Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-09-18
POLITICAL.


I
are fully aware OF the deep Importance OF the SUBJECT
which has been committed to their consideration =
They have bestowed upon it all the and debera
ton, which the limited time that has been allotted &c
them would permit them 10 exert. They feel that the
exercise Of the elective franchise is one Of the highest
attributes of sovereign People, and that its purity
should be guarded with all the secpess vigilance Of
meu who know their rights, and knowing, dare main.
tain them The right Of suffrage is a right inestima
bic TO lreemcn Ii has been guaranteed to every cit
in the State, who has, in the langunge of the Bill
Of Rights, +" Sufficient evidence of permanent com
mon interest with and attachment to the Com
munlty. 1t is right which, when properly protected
and guarded comprehends within itself Tire power 10
preserve and maintain every other right-lt IS the
foundation stone of the Republican edifee=-Itsis the
ft, which flow great blessings OF free
country Shake that stone, and the whole build
ing may crumble in rum upon our heads! Corrupt that
fountain and you poson liberya at ITS very source
1t is that formidable power, which affords security
against tyranny and opprcssion which enables the PEG
pie hur from undeserved emnence, all uniathtul
servants who abuse their confidence, and pervert the
authority with which they invested, To promote
some unworthy object, To advance an unholy anbi-
ton II presents the opportunity and the 10
dscountenance protgate politicians and TO reject those
officers, whose principles are in conflict with the wish
and the interests of majority of the people wh list
IT enables liberal, free and an enlightened people TO
sustain encourage and cheer those faithful servants
who devote their talents, their time, their lives To the
and honors which, while they distinguish and elevate
the individual, cndow him with the power of promot
ing the interest and glory of the nation What duty
then, sacred IN the eyes OF every patriot, OF
every party, who has the welfare Of his country al
heart, than protect this right in all its purity and to
guard lis exercise with the most scrupu"us circum-
specion; II is their duty TO see, that every citizen who
IS authorized by the Constitution and the Laws to cN
ercise it, shall not be denied the privilege: and that
those to whom IT hns been Denied should not have It
III ID
deed he polluted, we may tremble for the Republic
Corruption will indeed seize upon the vIals Of our
system but II an honest, upright, CONSCIENTIOUS
discharge of duties citizens be continually
practsed, our Government will continue healthy,
vigorous and enlightened. 1t will remain a model
for the imitation of the world and one of the nobest
monuments to future ages of the wisdom Of the present
"a monument, worthy Of reverence than the SOLID
Pyramids Of Egypt or the crumblIng Coliseum oil Rome
Yonr committee have thought IL proper, therefore, to
present in concise view the qualifications which give
the right TO vote in this Commonwealth and the DIS.
qualifications which forbid its exercise, that every Ind
vidual NAV Judge for himself what his rights and
nav know how to assert them; and that all may know,
" hen an illegal vote is poled and when lega! one IS
rejected They have deemed it their duty TO present also
the regulations for the reception OF votes, and the penal
ties imposed upon those who vote Illegally and upon
those who Illegally conduct the election that every man
may be able watch the vicious, to detect the guilty,
and bring down upon his head the punishment winch
the law prescrbes and his offence may justly merit
Your Committee have carefully extracted from the
Constitution and Laws the various provisions touching
the subject, and have placed them in such classical
ton as they deem most ntegble taking care to d's-
tnguish each qualification by placing by itself trs'
then
rREruoLpEEs UNDER THE OLD cossTITrF!nN,
Every yrhdc mate rftf-en 81 The SHfc, resident
who il frcntu-0Hc old and upwards, heing
possessed or whose tenant for years At VIII or at suffer
aucc possessed Of estate of freehold NJ me i"as
81, l,Ftlsn thp sim
cia content of the foundation whereof rs lively" feet
souarn or equal IL that quantity, and plantation
thereon ami uncSs the t'tc shall hav" com" TO nam
by descent devise. marriage, or marriage settlement
having been p0SSc$scd months, snail nave 'h'
right to in the county IN winch the land Irth II
such land being entire parcel lie III several cnun
ties the holder shall vote in that county wherein the
honsc standeth only.
