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on the :cn out to theell,pokiiit HIGllTS.JEFFEItsON, VA.A meeting of non-freeholders an others tvas held at Maj. Stephenson’ Hotel, at Harper’s Ferry, on Saturda the 21st day of March, 1829. M Philip Hoffman was called to the chai and Mr. Otis Dudley appointed secre tary, when the object of the meetin-1. wo- was explained by P. C. M‘Cabc, Esi ■Whereupon it wasI Resolved, That Messrs. Andrew Hunter, I C. M‘Cabe, Robert Keyes, Wm. Chambers ( and Dr. J. W. Roper, be a committee topre | pare a preamble and resolutions, and repor the same to this meeting for their considera 1 tion.od,) The committee retired for a shon is 2 time’ a.nt* on ^eir return, reported the ’ following preamble and resolutions which were unanimously adopted:— Whereas a large majority, even o freeholders, have made known theii wishes, that a convention of delegate; should he convoked for the purpose ol re-modelling the constitution of this commonwealth—and whereas, the general assembly, by their late act, organizing said convention, have solemnly declared, that a majority of the free citizens of Virginia, falling under the class of non-freeholders, shall be excluded from the exercise of their original and unalienable right of suffrage in electing said delegates, thereby in-uu, rolving the political absurdity of a boar,’ | dy, created merely for the purposes ofj ordinary legislation, subordinate to the ri j constitution, arrogating to itself thehigh prerogative of determining virtu-j ally what shall be the character of r, ; that constitution—and whereas, thismeeting regard it as a sacred duty I they owe to posterity as well as to :r, themselves, to protest against, and re-iter. pel such an high-handed usurpation ofpower:—It is therefore Resolved, That so much of the late act of the Virginia legislature, organizing a conven- ' tion, as excludes non-freeholders from their right of suffrage in electing delegates to said convention, is an usurpation of power repugnant to the spirit of republicanism, and the dictates of natural reason.Resolved, As men, who wish and ought to ! be free, that we hold this to be a just and self- ; evident principle, that the right of suffrage! and the right of taxation should be insepara- i bly connected, and that a disunion of them is unjust and tyrannical.Resolved, That it is our indubitable right peaceably to assemble together, to adopt the best and most efficient measures of self-government, and to obtain those rightful privileges appertaining to freemen, which have been unjustly, nay, ungenerously withheld from us by the landed aristocracy of Virginia.Resolved, That we consider the late law authorizing a convention, entirely unnecessary; that such as it is, it is a mere mockery of justice—partial and unjust in all its bearings; and wholly forgetful of fundamental principles—We, therefore, will co-operate with those favourable to the extension of the right of suffrage throughout the state, and will use all just and honourable means in being heard and represented in the contemplated convention, any thing in the law to the contrary notwithstanding.Resolved, That all free white male inhabitants, who have permanently resided within this commonwealth, sufficiently long to afford an earnest of a common interest in the public welfare, ought, of right, to be represented in said convention.Resolved, That it be recommended to the non-freeholders, and freeholders friendly to the recognition of our rights throughout this senatorial district, to hold public meetings in the several towns and villages, and at other public places; and from each meeting to send at least five delegates, to meet at Winchester on the 11th day of April next, for the purpose of nominating, in behalf of said non-freeholders, c. four suitable candidates to represent them in said convention, and to adopl such other measures as tbeir common interests may require.Resolved, That the five delegates, to be ap. pointed on the part of this meeting shall also constitute a committee, with power to call another general meeting if required, and to do, on behalf of this meeting, whatever else may be necessary in furtherance of the great end in view.Resolved, That Messrs. George Rowles, Timothy Herrington, Andrew Hunter, Robert Keyes, and P. C. M'Cabe, be appointed dele-- 1 gates on the part of this meeting, to meel ■P* ; delegates from the different sections of this iat senatorial district at Winchester, on the 11th ry day of April next, for the purposes heretofore j j mentioned.; Resolved, That this meeting express their ■st grateful acknowledgments to those freehol-he ders who have united with them in promoting 0f: this great work.ne i Resolved, That the proceedings of this meet-c, ing be signed by the chairman and secretary, i and be published in the several newspapers in this district, and by other editors friendly to our cause throughout the state.PHILIP HOFFMAN, Ch’n.0. Dudley, Sec’y.[G,At a meeting of a number of the non-freeholders of Jefferson county, at the court-house in Charlestown, attend-! ed by some of the freeholders of the n, county, on Saturday, the fourth day ol ar April, 1829, for the purpose of con-id sidering what measures ought to be re-)- sorted to by the non-freeholders of this ,n commonwealth under existing circumstances, Dr. David Hunter was called id to the chair, and William Yates requested to act as secretary. On mo-n. tion of Thomas A. Moore—
Newspaper Details
Leesburg Genius of Liberty
Leesburg, Virginia, US
Sat, Apr 18, 1829
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