Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-12-31
FOR THE gNQUIaER.

that the Trainers al the constitution, intend
ru 10 establish purrlJ republic IN govern
'heht, Without any tle least mixture of mo-
nircby.' This Intention. is indeed s;rikingle
exemiiii!ird in the distribution which has bee
'i'aus al the executive powers Of our GOV
.rnineni: but bow much farther, our con
st''niiun is purely republican, we shall pre-
stntiy Inquire. The executive uf Virginia.
says The gentleman, has bern t.i,es.ed of all
that iohnence in the public conncils,' which
renders this department; 81 f,r,ni,!ab.e in most
other countries; rs powers have accordingly
t'ren reduced 10 the lowest degree prac,i-
cable, aud So II has bren constituted "A mere
Instrument Tor exccutirg the laws The ex-
ecn'ne ut every government is constituted
Iar tho execution Of the laws. ms the tern, i, :
self obviously imports, though this dru,rt
,nrnt has not generally hecn Invested of all
'niiuence In the pihhc councils The yxccu-
i've is Constituent aud co-ordina'e brduch
VI government, having certain dmies aud
powers wn'ch 'ro?eriy brlong to it, though
! 'hty are distinct -irom the dntirs and puwers
OF either of the other departments. Itcannot
he wise, then, 10 exclude this department
rom all participation in tbe councils OF - go
'eininen'; Tor II Nuu do this, YOU must rem
der II sutsef,irDt To sumo uthpr department
To which mere Is an uGt!ue accession Of pow
er and nili"ncp. The exs.euce of "A lrgisla-
tnrP, lndicia! and an eXecu.ive branch If
every government, proves that all three arr
useful, while rrasnn aud exnericsce tra,l.
men the proprieiy, nay, the necessity of pre-
serving each distinct aud independent of the
o'ners, In the legitimate sphere OF liz du;irs.
Il spoi That The executive y: Virginia possess
an m"ruina'e share of influrncc, or that ii
ahns's 'he very scaDt pattern Of authority as
s'Snnd To 1t by the Constitution, hat the
a 81 f,,,p ,1.u r.. 4.
jrc' 20 The manner IN which, Thai d.nartnent
| IS organized, as calculated in n great mea-
sure 10 dlieat the ends Tor WHICH il WA, .s-
ahIisi,ed.
me opponents TO a convention however
VINO seem resolved to pulngise what ia moi
paipab!y absurd and To excuse the most rlar
| ins detects In oar plan nf government. as
ciihe THE existence of al cXrcuiiy. cn,mciI. Ia
rather singular reason. The first object.
say they, which thr fra ners of our consliiu-
t"n nau III view, was In render the executive
harmless, by di,es'ing il OF ali power aud Ia
flnence the NEXT, Ia render this inulf. nsiye
thing more harmless still, by dividing that
power and idiuence' hich il never had. a
lnons nice official heads of department. Tnat
Is, To make governor - do nothing, and as
sign hiiD eight learned auXilla,les, 10 h, Ip i'm
doing il.
There We're. some REASONS for an exrcuiiy.
connci, II this branch nfuu~ go,rrnnicn, had
neen vested with an excessive share of au-
ihoiity, and the constitution dli not aft nd
an ample safeguard, by the dislncrncss with
WHICH each duty Is euumeratet! and th. eau
ii"n with which every power 10 conferred
Inc several departments Of a governments
"hen properly c"nsti,uied serve as mutual
checks upon each other. An executive should
necessarily have power, though il should h.
"A la al 4, hat L.
,xrcuiive Of Virginia have, as a BODY. M
original, Inherent power, no prerocaiiy,
winch they can cab their o.n, save he pnu.
er 10 pardon maieidctnTs, and 10 coi1nand
The militia when M actual service. This de-
farment which should be- distinct and sc.
parate,' IS elected, by the Legislature, paid b,
the legislature, removed by the legislature.
ana except IN The instances lust cited direct
ed and controlled either by the Legislature ~,
The county cciris, In every material opera.
| Iinn. Thus constituted, an executive must
hf AL 'ne mercy OF legislature. Ii may
notwithstanding, continue 10 be oominay. y
d's'inct BODY, while our legislatures are
viruoss and wise; but should thew b.come
afnbi,ions and corrupt, il viii indesd, b.
the Instrument and tool, of their depray,tv |.
| Notwithstanding this legislative surreii
t'nce, there Is no one att which the goyernor.
ot his ow" accord and by his own authority
can do. All must BIO duurby advice Of com
ell. 80 That 10 effect, there are mine governors
VINO share equally, the brief authority and
shallow of power, which hrlongs to this de-
partmeDt of our government DISPATCH
| pronpinesS and decision, are Qualities which,
with one consent have been regarded as in
dlspensable 10 this branch of government
mere can he NO dispatch, where there is no
unanlmity--ihere cannot Wen be unanimi;,
IN multitude of cUunsellois' This f.afnrr
III our gJ'ernT ent might he considered ;,
good nDr, IT debate and delibrra,ion form.d
part Of executive duties, if il were the pro-
vince of this department 10 originate n,ea
sures which required discussion and a,gu
meni. But of what importance is il, wfe..
county court recommends A. y. to the exc
culi'eof virginia, IS a IMAM 10 every respect
deserving pubic confidence, either as a eou.i-
ny sqnIrs, an ensign 0i militia ur sheriff; ini
tiiis parliament of gOyernors,to sssrnbie and
discuss the rIrriis of this Unknown aspiranl
20 Office, t0 canvass his h0eage and pretep
| sIOns, ere they dafernne whether he shall
preside III some cross road, over the little
discurds Of iItisi0us nsigllbomhood, brao
dish his blade at petty muster, or asser
the peace and dignity Of the commonwealth
10 some tavern brOIl?
The advocates OF a convention deem an
executive council, useless ard by conse-
queDce Onribensome apprnddge 10 govern
menf. They consider The duties Of our ex
eculive ~ boih too trivial in themselves AMI
90 specifically marked out by The letter of
the constitution, TO require tight counsellors
to be- retained, a. high sal RES, 90 advise and
consult wish governor whether he shall d.,
that which some body of men, under the au
thorIty Ut the constitution, direct him TO do
Ihey regard the Executive rs too impOtent in
llssIf too dependent upon the Legislature.
rom winch u derives IFS existence and IT'S pow
ers, and To which il is alunst evcI,,sixsi,