The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-10-15

ever keeping alive their hatred of every thing
that looks like defpotifn.
ELECTION OF PENNSYLVANIA.
IT is time that we fhould exprefs our opini-
ons of the bearings and confeuuences of this
much-agitated event. Every day it affumes
new importance to thofe who examine it with
attention. AT hrft it appeared as nothing more
than local affair, and we were ready to ak ,
what have we to do with the internal diffenti.
ons of Penn. But to ,thofe who now conlider
it with attention., it appears under new &, more
important aiociations. Inltead of the concern
of fate, it has now become the interelt of the
union. Itisno longer change in the conftitu-
ton or the governor of Pennsylvania, which is
at take; 1t IS no longer aaueftiou between the
g ConfItutonaliits" and the ssFriends of the
People ;" but it touches the very principles of
our government !; it has in fact grown into an
aitercation between the federalifts and the re-
pubIicans.
Cur readers are already acquainted with the
cxiitence and fone of the caufes of thefe DIFF
Putes. They already know that two prominent
points have been drawn into the difcufiion
change i'll the contribution, and change in the
gopernor of Pennsylvania. Between thefe two
meaiares there is a'confderable connection, but
not 10 complete in all It's points as the friends of
innovation have afierted. SO far as governor
M,Kean has abaiea the powers entrufi ed to him
by the contribution, fo far may it become quef
ton how far it may be proper to abridge the.
constitutional powers of The executive, from the
lights furnifhed by his administration. So far
as Mr.. M'keau mas aed in his individual capa-
city,it cannot poiFbiiy have any bearing upon
the queftion of amending the contribution
When indnlging the partially of father he ap-
pointed his own fon TO the office of attorney
general of the fate, for WHICH no one but ia
thcr could have deemed him fifficieutly quaii6-
ed, the naturalization of M'Kean became at
once proof of the abfurdity of eutrufing the
governor with 10 extenlive power of appoint
ment. When Mr.. M'Kean, indulging perfon-
al recruitment, was polite enough to call the
Legislature "a parcelofg eeie & clodpoles," he did
that which any other foolilh governor might
have done: He furniihed an argument for
changing the governor, but none for changing
the contribution. Yet even This affertion is per-
haPs carried too far Z; for the que!tion immedi-
atey rifles upon us, would gov. M'Kean have
dared to have ridiculed the Immediate repre-
fentatives of the people, if his vanity had not
been elated by the exercife of his exorbitant
powers.
On one of thefe meafures we have already ex-
prened our opinion at comfortable length.
Three changes have been propofed in the con.
ftitution of Pennsylvania in the executive, in
the judiciary, and inthe fenate. We have al
ready declared our jealous concurrence in the
firt of thefe Innovations, becaufe the executive
appears to us detective in at leaf three refpetts.
The governor has no council: he appoints to al
mott all the Offices in the fate he has quali-
ed negative on every law With refpect to the
fenate of Pennsylvania, the innovation propofed
does not feem TO be of fuch peculiar importance.
Whether their period of fervice fhalbe reduc-
ed from to l or years, does not appear to
involve fuch weighty conf az if the
queltion had been, ihalfit he appointed by the
people and in what fofng BY larger or fnaller
diftriets, or iha it bedriIedfout of the body of
representatives, to ferve ike Handing commit
| tee of reviiion during theperiod of its FELTON,.
OF all the innovations which have been propo-
| fed, fome which relate to- the organization of
| the judiciary department, appear to us to be
| peculiarly liable to objection. We fhould for
inftance be oppofed to the appointment of the
judges by the people, and the limitation of their
Office to OF years. But the idea of removing
them by refoIution of 8 4ths of the Legislature
is perhaps entitled to the appreciation Of re.
preventative government. In one word, were
we inhabitants of Pennsylvania, we fbould GER
| tainly join in petition to the Legislature to
call convention as foon AS majority of the du-
| ~ qualified electors were found in favour Of thai
meafure.
| In regard to the election of the governor we
do not heftate to- declare, that Snyder and not
MsKean would have been our favourite candi-
date. We mould have oppofed M'Kean,
Becaufe, in the appointment to Office, he has
INDUCED contracted partially for his own
family and kindred:
Becaufe, he has laid his veto on feyeral faIutary
| laws; among Others to thelaw extending the
fyftem of arbitration. On this point, we dc
not heliiate to aver, that we think ar
experiment at leaf ought TO be made de
Gliding how far the judgment offDpartial mer
i may not I've advantageonily employed in plac,
i of magiflrates and lawyers To the tribuna
u OF CAHatiou in Denmark we have Iosked fo'