The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-08-09
LYNcnDuRa, AUGUST ., lasa.
Tie NM GOVERNOR.


The selection Of Governor, n the tifnc
for making the choice approaches, begins To
excite, dl.ervcdly, much speculation scve'
raj gentlemen are named already, aud The
wish thai the Office should be occupied once
nore By man Of talents, i generally enter.
tanned and expressed The prominent, since
the period oil tI,c pence Of isl5, has been g.
ven, more as a reward OF military merit, thtn
rs an acknowledgment OF intellectual emf
nenea and the gratitude Of the country
more than tho ability of the incumbent, has
been consulted in the choice Whilst The feel
ings which dictated the proceeding are adult
ted as having been highly honorable TO the
Legislature, we question the policy Of bos-
towing the FIRST ofbce in the gih Of the people
whefs the preiensiohS - II have ~ more solid
buses than nic merit OF wound, or n cam
qualifications win 80 rich n prize, tbe circum-
slanee necessarily dimihishes II. value N the
eses OF the people aud when some great
coninnclure calls Tor the Grsi talents of the
slaie 10 represent and Proieoisher interests in
the Executive elair, the contempt into which
tie Office Is fallen will cause il to be sighted
BY ihosc who really answer this description,
II the present times do not pesent fbiy con
i1neiure, they are YET highly frnnght with IN
terest-fhe alarming md progressive en-
efeaslHenis upon the riglis OF the states, by
ttia authorities Of tie federal government the
near approach Of the presidential election,
filling the union already with intrigue, faction
and division; the langnisilng condition Of the
grent plan Of improvement, undertaken aud
commenced with 50 much zeal bud prosecuted
with 50 little spirit and the unfinished state
of our groat University, the modest monument
OF the libefalty mud int niefnee Of thn uge,
which ear be tfongmitted 70 postefiiyj all de-
gy, 10 recommend and enforce them upon th..
attention u the re0plo and the legislature -
miasrao be effected by The exertious of such
a man The history Of New York within the
last five years hiFiiishes 10 lluarou, example.
aud the name oi Dewitt Cliplon, furnished ~
II Is BY apostaey from the principles of his
yuuih, aud au iasatiate ngd restless ambition,
musi nevertheless. be revered as belonging to
q clear sighted and vigorous s,utesman Ame-
fiea has Witnessed, with admiration and ap-
plaase, fhe gigantic efforts called forth and d.
reeted by bis eloqgcnce and an Undertaking
which sios with The nobles and most useful OF
the kind IN the world, which lis friends had
despaired Of seeing accomplished until is 20.
puiarlty had been lost IN expectation aud hos.
tile prophecy consigned ~ future and dis.
grace, has been completed with despatch
nnparallelcdeve in the experience Of Europe
Why sieell Virginia lac In the rear of statte.
in wealth aud physical strength scarcely her
superors, aud far less fortunate than herself in
The natural advantage of position and face Of
country II Is because she has lost, or is los
ing fast, that vigor OF character 50 conspicuous
Ia the annals Of her early history, which con.
st,uted her the head OF tue Union, and Lhe n.
blest defender Of its right Her Legislature
IS, Tor the most part, composcd of men as ig-
nofant oI her Interests as they ARE iuscntible
10 ller honor; und the Office of her first ngpis-
trs'e bus at last sunk into su,A insiguiGcancc,
that II Is common thing 10 shy aud believe.
no man OF distinction for capacity will accent
Of It'll these mischiels have resulted from
the Constitution of the State f4o calrN tbr
people ought to reform il orsinall, drCrc-
live in It's construction, and OF lleritinate
hirth, II claims reverence neither for il provi
stems or It's lineage and the respect we ncccs.
sarily feed for the anthor, of our independence
does not prohibit MS from completing what
they merely Intended 10 answer the purposes
of t1e day. \ skilful observer eau easily trnce
The degenerate political character of the stat.
10 this iir7t cansc-ihc oihce OF Governor is
neglected, hecuusc the natural duties of five
Executive have been reposcd, bv the iealous
care OF the Constitution, in the hands of the
Executive Council, to whom he is in fact am
understapper oar Legislature is weak, be-
oouse he representation Is not arportoned ia
the population; aud hecause . oounty with 90
tseeholders, and which may chance To- have
not asmsle man who comes up TO the stan.
dard Of nediocri,y, is entitled 10 asmanv re.
preseutaiivcs as one with l5oo--The couse.
qaenee is, that the majority is composed of
deputy shcrils, and low dcmagogues. who
have eresteda popularity by selling Indulgence
10 the people, or Gat,crngtheir proiudices and
tiemsoivos---of course the laws are feeblv
conceived, negligently drafted. and freuu,rtI,
changed and the state of Virginia, whose
Legislature once competed with Congress il.
sell IN ability, is losing its dignity abroad,
whist ITS interests are suffering at home A
Convention, aud reformation of the Constitu.
lion are the natural and perhaps the only cor.
receives OF these evils but, in the mean time
somethingmnV be done b,, film, ,ons =