> Every such ci-Sn possessed, or whose tenant Tor
wears nj will sutieranCc, possessed OF an estate
OF freehold in nm 81 nnmpr0rsd taHa, ana (uh-
less IN. title shall have him by descent, DEVISE
uorr,re or marriage sc,iirncnD having been pos
srssrd six months shall have the right to vote IN In"
county in which the land lies And # the fifty acres,
being one entire parcel lie in several counties, the
holder shall vote in that county wherein hc greater
part If The iand lies only.
. Everv surb citizen possessed, whose tenant for
years al will or at sutrance, possessed OF estate
Of freehold lot part OF lot OF lana III Guy or
town established by act of assembly, with house there
on the superficial content OF the foundation whereof IS
Twelve feet square, equal to that quantity, and (un.
loss the title shall have to him by descent devise
marriarc or marriage set,ement) having been pos.
scsspd six months shall be entitled TO vote in the city
town borough county III which the lot or part oil
lot of land lies.
rrrFuOLDrRs rSDER THE AMENDED CONSTITUTIONS.
A. Every su,k citizen, being possessed, or whose te
pant for wears at viii at Suiirrancc, possessed Of
an estate Of freehold in land of the rauc IF t'rcHyt'
donrs and assessed to be-, il any assessment th"rc"
be required BY law, aud (unlcss the title shall nave
come TO him bv descent, devise, marriage, or marriage
settlement having been possessed for SIX months
shall be entitled vote in the county, CITY, town or no.
rouuh wherein such land shall cAnd If the land hes
IN several Counties and be insufficient to enttlr HIM Il
vote in each then hc shall vote where the grcatc par
Of The iand hes
) Every such rii:cn beng possessed, tenant II
common Joint tenant parccner of an interest IN OF
share of land and having estate oil freehold ereih
such interest share being of the ra'"e u "enfyff
doars and assessed to be- If assessment Thereon
he required BY law and ness his title shall have come
to him bv descent, devise, marriage or marriage se,te
menn hnvinr been so possessed for SIX months, sha
Inc entitled to vote in the county, city, town or borough
in which snch land shall lie. If the land lies IN seyr
raj counties, and be a to Snt df,a s 20
IN each, then he snail VOC "hete '"e S'''' re- :.
The idnd lies.
In right of land held by parceners, JOINT tenants o.
tenants in common, qualified TO exercise the right
suffrage under the Old Constitution AND laws Dut ON
vote shall he gwen by all the holders capable OF voting
who may be present, and agree TO vote Tor the SAM
candidate or candidates. unless the quantity OF land
case of PARTITION be sufficient to entte every hodc
present to vote separately, unless some one or NOR
of the holders may lawfully vote in right OF ano'e
estate or estates in he same county, IN when case w
others may vote, if holding solely, they might nav
voted.
In case oftwo or more tenants in common, JOINT te
nants or parceners, in possession, reversioh OF
der having an interest in land, the value whefeo sa
be insufficient to entitle them all to vote ana VINO no
being qualified to exercise the right OF Suffrage acco"
;pr 10 the former Constitution and laws, nave had Una
right conferred upon them by the present
their vote or votes shall in such case be gTen IN man
ncr following: If the value of the land oe
enltle them to one only the same shall DC gwen
all the said tenants in common, JOINT tenants OF Pa's
ncrs capable of voting who may be present. ana nge
4 IN vote for the same candidate or candidates
If The value of the land be sufficient to enttic thei
n moro than one vote the votes 10 winch they are 81
,lcd shall he gven by all the said tenants IN common
Joint tenants or parccners, capable OF voting, who ma
bc presen and agree as the candidate or candidate
! 70 rhom the said votes shall be given. No one OF an
number Of such tenants in common, JOINT tenants
norcepers shall give than one vote at the san
tori NH f,t vote