Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-14

turc, until they acquire freeholds.
If the laws related only to the title To the
soil, this provision, that none should vote
BAT the ownrrs of the soil, might be rea-
sonab.e: but the laws are made for men
lnhabitIng within certain limiis-lt would
seem TO be reasonable, that ail trueIy free
men, ialaoitingwiiiiIn heseilmits, should
give their assent To the laws. The rights
Of mei ARE the subjects of the laws--The
RICH, TO the soil is but one of thoserig hts;
and less important than the right 10 per-
sonal liberty, the right To personal pro-
perry, or the right 10 personal security.
The rule which vests all power in the
owners of the soil, may he traced TO these
times when only the owners of the sell
were freemen, and all the rest were slaves.
This rule is altogether unfit for a society
where The owners of the soil are but a
small part, minority of the men frpely
free. 1t Is men, who constitute Tie stat
and it is men who should be represented
i'll the legislature; not The earth OIL which
we tread. Had the Athcnians under
ThemIStoces abandoned their country,
tie Athenian community would still have
existed, wherever they had settled, altllo'
Athens had been demolished.
IN forming constitution, that princi-
pie of our bill of rights which requires
from every eiector evidence of perma-
nent common interest with, and attach
ment TO the community may be pre-
served, and vet the right of suffrage be
considerably extended beyond the bounds
prescribed 10 II by orr constitution
" Permanent, seems 10 be used IT'S signi-
lying " having some continuance" The
trainers of the constitution have consider
ed lite estate as permanent interest, al
tho nothing can lie more uncertain as TO
duration. Then the right of suffrage
might b. extended So lessees for wears
to all heirs apparent Of freeholders 10
owners of any kind of public stock: per
haps to some others. We will all agree.
that the pauper, the vagrant, the stiau-
ger, should be neutrality-suspicious. some
others.
Should it be objected, that such an ex-
tension of the right of suffrage would pro-
duce tumultuons or corrupt elections.
repl y, that that can be etleciualy pre-
vented by dividing the counties into seq
tons or townships, and making all electi-
ons, by retpIng process, the electors
chosen beng frecholocrs Thus every
interest in the state would be represent
ed, without admitting RIGHTEOUSNESS on
the one hand, or tyranny on the other.
will next consider the constitution as
respects the Legislature. The pertect
oiasyStem otrepublcan government con
slsis III complete separation of the three
powers-the legislative, the executive. *
the Judicial; and in making the three
branches of the government really co-oy-
d'nafe. The three great powers are by
our Constitution tolerablv distinct: the
separation is more complete than i'm the
Federal Government. But the branches
OF the government are not coordinate
The legislative body elect the executive
and the Judiciary.
\ DISQUALIFICATION to the legislative
Dody IS that It's functions are not purely
legislative. 1t acts too often as an cleo
toral college. We elect Governors. Coun-
sellors, Judges, Treasurers, Auditors
Registers, Generals, DC. &c. This NAV
give occasion to management. intrigue.
ana canYassing. And DIS members of the
Legislature are often named TO fill some
OF those stations, the members thus na-
med are placed III situation unfavorable
10 the independent exercise OF their iepis
laiive duties. We must continue TO elect
Senators to the Congress of the u. States
But | would have ali other elections with
drawn from the legislature, EXCEPT those
OF their clerks and door-keepers.
Inc legislative body is too numerous. !
would nave the Eouseof Delegates redu-
ced 10 one hundred members. Were bu-
sIness done by half the number. if would
be done i'll half the time. and cost
the State but one fourth part of the ex-
pence.
lIe membees oftho Legislative BODY should
nor De allowed 10 receive any appointment
from the Executive. We have seen The ,vant
OF Sncha provision in the constitution of rho
=. States, to preserve Congress from pros;
Dental influence. We have seen Secretarias
ambassadors, Judges, Commissioners. &c
drawn from Congress.
VIII Consider the constitution as resnects
the Executive. The Governor is elected bv tIe
Legislative body; he is elected for ton short
a time; and he is almost a cypher when elect
eu: lie has NOT even ia vote in making an an
pointment, or in deciding OH any measure mn
der the constitution. lie proc!aims what tIe
cOuncii decide ON. The council denv him the
INITIATIVE aud the right to nominate way
nSufe would do for Governor under the con
stitntion. The Act Stablishing the Farmers,
Bank, which cOnters on the Governor rIrbt
10 vote iii common with the council i'm eIectI,o
81 Directors, probably gives him more
patronage and influence than the CONSTITUTE
OH.
The Council are too numerous. Tho cop
sequence o! this is, that they haveuot ado
quate salaries. Aud altho the pride and natrio.
tlSm OF gentlemen, may hitherto have filled the
couhch with adequate qualifications this cir
cWnSt rance ~ time ,InaN have the cties; of MA
eng Tie executive power in the hands Of in
experienced young men. The heads of fbe
Gil ""'
bic. We ie-cns'-
will consider what relates to the iudieiarv
II Il