Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-06-11
ARISE OF SUFFRAGE


zens of Virgiuia-uhd particularly of this District on
the subject of the gross abuses OF the Right Of Suitra ge
In the time state remarkable fact that Va.
is almost the only State in which Residence not
stluliona qualification Of the right of voling-Rhode
Island and Delaware, perhaps the only exceptions
in the former the Royal Charter still The only Cous-
tuition she possesses and Delaware, the right of sui
frage is almost universal In all the other States re.
sidence in the county or town where the voter lives,
varying irow months TO years. an essential quail.
| fcalion.
The abuses which creeping in from the provisions
Of Constitution, becoming truly alarming.
Every patriot ought TO unite in putting them down.-ln
vain does the k. Wing quote the Lynchburg Pirginian
against The Wing knows, that it is The article Of 4
Sophst; the evasion OF Jesuit The gst Of the
plunt is this, that small pieces of land purchased
up in the countless into small fragments for The sole
purpose Of buying mp rotts. This clearly was not our
case.-f uny decent paper can justify this outrageous
practice il may lay claim 10 ,alent-to ingenuy-to
art6ce-but 10 the manly character of patriot
The Maine Argus Indignantly exposes this outrage
II says, "that the Federallsis no. satisfied with voting
in the places Of their residence, have avaed them:
selves OF peculiar provision OF the Virginia Cons,tu
ton, and voted in several efficient counties. The pro.
vision 10 which auds, is Ina, which gives the right
of suffrage 10 all those having freehold county
BY cutting, therefore, estate into hundred paris
and making deed OF each part 10 reckless indi.
yiduals, nominal freehoders manufactured, and
throw their ballots and over again-one man thus
having four or FIVE times many votes as another -
This difficulty partially prevented by the law re-
| qurng elections 10 be held and The same day
through the STATE This year, however, owing to the
storm, the polls obliged, in many sections, 10 be kept
open for two three days Such is the in the VI
emily Of Richmond and the Richmond Wing, there
FORE called upon lis friends in The city TO for the
surrounding country lis call seems TO have been well
obeyed
"Such are the means whereby federalism lives 1t
is nourished only by fraud and deception 1t dares
submit its fairly TO The people and await their
honest verdict but attempts TO compass its ends by abu
sing the elective franchise in the most odious manner
II is bad enough, that property qualification of voters
should exist any FORM but that the Federas,s should
make the matter worse, in the manner above alluded 10,
is outrageous Well does the Enquirer say, that "he
Constitution should be amended in this respect Such
system ought not 10 be tolerated another year. 1t
gives TO wealth that ascendancy in politics. which ought
only 10 belong TO honesty and patriotism IL is viItu-
al sanction Of the doctrine that riches and intelligence
always go together and that he, who has the
nry, is the best citizen. There is no Republicansm in
such doctrine or system founded on it"
The evil must be reformed-or else there is no stop
ping place. As fast as our towns multiply in numbers
and increase in wealth. they will spread their influence
into the neghborng counties, and control their elections
When Richmond acquires population of $4,000 souls,
she may acquire imme and tremendous power
the country Combine with this practice the votes upon
chartered stocks, Of cotton, silk iron manufactures SC
and who predict the consequences The Wings loo
began this cusom-und it becomes necessary again 10
expose il. II was felt at The late election. We shall
also lay before The public the excellent Report Of Sc
lect Committee, which made 10 the House Of Dele.
gates few sessions past, on these illeglmae votes.