not
have been possible bring The people from home 10 vote
in day; now, however, they are smaller, and the
people will only under The existing law, lie detained
few hours from their homes
Mr.. RlvEs said he thought that il the people Of this
Commonwealth not content with this law, they
ought to try little longer; then, if after fair trial,
found still liable to objections those who opposed
it would be able to do so with much more weight and
effect 1t natural that many should ut first be cIssat.
lsied with change which repugnar To their form
er habits and feelings, hut let the law he tested by ex.
perence, and lhen il it should still diSplease some
sections Of the country, no doubt others which ap'
proved of the system, would tie more disposed TO
concede something TO them As II is, however, The
law has been tried for one year, and in the mean
me there has been great contest, no excitement on
large scale. Let this system be tried let 60 into oPe
ration for few years, and Mr. K frlt convinced that
the people would then 70 the polls with the una
nmity they did under the old system. The gentle
man from Pii,sylvuna, (alr. T) is against all change
1t a subject of excitement with him. He is indignant
!, that any thing should be changed. His maxim is "nO.
lumuS mutarc.'' But certainly he must mean TO lake
that AKIN with many grains of allowance. There are
many old things which lie cannot surely prefer to new
1t appeared 10 Mr.. r. that his (Mr. T's passions
excited this subject, and yet cooled. lie says
there is not solitary individual in his county in
favour Of the change. But where is the evidence
of this' 1t appeared 10 Mr.. Rves that Mr.. Tunstu
must he mistaken. How was il, if such were the fact
that there not single solitary petition from single
individual Of that county against the passage Of The law
But the gentleman from PlttsylYanla (hlr IT, athrms
that his constituents dissatisfied with the precinct
elections. How is this possible when at their
quest by petition 10 The Legislature they have many
precincts? This could not be the case but by
the expressed wishes Of The people, because they desired
and pet,ioned for them The gentleman then is evident
y mistaken in saying that the people there are all against
the system. Now If he is mistaken in thing, he
may be in other things Here said Mr.. R.) great
and important reasons on the other side, why this law
should be continued. The system Of riding about
from county to county 10 override the elections by
votes in several counties, is of demorulizing Ten
dency. II may not have shown its effects for the last
fifty years, because there has been party excitement
Of any great extent 10 call them into being, but The
perence Of the people has been sufficient 10 make them
disap of that system by which resident holders
of property permitted To come into county at the
time Of election, and perhaps the qualification OF
a property existing on for the momentory purpose,
parchment, giving their votes and influencing the cleo
ton against The ina ority Of the inhabitants. The pre-
sent law is intended 10 rid the country of so great
an evil. There is continued Mr. Rivcsl another req.
in favor Of this law will have the effect OF put
ting down the system Of pilling county against
another, TO q familiar il'us,raon) as is the prac
tce with The last county which has 10 vote, when The
election is held at different periods in The several coun
lies. But by their being all begun and ended on the
same day. this evil Of unfairly balancing the Of
SEVERAL by the votes of the last county will be remeded,
and each county will exercise its own direct and proper
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in the system Of elections without this very law
which the gentleman (Mr. T) depreca.es earnestly
Mr. r. would mention another before he conclu
ded, which he thought Of no little weight in favor Of
the law. IL is well known that in all the month OF
April, during the proraced time OF the elections every
county is kept in perpetual state OF fermentation and
excitement. 1t is vain say that when the election is
terminated in county, The people there Immediately
return 10 state Of quicludc and peace. Not They
cannot look with unconcern and apathy upon the elect
ions going on in eghborng countless they as much
excited still, If their not yet concluded. That
such is the fact cannot be concealed Now il evi.
dent, that oil this spread and long continued excite
nent will be at once put an end 10, when the cleo
tons in every county are simultaneously compet-
ed every where and the same day. In say
ing this, Mr. R. did not intend 10 deprecate salua.
~ and becoming excitement, far from il; let the excite.
rise high may, but he would appeal 10 the
understanding and judgment OF every man, whether
it was not better that this excitement should he begun
and ended in one day? There another consdera-
ton which pressed upon his mind, which, however, Mr..
R. would mol permit himself TO urgc-it not a
question be broached this floor But this lie would
say it his firm brlief that if ever there time
when the people were best prepared 10 meet such crisis
it was that time when they embodied and
bcd in all their aggregate force the day of election.
Mr. r. concluded by stating II to be his belief, that the
people not so confirmed in their opposition 10 this
law but that they would be willing TO try it and allow
time 10 see whether i, not in fact most suitable 10
their interests and most conducive 10 the freedom
and purity OF elections.
Mr. TUSsThLL, alter declaring his deep Veneration Tor
the institutions Of noble uuc.sry and the almost holy
horror with which he concm plated the reckless passion
Of modern times for pulling down the ancient edce Of
our ancestors, in order 10 build up rail and
dern building its runs-proceeded TO reply seIlatlm
to the arguments urged in opposition 10 his before ex
pressed opinions AS The argument advanced BY Mr..
Pey,on that even under the old law The right Of suffrage
could not be exercised 10 lis full extent, Mr. r. said
this was physical mpossbility, and the act Of
the law ITSELF Mr.. II. wished To know whether it was
UNSUITABLE to deprive Of the right of suffrage by
ndireclion? IT, for example, the tax on horses were TO
I be abolished, and many who voted on that tax were
thereby TO be disqualified, would not that be TO disan
chise them by ndirection; The cases, Mr. T. contend
ed were snilur-and he would ask if it would not be