Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-05-04

bic To pablo opinion-Pullic burthcps light
Justice administered impar,ially and firmly,
yet in mercy too--A people, free, virtuous,
united, tranquil, happy; obedent to the laws
T respectful Of all constituted authority; and
proud of The name of Virs inan.
Man cannot expect, or ask, any happier Po-
liical condition than this.
II we're idle TO institute a comparison be-
tween the state Of this Republic, and OF those
of ancient Greece or'Some, or oil modern italy
or Switzerland : so d:arrcnt were the circusn'
stances of them all, from those IN which we
find ourselves, thai there Is really no point of
comparison. We Can only compare our con-
d;ton with that Of our fellow cI,;hens OF other
states of this union; and the only profitable
comparison, is that Which may be made be-
tween Virginia and the other large States: a
comparison, that may not, freely and thus
publicly, be pursued. That much OF what we
I boast as good, is common TO them with us,
we believe and admit. We rejoice in their
prosperity 1--WE are wholly dsinclincd III see,
much more to expose, their fa!lings: yet, 10 II
comparison between them and ourselves, self
love might betray us into injustice towards
them, and the want Cf accurate Information
might mslead us into rrro. Eat it may be
asked, in general, in what respect is their CON
dition better than ours ? Have ;hrir efforts
TO amend and reform their constitutions, ex
HE'D their happiness above that which we
enjoy Is their condition indeed so good ?
When has this commonwealth been asi,atcd
| to IFS centre by any question OF state pU!it cs
whatever What election, what measure, of
tile State government, has ever i,idtd this
lpeople into factions Has the occasion ever
occurred in tho State government Of Virginia.
when the fou'est charges have been made and
retOrted, and mutual recriminaiions have re-
sounded thro' the land? That such crimina-
frpn f,c LAT in fhD nfh H.
States, are founded in truth, no fair man will
hastily pronounce, and no good man will will
lingly 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 anImosiiies, as would
have appalled, the people orVirS mia in the We
ry tempest of the Revolution. If peace, and
order, and mutual confidence, be blessings,
land blessings they are, the most grateful to
vrtuous people that they can enjoy,l then
is our condition happy in itself, and the more
envable in comparison of others. And it i
to This constitution, now brought into icopar-
dy, that we owe these blessings: for, DIS the d e
ference was certainly not in the original cha
ractcr or temper of the people, it can only be
looked for in the difference Of political insti-
TUTORS.
4
form or change in this constitution, if they
can point out no actual evil flowing from its
pros isians, to shew US at least some apparent
portent of evil, gathering and impending over
our heads, which it is necessary to anticipate
and prevent by timely reformation.
The lnaxims of political prudence deiu
ble from all history, approved by the fathers
of the Republic, proclaimed by the Declare
lion Of independence, incucated by our own
BIZ Of Rights the uniform experience OF
half a century, testifying the capacity and fit
ness Of the present form Of governments, in
its practical operation, 10 promote and secure
The public veal The signal blessings, So long
and yet enjoyed, of public peace, order, secu-
ri,y, frcedOm-of all that constitutes politica
happiness (; condition, which we have every
reason TO be content with, five look at homc
and proud of, if we look abroad: these gener-
al considerations would alone suffice to de.
termine and fix the resolution Of this meeting
10 uphold the existing constitution, end Ia
deprecate the call of a convention for purpe-
srs of amendment or change, the extent, ma.
ture, and practical consequences Of which, M
man can define, no human wisdom Goreknow
But when this meeting considers the yati
, GUS objections that it has heard urged agans,
the constitution, the particular vices and defect.
J that are aedged to shew The propriety and ne
cessiIy Of instant reform, and the corrective:
that are proposed or desired; the meeting
far from acknowledging tie imperfcction
complained Of, is only the more convinced
that there is no real cause for discomfort, ant
The more alarmed at the extent of the rcvolu.
ton, 20 which these schemes of reformation
tend.
The whole frame Of the government, in
every department, Executive, judicial and LIE
gisld!iue, is reprobated as too faulty to be lon
ger endured Ivy an intelligent and free people
!. With respect to the first, il is thought
. that the Executive council is an unnecessary
, if not a pernicious, institutions, and ought
therefore, to he abolished.
: The trainers of the constitution intended Il
} establish purely republican government
) without any the least mixture Of monarchy
They designed TO divest The Executive of al
that influence in the public councils, which il
} every other government then known, which il
, many of the governments since established IL
J other states of this Union, which in the gene
raj government of the Union, makes the Exc
7 cutye, practically, the most important depart
) ment in the government; and the election o
I the chief agIs,rate, sometimes, a scene o
} agitation and contention bordering on civi
cOmmotiOn. Therefore, they reduced tn
power Of this department, to the lowest de
gree practicable and so constituted it, rs {,
make ii a mere instrument for executing tn,
! laws. Still, convenience imperiously requir
, ed, that some discretionary powers, some in
: huen;ial patronage, should be cnufidcrl to it
l To reconcile, With the main design which die
2 tatcd the constitution Of the department, tn,
U power and patronage slnay Oidably entrusted
J to IT, and in effect TO neu,ralZe them, the CON
j ycntion Of 1916 saw no other way but to d.
r vide them. In truth, there is no other way
D II the design was good, land that it was so
tvI 10 t,t,u pnI \ Nh ii