Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-29

every thing that you may please to make it.
Mr. WISE. iut the qualification as It nov stand
Mr. LYONS. BIZ: you PROFOUND The question to nj
III regard 30 every free white over tve'it-one yea
"i age. am willing; TO take the qualification
Mr: WISE. I hope the question will be an:Tare'
Would he trust the present qualified voters with tn
pro!"ct"n of Tie property Of the city 81 Rchmondf
-'.r. LIONS. Yes, would
Mr.. WISE. Wonl,i the gentleman trust those tina
are likely 10 be qualified voters by the constitution
that We are about 10 make
Alr. LYONS. How can ! answer that question ";ei
DO no. know what the qualification will be- Laughter
Dir. WISE will then take the committees report
upon the suIirage-hc outrage LITIGATION containef
IN that report. The gentleman from Richmond M
read the report OF the Committee Suffrage and h
sea here !,at Is proposed. Vow would the gentle
NJ J! trust thG: class # persoi4! Now 60 mt wish
% = ,.:'iva /, I.:y .rsi. sn" anvthing IN fht
world that would % oea-iv= him, ar! i. these IN
terroeatorss c.Ie sc 10 hr. viii forbeaS them
But We ere 10 mort hi.nd argument, hip t.
hip. 1t is ja:t VIA: / like. have asked my frend
the Question, will he answer mel
Mr. LYONS ] am ashamed TO confess the excuse
nave to give but have been occupied BY my hisl
ness in court day and night, obliged to confess
nave not the report.
Mr. WISE. This is the qualification. Eerery free
white male citizen OF the age Of twenty years AMI up
wards resident two years in the State and ono lear in
the place where he is give his vote excluding insane
Persons and paupers, and persons convicted OF Infamous
crime shall be allowed vote, without icing required
10 pay any tax Would the gentleman entrust them
with the protection Of property.
Mr.. LYONS. No, I would not. Laughter
Mr.. WISE. Well, that comes upt the mark. | must
confess and really after al the labor have had in get
ing at the principles of my friend th!r ought to
have been answered yes. courted too hard for al an
swer to have got refusal Laughter. The class Of
Men who now said to b. unworthy 10 be trusted with
the protection of persons and property who
In hay Tho
majority at the polls, comprise every white male cti-
zen OF this commonwealth, ben, also citizen Of the
mted States OF the age OF tveny one years and up
wards, who shall have been resident OF the State two
years, AID OF the county city town in which ne Claims
MS vote twelve months preceding his election
hat class of persons are told are unworthy OF self
government, that before can trust them. they
must pay six and quarter cents ten cents, or twelve
ce's-hev must purchase the pc;.y for self govern
ment with dollars and cents. Ald then after the
nave purchased the ght Of citizenship they are 10 be
tod that there is tn be distinction made that they
not to be put in the order of tie paCrica but in the
order Of the plehian They be told that they
not to have majority in the eg.snture but that Mi
nCr of them are. because that minority OF them al
though all may have paid the TAX and rendered their
votes, hold ne property. say il before ny Judge and
Alaker-laay it here appealing TO ay brethren with a
heart flu! OF affection for ther-:h:t The people of eHst
ern Virginia have Deliberately sanctioned such
loc;riGe this No never And thcv never Will
sanction it, There is .btudc of thought, sec
tonal ard local prejudice, between 'cr and western
Virginia upon this subject, and the subject taet il one
thai ha. been Investigated and examined in east
err Virginia. And. will say it here. have never
heard Tie question discussed in eastern Virginia where
the voice Of the people not rendered in favor Of the
power OF the people. aud of their capacity FOR sefor
ria'1cnt. net only in eastern Virginia, but N western
Ersnia. Let FAY 10 ny friend from Richmond, that
Go Knows there /. man n this Convention whose alb
yp0y yfl
whom take more pleasure in -srvins, and no Io:! IN
the word who would give me more joy to s.e him IN the
way OF M friend NJ. folk in the wa Of coming at
more Of the truth who if on the anxious seat should
pay more fcrvent.y with all my heart yet tell him
as lend that he has placed himself to.da: r
category than the worst enemy could have placed him. II
expects success in b,fo" the people of Rich
mon of the other parts Cf the commonwealth. Aud
.t i: The truth was told! such Is TIE condition of every
man who sustains this mixed basis this property princi
pie of representation. 1t is all nothing more nor less
than denial Of the power of the people To govern them
,lve- It denies 10 the people not only political power
but public virtue. We are told that they will commit
suicide that shey changeale that they too weak
OF too wicked hc trusted with power, and that they
mus. not b. trusted with edge tools That beautiful
Lo-rinc, now-for to noun; the stump and deliver
to anv people in any part of this State whether hc be
wing or democrat. an very glad that not de-
nncrat who urged such sentiment that. .la csr-
tain that mi democratic friend from Richmond who las
declared that he would not vote for compromise
would hardly stand np 10 any such doctrine as that
Nr SCOTT Of Richmond | have declared 10 the
feop!e whom represent and it Sc declared III the
card which addressed to them. that / would vote to
extend The right Of suffrage To man who would not
INV 4 uis:ntll tax and who had not pa II 1t least
TWO months before The election.
