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, on the lt;en out to thefell,POPULAR RIGilTS.JEFFERSON, VA.A meeting of non-freeholders and others was held at Maj. Stephenson’sHotel, at Harper’s Ferry, on Saturday the 21st day of March, 1829. Mr. Philip Hoffman was called to the chair, and Mr. Otis Dudley appointed secretary', when the object of the meeting 'd. wo- was explained by P. C. M‘Cabc, Esq. j—Whereupon it was I Resolved, That Messrs. Andrew Hunter, P. k C- M'Cabe, Robert Keyes, Wm. Chambers,’ and Dr. J. VV. Roper, be a committee topre-n, ' Pare a preamble and resolutions, and reportthe same to this meeting for their considera tion,edH.bertimingandafteVnerientivemknowhiporlarmexclrep i thusroustheod,all-withheldj The committee retired for a short ■is 2 t‘me an(l) on their return, reported the ’ i following preamble and resolutions,which were unanimously adopted:_Whereas a large majority, even of freeholders, have made known their Vlle wishes, that a convention of delegates i pui, should be convoked for the purpose ofjpafj re-modelling the constitution of this fajr commonwealth—and whereas, the general assembly, by their late act, organizing said convention, have solemnly declared, that a majority of the free pOS citizens of Virginia, falling under the mei class of non-freeholders, shall be ex- resteluded from the exercise of their ori- I thofginal and unalienable right of suffrage! whc in electing said delegates, thereby in-1 exis volving the political absurdity of a bo- ’ ejth er,’ j lt;ly created merely for the purposes of ljt,'c | ordinary legislation, subordinate to the chil,sr. [ constitution, arrogating to itself the | theiihigh prerogative of determining virtu- j t0 n lally what shall be the character of babl r, ; that constitution—and whereas, this whit meeting regard it as a sacred duty w;u; j they owe to posterity as well as to jyl(er, themselves, to protest against, and re- i9tnter. pel such an high-handed usurpation of weall power:—It is therefore thoseResolved, That so much of the late act of ‘“7°' tho Virginia legislature, organizing a conven-1 jL_-tion, as excludes non-freeholders from their right of suffrage in electing delegates to said * convention, is an usurpation of power repug- 1 nant to the spirit of republicanism, and the , dictates of natural reason.Resolved, As men, who wish and ought to ' f.i!' 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- 1 nr„j, bly connected, and that a disunion of them is ,h«r 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 eo-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.M.of-man ing t porar 3d. from the e aforei low-c to ele to rep we do ing a stituti citizei respei 4th. points justic jority if wc comm termil zens surrei of rep pared comir On of thiResolved, 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 ! and the several towns and villages, and at other i Fret public places; and from each meeting to send ! proi at least five delegates, to meet at Winches- p]ace ter on the 11th day of April next, for the purpose of nominating, in behalf of said non-free-u|_ holders, c. four suitable candidates to re-., present them in said convention, and to adopt Illn such other measures as tbeir common interests may require.Resolved, That the five delegates, to be ap. hol( pointed on the part of this meeting shall also serr ;r_ constitute a committee, with power to call j.i A another general meeting if required, and to do, on behalf of this meeting, whatever else may be necessary in furtherance of the great of anl end in view. e(jen- Resolved, That Messrs. George Rowles, Ti-lrJ_ mothy Herrington, Andrew Hunter, Robert Cl Keyes, and P. C. M'Cabe, be appointed dele- *J j gates on the part of this meeting, to meet mol lP delegates from the different sections of this thei flat senatorial district at Winchester, on the 11th try day of April next, for the purposes heretofore • i mentioned.jj'j mentioned.Resolved, That this meeting express their {A . l'st grateful acknowledgments to those freehol-:he ders who have united with them in promotingof this great work. o]aunie 1 Resolved, That the proceedings of this meet- 80un ing be signed by the chairman and secretary, polil j and be published in the several newspapers elcc 'yS in this district, and by other editors friendly 3, he to our cause throughout the state. sacrPHILIP HOFFMAN, Ch’o. rights 0. Dudley, Sec’y. to del— sembrk. At a meeting of a number of the !3llllrra — non-freeholders of Jefferson county, at'the court-house in Charlestown, attend-1 jj D, ed by some of the freeholders of the genui ln, county, on Saturday, the fourth day of • natu' er April, 1829, for the purpose of con- 4-ad Sidering what measures ought to be re- ”*jj. o- sorted to by the non-freeholders of this asusin commonwealth under existing circum- whiti stances, Dr. David Hunter was called ch9eid to the chair, and William Yates re-questedfa act as secretary. On mo- 0/pem. tion of Thomas A. Moore— to th
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Leesburg Genius of Liberty
Leesburg, Virginia, US
Sat, Apr 18, 1829
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