Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-04-03

/ ri~ht.to change, To alter & amend it--that
,s;s right 4; recognized b. the constitution
,,nter vhici, our government is at PEE
Gen, orr snised. In the ninth article. and
! the second &c aion, il is declared, {" That
y" all power is Inherent in the people,
anI all free governments are fo1ndcd on
&c their authority, and instituted for their
"pcace, safety AMI ha2p'ness. For the
" advancement ofthese ends. they have, at
I" all times an uaalienable and ,nde(eas'bie
"right 10 alter, reform or abolish their
(" goyernnen, in such manncr as they may
"think proper"
The present cons'i'u,ion of this com
monwca!,t has been in operation Tor near
ly fifteen ye 5, during which time, We
conceive, experiences has discovered ,eve-
raj material rnp-rfs lions. in tia. ias,ru.
ment, which require amend n-nt. rhe
rhrst which strikes our view IS in that
part of the constitution which espect, ihe
Legislature department of the government.
BY the sixth section of tn. FIRST article ii
is direct-d that the senators shall be- cho-
sen for four years -hence it not ur're-
quentiy happens, that the people, hssing
confidence ia man whose character has
never be-n tried pr developed IN any pub
lie employment, elc Z him as senator,
whose condact IN the first session after
his elee,.o,. m,y b. such rs totally to de-
strov the conh l.nce his constituents had
Z, in him, and no,w thstandins this. and how
ever hostile hI,view, may be 10 their ia.
terest. he continues 10 iegisla;e Tor them
! for the tern 81 four years. In many OF
1 ~.
gistra,c Us brpugh Annually to the tribi-
nal OF the people nor can we see any good
reason why senator's should not b. brought
to the same t=st---ve hold ,t as funda.
mental principle Of a repubIcao govern
nent, that the agents of the people should
feel at ali times their responsibility to
/ thos- WIN have constituted them --thi,
the viii Of the people is the para n IN /
i'av-hat the more representatives. feel
heir resDon 'ib'ly the N IRE h-v vii CO :
shlt The will and he interest OF those whom
they represent.
The RI chi O- drita-fmc1s oftbe govern
mert. asso. in eur opinion requires "a
m-ndrrent. The chief executive ma
gIstraie possesses patronage TOO exten.
sivr to be consistent with the principles
of 'ibcrty and the rappiness and interest
OF the Wherever there is IA.
tronage there is dagger of favoritei,m
wherever there is Iavpriteism there is
dagger Of parliahyy. wherever there is
Partially there Is Danger Of Injns,ice, and
wherever thee is iallsice there mus, be
injury and oppression. The aim lst inr,i-
inerable Lucrative appointments IN the
isr,n ~ IL, e A.
the state, and whic necessarily Increase
| in the same ratio With rs population, give
him patronage eqp-',o ,iat ofthe king
! ct Eng aud --io pr9Darlina 10 the extent
lof patronage is he fsat OF his power
& Influence. tbs added e, the negative he
has on all laws, puts it III bis power cfficl-
emily TO con,ronl he acts VI the leg, latire
tothe utter sa5ve' anof tina, principle lha,
the majority snail govern-we wi h not
10 be understood as Estimating in the
most re note degree snar this power has
b~en abused by the ptesent executive
magistrate, orthat the pre- sen e., Stature,
or Any individual Of il Is c4osble Of being
thus a.te1 ioon--aiI We mean IS. that
this dangerous pover docs exist, and
nav be exercised vhenever less uprigh.
and virtuous vernon is IN. Office. and
whenever We may b. so unfortunate as 10
have a Legislature ef less stern Integrity
Wherever there is his uower we fear us
Exercise rec1leel ng' Aha, in every hn-
IN IN socieiy there j. an effort continu-
ally ten ling to confer on ore part III.
e heieh, Of power and happiness, and to
reduce The o. her To the extreme Of
weakn s. ard Wis-ry"--,he intent OF
al good laws lad constitutions are para
mount i, tn o'po,e this effort, and 10 df-
fuse iheir nllence uniyersalIy and equal
/! - bu L is o BE- regretted" that :" men
srneraiiv abandon the care Of their
aos' important Concerns IN theunccrtaiD
prndence and discretion &C hose whose
I io'ere't q Is % reist The wisest and best
81 institutions and i. often happens" that
e II IS no, I'D they have BEEN III Io,o
thousand mistakes IN matters the most
essential To ,'i-r lives and liberties, and
"are weary Of suffering hat they CSC be
" induced 20 apply the remedy to the e
'yllS with which hey are oDp,esse3.'
Oar attention hrvever. IS more patti
cuiarly and snxionsIy dawn to he juiic,
arr del'armem Of our government. this
ANXIETY - rendered moe poignant by re