The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-06-18

si.z. Bat in regard Ia the legislature,
snurihlng more deserves our cotslisra
lion. Ii Is composed ni two members from
each eouity, and one from a few cities and
haroughs, constituting the house Of dele
| gai"s, al lunrr branch aud of twenty -four
b s,nator-, each rom different districts, all ol
" hich represent the whole body of tie
people, & enacting laws operating trough
= out the commonwealth. Equal represent
tatUn, and equal taxation, IS an acknow-
lodged principle in republican governments.
But how has this been carried lutp practice,
aud how much recognized in ours ? is an i'm
portant enquiry. The difference IN the
number of citizensin the scyeral counties
is very considerable, aud between some of
, the largest, aud some of the SMALLEST, is We
~ great consequently AN lphabiiant
at the least p0pdoIs has a voice III the
legislature equal tn two IN some counties,
three IN others, more than four ia some,
and even eight or ten IN others, which show
a manifest inequality between them in this
important right of rep esentallon IL The
like disprOpoltiOn Is the expense of gov.
eminent become, some counties contrlbu
ting less towards 1t, than the expense OF
their legislation. The pow cr nhich is YES
ted ia the SENATE, appears 10 have been
Intended as il cheek on the other house, as
no bin eau originate there, aud in some ca
SIS they can only confirm, or wholly reject
what the house OF delegates enatts ;
which seems more like distrust in the
| people, of their more immediate rGprescn
taions, than othern isc, as the one is annu.
ally elected, aud the other for much lon
ger period of time. instances are not wan
ting in the history of their proceedings TO
show the great Inconvenience of this aflir-
NATIVE or negative voice only. Besides
the great dspropoftloD in their numbers is
an objection, rs WILL MS the great difference
/ IN the term Of their service the one body
! ~ sum- what too numerous aud unwlcldy,
aud the other, on the contrary, ton small ~
numbers, and thereby rendered more capn
bic of being acted upon by improper means,
which ave ever ready On any occasion of
great excitement. Was the larger rcdHc-
med one furth, or one Gfth, from its pre-
sent number, and the other Increased to
twice its nunbcr, an improvement, we be
lic,o, would be effected: and was the term
of ser. ice of the senate one or two years
only, IA more practicable responsibility To
the people would exist, which is always Ia
be considered, when drlegaliig their au-
thuIIiy, aud fixing the time uf lis duration.
Under the division Of power, and the ar
rangement nf duties assigned to each Of
these branches, it will be perceived that a
distinct power, the peculiar functions OF
which are also distinct, IS gwen TO each.
Z eAcepiiny t.st portion of The appointing
power which may be delegated 10 the ST
natr) and HE most complete and successful
operation of such Il system, must material
y depend upon their being thus assigned,
and continually kept separate from each
other. Thereby more distinct and per
ittt 'knoWirGSe If their da,ies Will be az
CURED, rs well as pointed and m IRE per
feet responsibility incurred, which tends
more than any otlrtr circumstance 10 Sc
cure a faithful discharge OF their several
duties. Without this responsibility, power
- but the means of oppression, aud The
more varied and complicated it is, the more
severe and oppressive viii the oper alton be
To the people, and also the more difficult to
remove. Perhaps II isa matter of regret
that the people should have TO part with
amy portion of their appointing power, and
II truly would he so, WAS Intelligence sulli-
ciently circulated, aud il the ordinary avo-
cations of life did not preclude their acquir
ing Information on the necessary sub jects.
But as these facts are undeulahlr, and as,
III government eXert lsed over SO large an
extent of country as Virginia embraces,
competent knowledge of those indi> idaals
who are best qualified To fill the most i'm
portant Offices therein, cannot be within the
reach of the great body of citizens nj large
II therefore becomes necessary Ia delegate
n portion OF that power. The enquiry then
becomes important IN what hands shall IL
he placed !! We have before advcrtcd To
the United States government, aud hence
seen how the like power is delegated from
the people III that, aud have vcntured Ia
recommend thc same to he adopted in ours
\ better one may be devised, but we have
never seen any one yet offered t. thu pub
he, which appears .egua'ly advantageous.
/ The subject has been web investigated by
able men, and objections rtiscd and pow
erruily urged, aud on the other side as ably
refutcd, and we have now The advantage OF
an experiment to support their arguments.
Thus much Of the appointing power mp
pears necessary to be transferred frnm the
/ hands Off rightl,l and natural pussrssors,
/ but more than his,wr deem il unncces sary
for them TO part with and those who
would take from them moic, would do ell
to show good reason foI So doing, for
what belongs tn them naturally, cannot be-
taken from them with a good grace, with
out an absolute necessity being shown f,t
SO doing aud What power in relation to
government does not belong TO the PEG
pie
evil now consider some other Of the
rights of the people which ATE generally
supposed as proper To be reserved to them.
That of suffrage is the most important one
exercised by individuals in society under a
representative government II is justly
considered as natural aud inacnable
right. II lis gift, or boon, flom God him
self, and cannot be taken from the meanest
citizen without the commission of some
public wrong) but in a direct and positive