Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-05-04

borne, and difficult To be eradcated. Indeed.
1t IS one of the strongest objections TO all ex-
perments in fundamental politics, that the step
once taken there can be no return. The
state, which ought tu be Immortal, incapable
of recalling the evil day, and directing her
course anew by the wisdom which experience
and adversely shall have taught, moves gloo-
my OIL, like individual man, to her latter
end labouring To avert it, but sure that il is
approaching.
Srd. On the objection to the number of the
House OF Delegates, this meeting has only
iew'words to bestow.
| Ii is supposed, that if The House of Dele
gates were reduced 10 half its present mum
Der. the business of legislation would he trans
acted with more accuracy as well as dispatch,
and that oi course there would be valuable,
saving of expense.
| THIS meeting, adverting to the province and
Objects OF the state government, and esteem
Ing iull representation in the more popular
branch vi the Legislature, essential to those
objects, and better calculated TO give general
satisfaction to The people, is by no means salts
fed, that the present representation is too full
IRIS ever likely To grow too large, under the
present system.
Much less is this meeting satisfied, that
half the number of Delegates would transact
the business of Legislation, with more dis
patch or accuracy. Let US appeal 10 obser-
walton and fact The House of Commons of
III Britain, consisting of above sir hundred
members, of whom four or fire hundred are
present IN all affairs of Importance, trausacts
those affairs with dispatch, So far exceeding
that of our less numerous assemblies in the
U. States, as seems wonderful to us and I'M
accountable. The House of Representatives
OF Massachusetts, consisting often Of fire hum
drcd members, transacts business as convent
emily and with as much dispatch as any as
sembly IN the Union. The congress of the
| United States, and the House of Delegates of
Virginia, when they respectively consisted of
little more than half their present number, liz
is confidently belle, cd did not transact bust
ness with more convenience and dispatch, than
they do now. LII their sessions were shorter,
1t was because they had not the same mass of
business TO digest and dispose of Since that
day, the population of the Union, and the
population of Virg inia has more than
doubled, and the business of legislation has
increased, Tor obvious reasons, in a vet greater
proportion.
Wuh respect to the expense, the discomfort
on this subject has arisen FROM what is thought
the unreasonable length of the last session of
the Assembly, compared with the Importance
OF the work of legislation appearing on the
statute book. IL the length of the important
revising session of 1872 had been compared
with It's works. this discomfort would probably
| never have arisen. Considerable men will
Judge, whether II be wise to found general con-
cuslobs cn few, much more single acct
dental instance, But there is surely. no ne
oessIty 10 change the constitution for the sake
OF economy in this respect, and no certainty
tnat economy would be secured by the change
Ii the people will instruct their delegates TO re-
duce their wages to one half the present COM
pensati"n, half the expense of legislation, will
by that simple and easy method be saved. II,
on Tue other hand, by a change in the consti-
tuition, the House of Delegates should be re-
duced 10 one-half IFS present number and
men the reformed Assembly having double
DUTY to perform, should think it reasonable to
double Their wages nearly the same expense
would be incurred as at present.
AN. ot the remaining objection, this meet
ing Is unable to see the force, and at loss TO
understand the application.
1t is complained, thai all the bowers of gov
eminent, Execut'- aud Judicial, as well Lee |
gislaiive, are blended together, and vested in
The General Assembly that there is IA depar- |
tre OF the government in practice, or of the
provisions OF the Constitution itself, from the
prIncIpie recognised in the third artio lie" that
the Legislative, Executive and Judicial depart
ments shall be kept separate and distinct, so
that nel,her exercise the powers properly be-
longing 10 the others; nor shall any person
exercise the powers of more than one of them |
at the same time, except that the justices of
the county courts shall be eligible to either
house of Assembly"
So far as this vague and general objection
may relate to the eligibility of the Justices of |
the county courts TO the Assembly, ii has al |
ready been noticed and the constitution On is |
hoped) stands approved, in that respect, by OBJ !
vious and irrefragable reason
III Is difficult TO imagine what are the Judi |
cial powers, winch are supposed TO be vested
IN the Legislature by the Constitution, or TO |
nave been ever usurped by il unless the |
right OF each house to Judge Of its own
privileges and elections, and the province |
OF the House of delegates, as the grand inquest
OF the commonwealth, BIZ regarded as judicial
powers and these, certainly no one would |
desire tn take away. The practice of the as
semb'y to determine the merits of such claims |
upon the public, as are not founded in strict |
justice but only in moral equity and are pro-
perry addressed by petition to the berality |
ana favor of government is no exercise of ju- |
dIcial powers. The laws provide, that those, |
VINO have legal claims against the common
wealth, TIT for judicial cOgnizance, If they be |
reg ctcd by the ministerial officers of the trea
suiy, may appeal to the courts Of Justice The |
courts of justice entertain such claims, and de-
cide upon them, every day, with as little con-
cern Tor consequences, as they decide ordina-
ny controversies betw cen man and man. The |
Leg stature, or its ministerial officers, submit
To such decices, without murmur or hesita-
tl0n. Neither has the Legislature ever inn
pugned, or attempted to encroach, in the
slightest degree, on the independence Of the
Judiciary. The constitution provides, that the |
Judges shall hold their Offices during good