Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-06

trarsforence oC those primitive aii3 central
rcwets 20 body ivlitic unknown to tie COZ
situation. sua who cau oNcrciee tae'u without
any reference TO the StnCru. Assembly.
Many 81 tAe Sane objections apply 20 the
other corporation acting under 'he style OF
Z" ! he preSidCut ~nd directors OF The itetarN
iund." You committee hes leave suiy 10 pos >
the attention al The house, TO several OF tic
most prominent ohJectionS.
The powers 10 estub>h schools, and to
riaut lctteues tluoughoUt the state, are Ger
taiulN general legislative powers. Ih v also
pass % ias-S. uN which the community may be
seriously Affected. i great judicial character
is a member OF this cVrpOtaiiOni,l the IreSi-
cegf % tie supreme co'tIt ~ GfptatS. what
WoUid be The sliUaiCr Ct thlS Judge, presiding
over That high tribunal, tie last hope or re ort
for Justice, when he had TO decide upcn
question arising on a Ccrgosailou law. winch
| lie had proposed, voiced for, and perhaps
/ drawn is his own pen. our committee re-
| fyan from an answer. The governor again
| exhibits himsClfin legislative capacity .asso-
cated Will, iae Judge, lieutenant governor,
| treasurer, aod attorney general. There are
| many traits Of ia executive and Judiciary APP
pearancc very pcrceivabe in the constitution
OF this body polite the committee deem il
| unnecessary noSFto notice them. The perpe
| fatty OF the appropriations Will not escape the
serious attention OF he house.
cur committee a=..ia nSk the Indulgence
| at The house, wtiie they make few general
| reflections.
| Legislation for events, which only the womb
| OF time STALL unfold, cauEot be wise and sound
| policy.
| Snch legislation hath a tendency so 10 en-
| barrass future Assemblies, aud J,DSteri3g, as 10
| compel them Ia yield reluctant Of rOerciYe
| consent, or TO resort 10 cCnvuiSive efforts fora
| favorable change in the state oil things in
| which they fiad themselves.
| 1t generates swarm az officers. who quar-
| ter on the laboTs OF the people, and destroys
| the great principles OF moderation qHi frHgaiify
!
| OF government in irresponsible bottles, aud
thereby destroys the principle OF uRyoTmity Of
! gcrCrRWeft.
! itplacvs large poi ;iou OF the public trpa-
sure, beyond the Coutroul Of tie representa-
ives OF The people who are annually elected.
| II tends TO destroy the responsibility OF the
conS ;'itiunal officers, by putting them INTO Il
I new body polite, where tscy c.tu receive other
| sa'aiies, aud where they aare other duties aud
! interests committed II ,i'ci,, titan those pro
periy, apper'auiirg 10 ,he'r offices.
Ahd itonghi 10 bo rvcoiiyctSt, HAT the s0ciety
| ofai.ee people performs tor itacif fiet aioue
! tie nicSt vllnu1" ~ uSrT,li opeTat olls, without
! being tianmeCh by 80 iAuch lceai regulation.
! Aud It OHghtnot % escaFe oui serious aotice
| mat the bill Ot rights Wiscl. cNrioGeS, not
only the principle OF Ini0u OF t.i0 Offices of
! legislator. ChiSi iudyistrate ami Judge, but also
| every descend!Jie or Unbeatable uualitN IN
such oiilccS; yet IN the form at cre corpora
| ton TINS anon IS very yISbis. and 10 which 4
succession may endure from tOrty-eiIhf to ore
corporation (Which Is based on perpciuityl the
SImo union occurs, and succession thereto
MAY endure longer than an Inheritance which
often terminates rs the failure OF heirs
OF, il may endure as long as the commonwealth,
VINO can never die.
However, your committee animated bv a
4oicitnde equal'yanXouS with their prcdeces-
SOIs in their honorable views for the Internal
| improvement and prosperity of tile common
wealth, viii suggest that the grand objects in
contemplation may be accomplished without
the Intervention OF amy other body than such
as are known TO the constitution.
In relation to the fund FOR internal improve.
ment your committee are of opniOn, that lie
governor and council, with powers properly
executive; with the aid of au engineer aud
twelve commissioners rec ewing conversation
when IN actual service located and distributed
In the same sections ofcouEtry from whence
the ten directors do now emsuafe, can cause
surveys u be made, aud obtain the re
qul-ite information for the attaumeut Of any
object OF Improvements. This being done the
General Assembly, with all the lights afforded
by the executive council, and which nav he
otherwise had, can permit individual citizens
to associate with tie commonwealth on such
conditions as the public interest may pres
scribe, make the needfnl appropriations and
proceed IN the accomplishment Oftie lesena-
ted Object OF internal Improvement. Let lie
treasurer, under the control OF the executive
council, with proper fiscal notifications man
age the funds in the best manner TO make item
productive. Audit may be here remark ed.
that although there cannot be any ieca! ruie
on the subject, yet the General Assemble, II,
eleciiUg The councillors, have it in their power
titthey think proper SO 10 use III OF taxing two
councillors, as vacancies may occur, from,
each sec; lOh OfierIitOIy as LeiOre mentioned
with respect to the literary tnnd, your com
mttee advance 10 that subject with great diff
hdeuce and cautious delIcacy. IL seems to be
generally true, that the arts and sciences seek
refuge from TOO much goreyaG!eat 10 - free
State = and when IN - iree stare" how Car
L.. I.t.x ettg.ttt "a a.,
to their progress and promo tl9n forms a ones.
| ton which your committee "ann5t undertake
| 10 solve and as the ,GEJect Of educaliOnis now
| under the consideration OF another committee
! PERMISSION Is asked 10 suspend an opinion
| here. Your committee merely DTOueht iato
! view the laws concerning tins fund, tu draw
| the attention of the house 10 exceptions which
may be taken OH constitutional principles 10 u
grant Of general Legislative and e,.ac,iiive
powers to Il corporate body. However, yonl~
committee await the further instructions Of
The House on tiis interesting topic.
The committee now proceed 10 Jhc consde-
raten Of tire several subjects 10 thea, referred
| Ia relation TO the executive department Of the
| government. The constitution OrdIirs that
= The governor with the advice of The council
. OF state. Shal exercise tlte executive powers
" ofgovermmeut according 10 the laws OF lie
" commonwealth ne shall. lth the advice o /
" the council have power Of granting renrieycs
or pardons, except where tie PROSECUTION
" shall have heeu CARVED on by the House OF
A'tiesdie-' oI tue law Shaii OtnerW'se parti-
cUiarIy direct, III which cases no reprieyc o.
pardon shall I've granted bat by the rcs0iee of
" the Uon,e of Ddcgates.'
From the establishment of tie constitution.
it was the practice OF ihe country to look to the
executive council tor the remission of fires
apeiccIHents. penalties and foiicitureS as we'll
q for feVricvCs and paidOns aud your cGnl.
mitiee aGc informed, Thai willie iHc executive
council eXercisCd jh0sc functions, al an carly
period, l!ley ware administered y ith such asi-
lily aud justueSS, rs to secure nerai CONT
| dtuco ami respect thar s.c!l were The valu-