Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-07-05

hcPt Puio. iLnroS Eaiu'N
are always easily evaded. s a..
There ia great mower 10 public opinion, and 1t the
honest voters will unite in concerning Hi uhih,' a.'
corrupt electioneerng, ana II luey ooaa. Nv wi ,
operation Of the political press the growing esh
of bribery, &c. NAV be arrested before very serious
injury is inflicted. While the subscribers 10 u Ia.
aminer have seen the editorial Il n.eh y,
alluded, the readers Of other Journals WIZ Wv.
SIZE il unles. it is republ;shed. Ii discusses = ruol-c'
If much inportapc. 10 The people of Virginia
without regard TO party iies, and one "h'cn l
happen TO know, has. for three or four years past
given no small concern 10 many "isn'y fesPe''
able men in this and the sdiscenf counties.
As a subscriber to the Enquirer l no" write 20
respectfully ask the republication, IN the columns oi
your widely circulating paper OF 'ne eu'.ol'a'
already mentioned. It's republication VIII l rus
BIZ acceptable TO your readers, anu encourage II
spirit OF reform. u
Very respectfully, yours, H. L. h.
THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE \ ITS ABUSE
-INCREASE OF POLITICAL
AND NECESSITY FOX MEASURES or
COUNTERACTION.
What is understood as ''unIvershl suffrage o'Ri
mated in the Northern States. Wherever ! l has 'ois
prevailed, experience has demonstrated lis netHora'%
ing tendency, and corruption bss Increased among can
d,Istps and voters. There are many men OF talent,
extensive a%ttsinments and high moral character
throughout the Northern States men capaoie D. len
dering, and willing to render, valuable poi'lcai ger
vice in their several State Legislatures end 10 Con
crss. WHY are they not adorning tn stations for
which they are qualified 7 Because their seiirespec'
and their patriotism will not allow them 10 BUY votes
and to practice the vile acts OF the denagogue,-
Hence it is that, within the last thirty years, ths
Northern States have sent 80 small a number Of able
men to the House of Representatives.. Universal
suffrage is unfrisndly TO stability Of legislation and OF
representation, and rotation in office" is one OF lie
mandates. Northern men are rarely elected TO the
House of Representatives more than twice. ana on
this account no adequate inducement Ia offered 10
men of a high order TO devote their minds and Time
10 the science of government, to a thorough e1aml
nation of our complex inatituiions, and the rules oil
legislative bodies. A corrup, system Of eleciioneer
Ing and voting excludes from Congress The an!est
men, and the third and fourth rate politicians whosre
elected make but little exertion 10 improve them
selves, as they nre sensibie that the doctrine oi 'fo
tation in Office will aOou vacste their seats.
From I776 to 1880, the right of suffrage in Virginia
WA confined 10 free-holder-. The Convention OF
$3.50 extended the right of suffrage, but allowed no
one TO vote who did not pay revenue Tax. Our pre-
sent Constitution conlers the right OF suffrage upon
every white mal- citizen If the Commonwealth "'
IN. age of twenty one years, who has been Il resicenf
of the State for two years, aud OF the county, city or
town where be offers 10 vote tor twelve m0nths Hex
preceding an election.
There are limits beyond which political rights can
not b.. extended without hazard to the best aud per
manent interests OF society. No benefit can result
from comforting the right ct suffrage upon those WI"
are incompetent 10 exercise 1t with discretion anu 10
dependence. 1t is certainly desirable that all tho
white males over twenty one years old. IN every
State, should possess the requisite qualifications oi
mind aud character for the faithful discharge OF po'it
ical duties, but unfortunately the sun has never shed
lis RAYS upon such a Stat or people. The attainment
of the qualifications requisite for an honest and inde-
pendent exercise OF power, should precede the posses
sion of the power. The authority to vote, does not
confer the capacity or imply the willie vote correct
~. While every citizen should cherish and value
the right of suffrage, he should remember that The
right ought to be exercised with reference 10 the ad-
vancement OF the welfare OF the community in which
hs lives, and of the Commonwealth to which he
owes fidelity and loyalty. BY voting honestly, he
discharges one of the duties which he owes 10 him
self, tohis family, hs fellow. citiz Ems and his country:
by selling his vote, hs violates duty, %degrades him
self, Injuries hs fellow. citizens, and proves a traitor
to his country. Obvious as these truths ara to all
well disposed persons OF ordinary intelligence, We
confidently believe ,hatthers are thousands Of voter.
in Virginia who never reflect upon the moral and
political obligations by which their votes should be
governed.
