Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1821-12-22

wealth, presented the following report:
''Ihs comDittee appointed To announce to
Tbos. NJ. Randolph hi, re election to the Of
flee of Governor or Chief Magistrate, have
performed that duty by ad dressing TO him
the paper A, and received the ab,wer l.,
which they beg leave to report:
CORRESPONDING
SiR-Ne are charged by the House of
Delegates 10 announce ~ you vonr reelection
To the Office of Chief Magistrate of this Com
monweahh. Suffer us 70 express our per,on.
al qualification in being selected to inform
You Of an event, affording such signal proof
ct the undminished confidence OF your conn
try, in your integrity, ability and devotion to
ats Republican instiL0tions,''
GOVERNORS REPLY.
FsffoSo C,fizeas Of the Committee of tie
House i Delegates.
81 receive from you the formal apnuncia-
tiOn OF my reelection this third time to the
office OF Chief Magistrate of this Common.
wealth, With stronger emotions, than when
that high, and unexpected honor, was first
announc. d to me, or when my faithful and
ha nbIe efforts TO perform well all the duties
ef The station, were for the irst zine declared
TO DE sat 'factory to the Representatives OF
the people.
''rhs rai,hfuiuess Of my services was inca
pabe OF abatement or increase; but the humi.
iity OF my feelings has been greatly augment.
ed by experience. My unal,erable delermi.
nation TO follow ,ry own Iudg ment, and TO
aDey toe dictates of conscience only has sub.
jec'ed me to dispiessure in Others, and con.
sequent clisgrin within myself.
1. rr,nd ,,,tI, 80;
The constitutional right of the Governor to
command the Militia. whene, er regularly
called into the field, and the lawful au.
tLOri;y. at other times, so clearly implied BY
The title OF Chief Commanding othcer of the
Militia gwen in the general Militia law,
have never ceased TO cultivate the acquain.
lance, and to cherish the good viii! of that
body. within the limits prescribed by disci-
pine. and have deliberately concluded that
the Governor was Responsible for any mis-
conduct on their part when irreeuiarly a.n
sembled, until the old relation towards them,
long since established by public necessity,
should be altered by law. But il seems,
there is another more important error by
which have incurred dIspieasure at the
seat OF our government. | have sest;fied
-irOngIY against the Unconstitutional en-.
cfoachmen', now so long continued as to
threaten 10 becoiue permanent, Of the Plural
branch OF the Executive Department, upon
the single branch which have she bish no,
nor to represent at tins time.
81 know better than any other can know,
the purity Of public intentions, and the hig
worth under various forms Of my associates
in Office, and | bear witness to Doth, not in
justice only, but With sincere gratific tion-
Yet cannot acquiesce through respect, in
what coDscieneiou.ly believe to be PERM
cious error. / have therefore rejected rule
offered 10 me by some of them, FOR my con. .
duct in the exercise of the duties of my sta :
ton, founded Upon precedent which is at
least not easily applicable to Executive pro.
ceeding; because the presidents preserved
have been established ny one of he disagree.
ing parties against the will Of the other: and
because the rules proposed would uDayOldaby
lead 10 the performance Of acts, under the
constitution and laws, which would violate
my conscientious int, probation Of them.
"a have complained of the unwartsn,ab!e
latitude OF construction gwen TO the 5fh Sec
tion OF the law of 10Th Nov. 1892, under
which construction the Council of STATE cen
vened in July LAST, for the purpose Of COM
mis-ioning sheriffs who under the consfitu.
fion must be approved and commissioned by
psble Of acting, only two days before The day
fixed for that business, in Council, The prece
ding week without dissenting voice: upon
which day the Governor was pledged by his
promise as we'll as his responsibility 10 attend,
and did accordingly attend at an early hour.
have, without reserve, condemned the
dangerous doctrine, by which the discretion
necessarily allowed To determine the case
provided for by that law, is made to convey
a power to coDstrue any case whatever iDto
the particular case contemplated,
g have protested against the interpreta.
ton OF The words of the constitution " absent
from the government which goes to despoiI
the governor Of his privileges, whenever he
j, out Of the city Of Richmond. although at
the time within the county which includes
that city. have done go the more confident.
Iy, because the law of 10th Noveu Der. 1872.
which is supposed to warrant such an inter-
probation, uses the words OF the Constitution
in order to preserve their true sense, and the
right to interpret them under such a direct
responsibility as that Of the Governor to The
General Assembly.
81 have acted in this manner not s!togeth-
CT as Governor Of Yirgitis, but also A. = Ma.