NJ WISE. That j. not Sha5 !r talking about. my
friend No no | may allow little latitude IN the
von as to the qualification for outrage but that is not
M maj may h.
tn. Qualification for sutfra.e whether majority OF chose
voter. are t 10 be trusted with the protection OF per-
.ons ard Of property
Mr. SCOfI lyon get tic judgment Of society that
,e9 are fitted and ,he power is bestowed upon them
fIr. WISE What i that Laughter. II ! yet
vha. Renewed laughter. Have majority ri the
n.,ple Of the commonwealth been entrusted with
II. power of tn. commonwealth? ] ask the gentle
mn, ca:egoricall. the question, whether ne would 'ris
;ority Of tn. people for tie protection OF persons
AID rr ,pcry here
~ irsnd may Ansve, thu question o. not rs he
yie.-ea.
Mr.. SCOTT, u Richmond. YES.
Mr. WISE. Nov, he mole AT yunant n the commit
e on his side lass bsen Gerunca:nn OF the power II
nu,abcrs and YET at the very Moment they Mlh'
III. power of the majority to rule in the towns "heh
The same principle is asked to be applied to the com
monweatf then these gentlemen appear 70 t,'en
>. and claim to be bound hand and foot p them. Now
If il is good for the gooae ia it not equally az so'd Tor
he canderi If the principle s good for the EAST NJ
home is il not good for the State abroad II Is Soo1
for Richmond or Norfolk it Is good for TIE whole state
Of Virginia What s Of the State "a true OF taS
county what is true of the countys true OF the parish
md what is true Of the parish Is true az between man
and man. And vet no one of these gentlemen dares 10
.a that one man, because he has the most property
should WELD the most political power either at the pos
ar in the legislature. Not And yet. when gen
tIeen say although they do not rcinGuis! the pFinI
oas altocether-vhen my frieod from Richmond t-lr'
Borrs> merely said that he ahould propose c"npro-
coiae-and because the gentleman from Norfolk l'i'.
TAy1oR) has declared that the aorty o! the
o his constituents require that he should relax his p
cini somewhat that lie should modify his Opinions ths
or IN be handed over TO the ctor here to be bound anu
scourged 1t;
Mr. Bolts That is only to oressal! pubic oPiIasn'
Mr.. WISE. That know is the meaning Oh IL. &C.
sire to forestall public opinion here desire 20
Il when il can be met eye to eye ana iiSe - - 80
br we can extract af er hard struggles the rear II'
osccn,e of this doctrine And when ste"eo 'u.1 =;
dcu to it, real gennous self it Is found 10 DC US
.rr.r of the power Of the people to govern
anil denial of their qualifications to protect
nrorcrty Iii question a. between the ro"e' u te
reople and property east as vel Is 10 te a
not ong TO discuss the question as an VI
n ero.tion for it is sucha question. ahy pour
80 has been hoodwinked and honey
very coed word and expressive ore "nis cist
49,, v;riniaps will understand the meaning Oily inc
H. ,hst this was question purely between the cast
nd +ba west I wonder if ny friend here Mr. h~LLJ