Litchfield Enquirer

Virginia Convention.—In a debate before one of the committees of the Virginia Convention, Mr. B. W. Leigh, a distinguished member of that assembly, when discussing the subject of the right of suffrage, and expressing his opinion on its universal extension, made the following remarks. "Let us look for a while at our sister Maryland. They began there with requiring in voters £50 worth of personal property,—and what was the practical result? That plan went on until it came to this—that at an election a gold watch was passed from hand to hand as men came up to the polls, and the last man who voted pocketed the watch, the owner never daring to demand his property. The natural course of such a state of things was, that she at last destroyed all property qualification whatever. Such is the course of these changes: one step ever leads to another—and every step in the same direction. They go backward, never, never: To go back in such a course, is the task of Aeneas coming out of hell and making his way to the upper air. No, sir: down, down they go to the extremes of democracy: and between the extremes of democracy and a military despotism, there is not a single step; it is easily taken, and it invariably is taken."

Such are the sentiments entertained by an able and highly respectable citizen of Virginia, on this subject: sentiments which we have no doubt are very general among the great body of the old and influential inhabitants of that State.

Mr. Leigh, in the course of his speech said—"Let gentlemen remember that this nation is in a state of progress, of progress towards corruption. It is a bold word; a very bold word; but such is my deliberate conviction. It has been the case in all other nations, all the world over: our nation is in its infancy,—and it is with nations as with children, they are ever purest at their birth. Does any gentleman here, for example, remember, and will he compare, the number of place hunters and office seekers, who were desirous of sustaining themselves without labor in this our ancient Commonwealth of Virginia, at this day, and at the period when he first set out in life! For one that I saw when I first began to earn a living I now see ten. (Here a voice, supposed to be that of Mr. Randolph, said, "aye, one hundred.") What though the loaves and fishes be so few, in the expectation of these place hunters, miracles are to be performed, and these few are to prove enough to satisfy a multitude."

In reply to a member who had spoken on the other side of the question, Mr. Leigh said. That he had never affirmed that the house keepers, whom that gentleman wished to introduce to the polls, were corrupt; but only, that from their situation, they were exposed to the influence of their landlords. If the gentleman has doubts on this subject, I recommend him to examine the history of the New-York Convention. He will there find an account of corruption fully as great as exists under any European government. (Here the voice of Mr. Randolph was again heard, adding "and much greater.") Yes, sir, fully as great. It is their own account. I advise the gentleman to read it; he will find it to be a most wonderful account indeed.