Our foreiathers thought that no man should be al
lowed 70 vote, except ihOse "haviDg sufficient evil
dence of permanent, common interest with. and at
tschment to the community" that elections "oughr
to be free:'' and that no Tree government or the
blessing OF liberty can be preserved To any people
bu, by a firm adherence 10 justics, moderation, hm-
psrance, ~frugdi,ty and c1rtue." Entertaining these
sentiments, aud anxious that their drscendanta should
profit by them. tho statesmen Of lIT6 inserted them
IN the Declaration of Rights. the last Convention
of Virginia endorsed and sanctioned these opinions,
hy r..adopiiug the Declaration of Rights and pre-
fixing II TO The present C1nstiiufiOn. We AK wha'
Their candidates for office in Virginia, 10 generally
evincr The justice ami virtue inrulc9ted by our fore
fathers snd eniOlned by the Constitution! What
virtue or iuatic. il exhibited by thure candidates,
who, unwilling TO rely upon their own characters and
the unbiased decision oi n popular majority, strive 10
obtain office by distributing money, meat, whisk-y,
&c, among The Idle or int-mperete. the ignorant or
depraved voters, with no other purpose than 10 secure
their votes? How can our elections be considered
AZ tree when so many candidates %interpose their
formidable reto of bribery How can elections be
said, with truth, TO be Free" unless The voters are
free from corrupt influence. free TO act honestly, free
10 exercise their right Of suffrage as patriots DESTROYS
to uphold republican government, and TO secure the
election Of such officers only as are qualified by their
good sense, their experience, moral habits, &c.
As II general rule, the character of the representa-
five may be regarded as q mirror of that of his con.
stituent. 1.-THE latter ara intelligent, honest, and pa
triotic, their representative j. not likely 10 be = fool
or Il knave. but a correct, independent and sensible
man. II, however, a constitution is changed, and UNI
due power conferred upon the inferior stratum of go.
cie,y, by q great extension of the right OF suffrage.
a corresponding depression OF representative ability
and integrity may well be unprecedented before a long
interval. Dishonest meAnd Ut electioneoring becoin-
more prevalent and prove to be more svailabi- than
formerly. When intelligent and honorable men $50
that q resort to corruption IL necessary. 10 obtain po.
litical station, they curb their ambition and decline n
canvass, being assured that, flee obtained by bribery
and intrigue cEn bring no qualification and confer 10
honor. Men of inferior minds and more plan; prin
ciples then appear upon The stage IA candtdates.-
These rely with confidence upon the support Of their
respective parties, but as there are many voters At
tached firmly 10 no political principles ar party, men
who Day no revenue, who are restrained by few ties.
and who are recognised and embraced by the term
shosting VOTE the candidates tvince grea; soiciiuIr
and exhibit unusual activity with the view of securing
the support of n class of voters, who, in many local.
ties, hold the balance of power. Acts are then com
mi,ted which the candidates would be ashamed TO
acknowledge 10 the public, and which they would be
happy to have consigned to oblivion. Kind inquiries
are made for suoh voters as Messrs. Doolittle. Thirsty,
Suggs and Wrinkle, who became voters under our
present Constitution. AS these men have Of late
years acquired considerable notorieiy, and are
likely to continue prominent, they will excuse us
for introducing them to the Virginia public In
terms az complimentary as fidelity to truth will per
init. A slave looks upon liberty, not as a great bless-
ing or privilege, but merely az an exemption from
labor. SO does Dooliitle, who thinks none but Al
idiot would work honestly for Ibis daily bread" He
would not cut wheat or oats, or DO any Work Tor you
al s. per day. He hes time enough, and to spare,
AZ the poor squirrels can testify. NO one ever &C
cused him of honesty. He pays no ta1ss. has no
property, and is too lazy TO acquire any. he claims
the same right TO dispose OF his vote As OF his time
Ii any of the farmers and planters, tho mechanics,
merchants. etc, find il inconvsnient to attend the
elections, he lameuts their want of patriotism. No
thing prevents his punctual attendance. and no can
dioate obtains hs vote for less Than $40. lie con
templates the adoption of a "s'iding scale, by which
the price paid for ME vote shall depend upon the inn
~porfance OF the office desired by The Candidate. His
acquaintance, Thirsty, is one OF those men
Who will compound for sins they are inclined 10,
BY damning those they have no mind TO.
He processes to condemn, with hearty Indignation,
the practice of selling votes for go, or any amount
of monev. While rrproving DroIittle, Mr. Thirsty
knew very well that he gave hi. own vote in con.
sidera,ion of %whiskey, furnished to him Just before
the election by a n~eighbor who Kept a liquor shop.
and who. having received q deposit OF S5O from one
- 4 fha did tsftI trafrIfRftOns In So nAI6 ~ a.
hs benefit, had given the liquor 10 Thirsty and other.
spiritually inclined. upon condition that they would
pledge themselves TO vote for their very liberal bene'
factor. Thirsty and his numerous allies care not 4
fig for the candidate who is able and willing 10 en-
tighten their minds, but they love the candidate who
is willing TO stupify them with the lneanest %whiskey.