The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-09-05
Our Virginia Correspondence.
CnAKLESrOwN, Jtiferson Co, Va, 4
September |, 1851.

September |, 1851.
Y.rgi,sia Polittcs-Ihs Nee Comstitutios-Iac1mse
Of Popular Vots-Gool Rssnhs- Congres sionqi
ESertiors-G ~beynatoy1al Canpass-- Father Richie
probably the Nsrt Goranor, &C., &c.
Virginia politics, AT this Jancture, particular
ly interesting from the III the State is about
to undergo the process Of complete change in the
fundamental law. The memorable convention
elected to revise the constitution, having perform ed
their lsbors in drs wing up very respectable docu-
ent it only requires the cation Of the people to
become the supreme law of the N onweslth. The
vote Is to be taken the ratification the fourth
Thursday in October next, and the new cons .itu-
tion will doubtless be Confirmed By az oy-rwhelm-
ing majority.
Ii proposes many important innovations upon the
existing state of things By the present eonstitu-
toL the elective fran is limited to freeholders
and housekeepers who pay az actual tax TO the sup
port Of the State treasury. A married or unmar-
RED man, owning house and lot, owning senty-
five OF land, rs emit. led to vote or, owning
reversonary interest such property Is entitled 10
vote. hOusekeeper, paying tax upon clock,
watch. or q slave, Il elt.,ed 70 vote. A man own.
pgIeal estate IA several counties. il entitled 10
vote in each Of sad counties, provided that.
although two or more vi sad counties may be in
the same Congressional astrict, such person shall
only have vote III said district for Congress.
The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, 81. are
elected by the Legislature; sherifs, magistrates,
SC, are recommended oy the court, and commits
stoned BY the Governor. such some Of the
leading features of the existing constitution. II is
q full generation or twO behind the times. The
qualifications 10 qured for the elective franchise
NJ once announcement, perpiexog, invidious. and
vastly ridiculous An ola fellow, however Ignorant,
30 that he owns iand teo counties, or twenty, or
more, is entitled 10 vote an all Of them anc for
A in III Ht.frte in rnl
property is situated. q man without property,
however qualified b. good serse anu q cd education,
" denied the pTvbeg~ oi voting az Al The people
Of Nirginia, ashamtd C these 1s.lnc Ous aud fully
alive 20 the progress o. The age, have, at a single
bound, up TO the an system OF the state
Of New York, and 70 .1-ch better constitution,
take II altoge her
The new const tuition OF Virginia, to be voted
npon by the people the fourth Thursday OF
October, provides for universal outrage, excepting
Abe coloed population for the election of Governor
and all the state and coEnty officers by the people
II provides, also that they who shall be entitled 10
vote II the constitution Is adopted, shall also be
entitled to vote Oh the question OF ITS adoption
This new class OF voters VAL, Of itself, carry the
consultation by q ire nenGous majority. Under the
existing system, there are some ninety one thousand
voters the state under the new charter, there
will probably De NJ increase OF sixty thousand or
seventy thousand voters. who are now excluded
from this great republican right. Ihis increase
viii be chiefly IN Western Virginia, or IN that part
of the state lying vet a the Blue Ridge, where
measurably greater than m Eastern virginia, or
the great slayeholding division OF the state.
On the fourth Ihar-asy IN October, members OF
Congress ARE to be siccied under the old sppof ion
ment, and under the existing restrctions OF the
right TO vote On the same day, members OF the
Legislature are GO b. elected, un Ter the same re-
strctions But II the constitution IL adopted, "a Il
will be- then the eec for the Legislature are
60 be null and void ard a election 10 70 be held,
under the new contribution, for member OF the
Assembly, In December next And next spring,
abe state aud county officers are to be elected By
Che people
Iiwll thus BE- that the new constitution is
nothing more nor iess than revolution Ia the
government of Virginia, going on go quietly, aud
which will be cousu 10 mated 20 quietly, that the
people Of New y orb de require and viii be
required TO be tod 81 Or cAanse, or otherwise IL
would escape fbeir a.tics
The democrsts ia his -agion talk Of raining
Father Richie, IN toe election ~hich takes place
next Dece mber. for Governor, aud be Is just
likely V be- their candidate anybody else. lie
wouif Be eiec;ed BY large majority, Tor We have
NO dcsbt the extension 0f Le elective franchise will
add immensely " tae Democratic sscendancy in the
S<ats.
IL IL expected tnas the Congressional election,
viii result nc Ariy the saa@ as those for the last
COu9Yeso