The Virginia gazette — Williamsburg [Va.], 1776-06-15 00:00:00, page 1

THE V,IRGINIA GAZETTE."
[ijE 15, 1776.] WILLIAMSBURG: Printed by DlXON &? HUNTER. [No. 1297.]
An ADDRESS to the CONVENTlON qf' tlu COLONY and ANC] ENT
DOMlNlON of VlRGINlA, 07! thesubject quofzm'nment in general,
. and renmmuding a particularjbrm to their caq/icleration: Bj a native
qftbi: (obey. [Camluded from our last.]
FWKNE of the first staples of our country, you know, is
esteemed by many to be one of the greatest luxuries
sone- in the world, and ] fancy it will be no easy matter to
5 0 & draw you into_ measures that would exclude its cul
'S-ouo-s ture, and depnve you of the wealth resulting from its
* * exportatton. '
That I may not tire your atience ! will now pro
M'ct ceed to delineate the metho in whieh 1 would distri
bute the ,owers of government, so as to devise the best code of laws,
engage their due execution, preserve the strength of the constitution, and
secure the liberties of the sso le. lt is agreed, by most wn'ters on this
subject, that this power oufd be divided into three parts, each inde
pendent of, but havinghconnection with each other. Let the peo le, in
the first place, chooset eir usual number of representatives, and et this
right return to them every third year.
Let these representatives, when convened, elect a Govemor, to conti
nue in authority during his good behaviour, of which the two Houses os
Cuuncil of State and Assembly should jointly be the Judges, and by
majority of voices supply any vacancy in that office, which may happen
by dismiflion, death, or resi ation.
Let the representatives al o choose out of the colony at ["Te twenty
four proper persbm to constitute a Couneil of State, who thou d form a
distinct or intermediate branch of the legiflature, and hold their place:
for life, in order that they mi ht possess all the wei ht, shbility, and
dignity due to the importance o their office. Upon t e death or reign:
lion of any of the members, let the Assembly appoint another to succeed
sillim.
Let no member of either House, except the Treasuter, hold a post of
profit in the government.
Let the Governor have : Privy Council of seven to advise with, though
they should not be members of either House.
Let the judges of the Courts of Common Law and Chancexy be : int.
ed by the Governor, with the advice of his Priv Council, to ho d their
offices during their good behaviour, but shou d be excluded'a seat in
either House. ,
Let the Treasurer, Secretary, and other great officers of State, be
chosen by the Lower House, and proper salaries assigned to them , as well
as to the judges, &c. &c.
Let all milttary officers be appointed by the Govemor, and all other
inseridr civil ones.
Let the different Courts a int their own clerks. The justices in
"each county should be paid or their services, and required to meet for
the dispateh qf business every three months. Let five of them be autho
rised to form a Court to hear and determine causes, and the others impow
ered to keep the peace, &c. &c. \
These are the out-lines of a government which would, - I think, pre
serve the principle of our eonstitution, and secure the freedom and happi
ness of the people better than any other.
The Governor will have dignity to command necessaiy respect and
authority, to enable him to execute the laws, without being deterred by
. the fear of giving offence; and yet he amenable to the other branches of
the legishtture for eve violation of the rights of the people. If this
great officer was expolZd to the uncertain issue of frequent elections, he
would be induced to tell: and afite the vigurous execution of the law:
whenever such conduct would increase his popularity. Should hq by
discharging hit duty with impanialky give offence to men of weight and
influence, he would be liable to all the position, threuts, and insutts,
whieh resenttnent could suggest, and whic few men in such a dependent
Rate would have sufficient resolution to neglect and dispise. Hence it
would follow, that the apprehensions of losing his election would fre
ently induce him to court the favour of the gmt, !! the expence of
e duties of'hit lation and the public good. For these, and a variety
of other reasons, this office should be held during good behaviour.
