Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-01-30

which had adopted constitutions before
The establishment OF Il national govern
| ment, there is of course no constitution,
al prohibition-but il is understood that
IN such case statutes have been passed 10
The same effect. Vnginia. whose consti-
luton Was formed III i77G, has n very
! comprehensive law on the subject. Penn
syivania, III addition 10 a constitutional
restriction, has statute which, prohibits
| officers oil The u. States from acting as
judges, inspt c;ors or clerks of state elec-
| tons. The constitution or this state was
iorned III wv, and although no statute
has been passed on this sub lect, Vel by
| q concurrent resolution OF March 1890, II
was resolved as the sense uf tile leysa
lure, HAT II is incompatible (according to
| The constitution Of this slate and OF The
| L. Siaies) that d tHembcr OF Congress or
other person holding any office whaiso-
| ever under The United States should be d
member OF The senate or assr mbly O, this
| state during his continuance IN Congress.
or IN such Office and thai whenever a
| member oil the legislature shall be elected
or appninieda member of Congress, or 10
| any .ffce whatever under The u. States,
and shall accept oisuch office or appoint
mcni, il is hereby further resolved, tha,
his seat In the legislature ought 10 be
vacated. Even III the government of g.
| Britain, officers 81 the excise and Gus.
toms, aud clerks or deputies III the trra-
| sury, navy, viciuallng and admiralty off.
ces, aDt long list Of other dependanis
on The crown, are intrdicied from being
elected or sitting as members OF the
| House cf Commons.
Every officer of the u. States is i'm a
| state OF partial disfau, hi, cment He can
not set IN Congress, in he state legisla-
| lures or IN The electoral eolleses-In The
view OF Tie constitutions, he is an object
OF jealousy he can however al any time
/ be resioTeri 10 all The franchises of a ci-
iizrn by abdica,iug his office. Our go
verumeni Is founded Oh The representa-
i've system IL protects the purity and
independence OF The representative il
cfectS a barrier against the inroads ei.x
ecu'ive patronage, and it intends that the
constituent BODY should be fee from
'Iie operations OF the same inflaence, In
feseFEinG LEI The national tlicCr his elec-
| i've FRANCHISE, II was undoubtedly con.
teulplaied that II should he exercised i'm
| Tie genuine spirit OF rrprblcani> m that
| HE suffragCs OF the citizen should NOT be
passed by tGc en- Olunents ana honors
o! The officer and that he should no,
carry INTO HE elections any Of the irflu
enct derived irom his official station
niIi'ed, that The naiiona! government
ought not to confer or withhold offices
win view OF creating influence ia stale
politics. IL ~ well known that in this
stare, lie national administration has for
some years seiec' ed III almost every case
OF any Importance, lis officers IN onno-
si'ion TO The stale administration, amt
Ibis undoubtedly operates AZ an encos.
IaSemrnl 10 organ zed and disciplined
hostility. II is virtual instruction IN lis
ofhcers 10 oppose, aud ii Is an invitation
10 all who are desirous Of tie patronage
oi lhe general government, 10 embark III
he exposition. Tnr interference OF the
oifltcTs ct Tie general government in state
ponies IN 1888, was at that period
SuhJcci OF general and well founded com.
plaint III the interval between nv 6rst
election and entrance into office, I took
Inc liberty OF apprisiug MI Monroe. the
P.esldeni of Tie y. Statcs, of the ob,ru-
siVe 'nicrHrddling OF the officers Of The
general government in our state politics.
and oI my earliest hope that under his adj,
mIh!siratioH this system so Justly and so
generally r. probaied, would be no LONGER
tolerated. In discharging this duty 10
The republic, entertained every yisI 70
promote the most amlcable relations be.
tween lie general and state adninistra-
non, ana can truly declare that no act
al hostility has been in any shape mani
tested o. encouraged on the part of the
authorities OF this state.
The documents which have now the |
honour TO transmit 10 you, do not extend |
beyond the last general election ant. The !
agitation preceding aud accompanying |
II: Al the very period when The officers |
OF The United States who have behaved |
Ft N Al n
al themselves wIik the grraiest dc!icacI
when legislature VAS 10 be chosen that
was 10 appoint the electors of President
and wien HE second officer of the United
States vas candidate for The otiice of
governor, all the inf feucc oftheir Offices
was put III QUESTION aud brought in'o
activity. Although deprived OF the rigbl
OF being chosen, Sei il IN the tXercise OF
tie righi OF choosing. Hey are permitted
by the power OF office To ianOcBce eirc-
lions, what security have Tie people for
pure legislature, for an independent con.
gross or tor an incorrupi coll &c Of cleo
tors. On tins occasion 1 take pleasure
IN stat!ug, HAL Notwithstanding h. prac.
tees complained Oi were ma ked with
signal Improperly ia The general opera
lions ct tie navy yard, III Kings county,
yer DO not kuOW OF single INSTANCE
wherein naval officer who diSjiuguis ed
himself during HE late war, has conduct
cd himself Improperly. HE officers OF
the amy stationed ~ this siaie, have
generally speaking, 40 ground
Of COMPLAINT. AND The custom house Of
tictrs, on Use lakes. so far az can lear,
Ildv" behaved 10 an uneXceptiondJle mauo
ner. In exercising the rights OF suffrage,
tics hav / brllcve, generally abs aimed
from bringing any Official influence in
any shape 10 bear upon i've controversy.
IHn naNr NArl ~ sliI4I.h IA, ErnnL