Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-12-25

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dsrs,and, in circulation in the county
Of Lopdon-prepsrasory acts being pre-
\. sented 70 tbs Gsneral Assembly during
,ther present sessiou.
III the Senator'S and Delegates Of Virgin,a,
in Gsnsral assembly convened :-i
rha Memorial of the undersigned,
fresholders Of the county Of Loodoun,
rsspootfolly represents, That, while
your memorialists are Impressed with
gratituds, to the suthors ofsheir pre-.
sent constitution of stste government,
shey are impelled, By q sense ofduty'
60 themselves and their posterity, as
well, as sacred regard for justice, to
Invite your most serious attention to
some of the defects of that constitution,
md your aid towards it's amendment.
lis no impeachment of the virtue, or
wisdom fits patriotic founders, that a
constitution of government framed in
ksste, amidst the heat of intestine war,
che very fret, in point Of time, to which
she American revolution gave birth,
should prove defective. after lapse of
Sorty-eigbt years.
Half century ago the scieuce Of re-
preventative government was in its in>
Fancy The boundaries Of the great d.
sisions of political power, legislative,
executive. and judicial, were imperfect.
Nv defined. That constitution of each
which would best promote their hsrmo-
nioas co-operation for the public good,
che only legitimate end of all govern
nents, was matter of speculative in.
quiry, rather than of practical dsduc-
4ion.
Ap imperfect example OF representa-.
tive government had, indeed, long ex.
istsd, on The other eide Of the Atlantic:
end as was natural. if not unavoidable,
at the time, with some of its good, not
Q few OF Ice bad qualities we're engraft-
I'd upon the constitution of the new
commonwealth S
The actual separation and relative
independence Of the Legislative, judicial,
and executive departments, principles.
deemed, even then, essential to political
liberty, were not only impertsctlJ main.
.eaiaed in the new constitution. but often
slisregarded. The basis Of oil repressn.
ltation, the elective franchise, was 90
loosely established 80 to be practically
Submitted to the ordinary legisistnre,
with the uncontrolled power of pre-.
ecribing. by Law, the qualifications of
their own msmbers, and the number
Incompetent to constitute quorum.
10 allowing 40 equal representation
in the house of delegates TO counties
and boroaghs of most unequal extent of
ssrritory, wealth. and population, the
settled maxim of all free political COM
xnunities, that the majority shall govern,
was, in fact, subverted, as was also-ths
rioc,pls Of the revolotieu rsself, thes
ssxsti0u and, representation shall be
&he measure of each other. ~ Isl
In limiting the Numbers of the Sc.
mate TO tweDty-four members, and lesv-
Eng the house of delegates TO be aug
.menred. from tims 20 time, by the sub
division of counties, and the erection
of new bsroughs, the just equilibrium
Between the two branches of the legis.
aaturs was exposed 20 gradual, though
certain arrangement, If not TO ultimate
destruction. - ~
Al unfounded jealousy denied Co the
senate not only the power of amending
money bill, bot that, of originating
any measure, however Insignificant; and
while it greatly rstsrded the business
of both branches Of the. legislature ,eons
eigned one to absolute inaetioD for very
near half Of every annual session Of the
general assembly.
BY resting the right of suffrage on
She possession of freehold estate In q
Discriminate quantity of land, without
regard TO the actual duration, or value
ofthe estate itself, the constitution stood
condemded by the bill of rights prefix.
&c. TO it, which assured SO every msu,
otherwise qualified, the privilege of vo..
ing, who could furnish sufficient evi.
dence of permanent common interest
with. and attachment to, the comGspni-
sy.' Unless. indeed, it be commended,
chat term of ninety-nine, or of thou.
sand years.is worth less. than an estate
fora single life: or twsnty.four acres
of the best improved land, than five
and twenty Of the most barren.
All judicial power had been taken
from the geuersl assembly very near a
century before, and the new constitution
Invested the governor and royal coun-
cif of all legislative power. But. in