Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-07-25

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" and honestly gwen 10 you, and through You,
should deem II eNpcdient, to the other voters OF
the District. You will find them substantially
embodied IN the following summary statement.
l. The right OF suffrage to be extended to all
Tree white male citizens who may have resided
a reasonable length of time in the respective
county of corporation, 10 he determined by the
Convention, and have paid there public assess-
mehta tor the previous Near;who may be ol sound
mind and have been guilty of no criminal offence.
oar revolutionary loremthers, in sweeping a
way the monarchy aud arstocraev from our
government left the freehold suffrage The
/ foundation of our system. Some of the ablcst a.
monG them renamed 10 occupy seats III the Con-
sentIon of ls2o-'30 and these together with
the very able men with whom they were as
soeated, doomed 1t safe aud prudent 10 extend
the right beyond It's ancient limits see ho
sufficient objection 10 eNtcndingtt still tarlher--
! subject. however to the limitations expressed
above. The progressive development of the
manulartuuugand commercial classes of soeIe-
tYrcndets permanent adherence tothc ancient
freehold system inadmissihle, however Wise
that system may have been at the time OF its
original introduction whilst any evils which
might b. apprehcndrd from Widening the circle
ot Voting, Noaldhc sufficiently ncuiralAed by
the more general diffusion of popular education,
aud by the influence oi the press.
Under the enlarged system here proposed the
tigh, of suffrage would be "a equally dlnused as
practicable, among all classes of the commrni-
", and would stand IN nearly equal proper
ton 10 the white population IN all parts of the
State.
g The Ratio Of representation to be placed,
not ON the white, bat on the mixed bass of re-
presentation.
The effect of the adoption Of the mixed basis
instead Of the white. may bc definite illustrated
by a hlief statement derived from the debates
OF the last House of Delegates by both Western
aud Eastern members, there being no differ
encc between them as 10 this matter ofiact.
In house oi l35 members Organized upon
the mixed basis, the counties East OF the blue
Ridge would have majority over the counties
West of the Ridge Of II votes, whereas, in u
house OF the same aggregate number, organized
on the white basis. the counties West of the
Ridge would have majority over those East Of
the Ridge of l3 votes, the result of the rejection
Of thc mixed basis and of the adoption of the
white, would be equivalent 10 a total difference
80 voea in The relative power Of the East com
pared with thai of the Wcs,.
This prcponderancc of relative power, arising
from the Adoption of the mixed ba>is, would be
felt not only in the enactment of laws aud other
appropriate action in the Legislative Depart
ment but alsoin all appointments 10 Office IN the
Executive and judiciary Departments, made by
the Legislatures.
II follow as necessary consequence from
this statement, that all changes in the Consiu-
ton, which would goto transfer from the Legs
alurr directly 10 the qualified voters, or, IN 9th
er words, To the people, appointments To oliec,
IN the Executive and Judiciary Departments,
would operate In contract the raugc of influence
Of the mixed basis and to extend that of the
white.
am decidedly Of opinion that property as
we'll as numbers, should constitute an element IN
the regulation Of the ratio Of representation and
the dictates of reason and experience upon this
subcc happily harmonlLc with those of fairness
and consistency, IN our conduct in regard to the
edernl basis IN the Constitution of the United
States.
deem any argument in support Of the mixed
basis, in this section of the State, as altogether
unnecessary; but cannot refrain from express
ing my qualification al the unanimity upon ths
subject which now prevails, not only here, but
IN the country generally To the East oithc Ridge;
for upwards Of twenty years ago, and anterior to
the last Convention, | maintained this doctrine,
in an address 10 The Senate, which reached the
public through the medium of the press, and met
with appreciation less general and cordial Than
such principles find at the present day.
3. The tenure of the Judicial Office, IN my
opinion should continue during good behavior,
not TO extend, however, beyond a certain age, TO
be fixed by the Convention, so as 10 guard As
far as practicable against the evils resulting from
the presence Of snpcranuatcd Judges on the bench,
without, al the same time, depryng the State
of the great advantages Of ripe experience and
extraordinary merit and to be liable To tcrmina-
ton at any time anterior to such age, by Judi
eiou,y regulated power of removal, on the part
oi the Legislature, 50 as oproe'de remedy for