The Council of Stne, who are to conflitute the second branch of the
] 'llature, 'shou'ld be for fife. They ought to be well intormed of the
icy and laws of other states, 'and therefore should be induced by the
pumanence of their ap ointment to devote their time to such siudies as
may best qualify them or that (lation. They will acquire sirmncss from
their independency, and wisdom from their reflection and experience, and'
appropriate both to the good of the State. Upon any disagreement
between the Governor and Lower House, this body will mediate and
adjust such difference, will investigate the propriety of laws, and often
propose such as may be of public utility for the adoption of the legifla
ture. Being secluded from offices of profit, they will not be seduced
from their duty by pecuniary considerations.
The representativcs of the people will be under no temptation to swerve
from the design of their institution by bribcry or eormption, al] lucrative
posts being denied them. And should they, on any occasion, be influ—
enced by improper motives, the short period of their duration win give
their constituents :m op ortunity of de riving them of ver to do in'ury.
.The Governor, and ( !: members of the Council State, shou d be
restrained from intermeddling farther in the election; of representativcs,
than merely by giving their votes. __ ct
The internal government and police of the eolony being thus provnded
for, the next object of inquiry that presents itself is, how it superintending
owerssover the whole continent shall be raised, and with what power!
mvested. Such a power is confessed on all hands to be necessary, as well
for the purpose of connecting the colonies, as for the efiablishment of
many general regulations to which the provincial legiflatures will not be
competent.
Letss a Congress, therefore, be appointed, composed of members from
each colony, in proportion to their number of soul;; to convenessat any
place that may be agreed u n, as often as occasion may require. Let
them hue power to adjnst isputes between colonies, regulate the affairs
of tude, war, peace, alliances, &c. but they should by no means have
luthority to intelfere with the internal police or domestic concerns of any
colon , but confined strictly to such generz] re ulations, as though
nece y for the good of the whole, cannot be e ablished by any other
wer.
But whether you settle the affain of government in this, or any other
mlnner, let me recommend to our serious attention the speedy adjufiment
of all disputet about the bounzaries of y6ur eolony, before they rise to
such : height as to threaten great uneasiness and inquietude.
The claim of the Proprietora of lndiana ou'one side, and (hit of the
Kzntuckee on the other, should be fairly ind impartial'ly hard :md
determined, and notice given to the claimants to attend, that ample
justice may be done. in the mean time, would it not be proper to gtve
notice, that none of those lands should be sold or settled, until it was
known to whom they appertain. The claims of the ]ndiana company ere
stated in ; pamphlet (sent ior your perusal) and patronised by the opi
nions of some eminent lawyers. But this should not ptevent : strict and
thorough invesiigation of the maw. Both elaime, it is certain, cannot
be good. is the treaty of Stanwix should be adjudged valid, and the
right given up to the country of Indtana, that same treaty will confirm
to the colony on the land: on this side the Ohio, from its mouth, nlong
the river, up to the Pennsylvznia lands in the direction of the place called
Kittaniny in that province: in which bounds are included the lands
claimed and settled by Mr. Henderson.
Our colonial right to those land: being settled, wou'nd it not be proper
to sell all such as may be unappropriated for the use of the eokm , end
apply the monies to the payment of the vast burden of taxes we shn ] incur
by this war? The sooner you determine this, the more effectually yesiu
will frush'ate the defign avowed by the author of : late pomphlet, otsi
seizing all unappropriated lands for the use of the eontinent;- I desi ,.
in which, I own, I see as few traces of justice, as in many other of it.
schemet. _
Having completcd the remarks [intended to make, I hope, dhutevc-r
reception they may meet with, you will impute them to my m] for our
country's welfare; the only motive that ever shall induce me to ofies 97 '
opinion or ndvice. I am, Gentlemen, with the Wstrega'd. ,
Your devoted friend,
A N A T ! V—E.
Mesm Dlxosi' Co' HUNl'El,
8 in miu ib: allowiu mldre : injur ufeful ): er, j'fll 'wilssl much
oblig); s ,! 'f g s AN OLD USTOMER.
'To tbtPUBLIC. .
T is much to be lamented, when one part of :! 'comnnunity is so deeply
incensed against another, and can wkh pleasure behold us ming he
cause the most ancient tieu of friendship are then difl'olvcd, and the g1 must.
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