Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-04-30

II
to IT'S CENTRE by any question Of state politics
whatever What election, what measure, of
the State government, has ever divided this
people into factions fIas the occasion ever
occurred In the State government Of Virginia,
when the fOulest charges have been made and
retorted, and mutual determinations have re-
sounded thfO' the land That such crimina-
TONS, SO frequent Of late in the other large
states, are funded in truth. no fair man will
hastily pronounce, and no good man will will
Iingiy believe: but, whether true or false, they
are sore evil. At home, they disturb private
intercourse, they destroy public confidence !:
they lessen the national character abroad
Such violent factions have existed in other
states, such furious animosities, as would
have appalled, the people ofVirginia in the ve-
ry tempest Of the Revolution. Ii peace, and
order, and mutual confidence, be blessings
ana blessings they are, the most grateful to
virtuous people that they can enioy,l then
Is our condition happy in ITSELF and the more
enviabie in comparison Of others. And il i.
10 fhis constitutions, now brought into jeopar-
oy' mat we owe these blessings: for, as the diff
terence was certainly not in the original cha
| racter or temper Of the people, il can only be
looked Tor in the difference Of political insti-
| tutiOns.
Surely. it behoves those who counsel re-
form or change in this constitution, If they
can point out no actual evil flowing from its
provisions, to shew us ut least some apparent
portent of evil, gathering and impending ever
our heads, which it is necessary to anticipate
and preventby timely reformation.
The inaxims of political prudence deduc j.
bic from all history, approved by the fathers
OF the Republic, proclaimed by the Declare
non % Independence, inculcated by our own
BM q Rights |: the uniform experience of
half century, testifying the capacity and fit
ness OF the present form Of government, in
its practical operation, TO promote and secure
the public veal the signal blessings, 80 long
and yet enjoyed, Of public peace, order, secu.
rity, ireedom--of all that constitutes political
haPpIness acondition, which we have every
reason to be content with, if we look at home.
and proud OF, If we look abroad these xener-
al considerations would alone suffice to de
termine and fix the resolution of this meeting.
Ia uphold the existing constitution, and To
deprecate the call Of a convention for purpe-
SEES OF amendment or change, the extent, ma.
ture, and practical Consequences of which. no
,nan can define, no human wisdom foreknow
But when this meeting considers the vari-
oss objections that it has heard urged against
the constitution, the particular vices and defects
mat are alleuged 10 shew the propriety and me-
cesslty oil instant reform, and the correciiyes
chat are proposed or desired; the meeting.
far from acknowledging the imperfections
complained of is only the more convinced.
that there is no real cause for discomfort. and
the more alarmed at HE extent of the reyolu
ton, to which these schemes Of reformation
tend.
The whole frame Of the government, in
every department, Erecutioe, judicial and
Leg islatire, is reprobated as too faulty TO be
longer endured by an intelligent and free peo-
pie.
j. With respect to the first, II is thought
that the Executive council is an unnecessary.
u not pernicious, institutions, and ought.
therefore, to be- abolished.
The trainers of the constitution intended 10
establish purely republican government
without any the least mixture of monarchv
They designed To divest the Executive Of all
that influence in the public councils, which 10
every other government then known which 10
many OF the governments since established in
other states Of this Union, which in the gene.
raj government of the Union, makes the Exc
cutise, practically, the most important depart
ment IN the government; and the election of
the chief magistrate, sometimes, a scene of
agitation and cnntention bordering on civil
conmetion. therefore, they reduced the
power OF this department. to the lowest de-
gree practicable and so constituted il. az to
n';Ssle At a tnere instrusleat for executing the
laws S'rI convenience imperiously reauir-
ed, that some discretionary powers, some in
fnentIai patronage, should be confided to il.
To reconcile, with the main design which die
tatetshe constitution Of the department, the
power and patronage unav oidably entrusted
to 1t. and in effect to aeulraEe them, the con-
'rntfon OF l776 saw 40 either way but to d.
vide them. In truth, there is no other way.
IL the design was good, (aHd that it was so.
WIZ hardly now be questioned,l the method
taken To accomplish it, WAS wise. IL has ac-
tomplished it most perfectly For, though
the Executive exercises very important pow
ers, and quite an extensive patronage; though,
tor example, II exercises the high prt-rogative
of mercy; though it has been the agent for
Hsaking most efthe contracts for pubic works,
and has thus bees, in N manner, the dispenser
of vast sans of public treasure; though il ap
points to many Of the inferior Offices, eyer
cises sete upon nominations to other is,OOr-
tanf Offices, and fills al vacancies occurring in
The highest Offices during the recess OF the Ie-
gislature: yet IFS patronage is so little felt as
10 De hardly known TO exist, except nv those
who haze infinitely examined the elements
Of the institution. 1t is curious enough. that
this opinion Of the executive council being Nm
necessary, is owing entirely 10 the fact, that il
has exactly answered the purpose Of its crea-
ton, IN go diminishing the importance Of the
executive department, that the extent Of lis
powers has been unfet or forgotten. If the
Executive council were abolished, and The
whole power and patronage now vested in
the department, were vested in the Governor
II he, singly, were 10 exercise the prerogati,
ct mercy, TO have the disposal of public con-
tracts, 10 exercise The reto on nominations oil
Justices of the peace and sherifs, to appoint
militia officers, ard to I'LL vacancies in the iu-
dietary trivial as this patronage as now d.