Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-06-04

4 y,
might think il reasonable to double their
. wsges"-A small assembly. with the same
pay which is received by each member Of
the present legislature, would probably dis
patch the same business, with more celebrity
than large one because the number of MEM
bers allotted to each committee, might he ad
vantageously reduced, and other TsefsI ar.
rangements might be devised, which cannot
be adopted, conveniently, 10 numerous uu-
wieldly body Of men.
q. The erecufire branch Of the government
OF Virginia, appears TO me, very strangely and
,nconvenlently organized. The patriots of
T'6' VINO framed our constitution, were so dis
gusted with the government of Great Britain.
that they could not reconcile their minds to
the idea Of an executive consisting of = siinefe
individual. Without cOnside ing the essential
difference between the Chief Magistrate Of our
commonwealth, and the potent head of the
British monarchy, jealousy of erecmfirs
power, livery natural to men i'm the momeut
OF emancipation from the chains of roualtu,)
seems TO have led them 10 the extreme. Sf
degrading the governor into mere cvpher.-
| According to the system contrived by them,
he can do nothing without the advice of a
counci' oi eight men, four Of whom may con-
st'tute board for the dispatch of business -
ana, u such board should be equally divided
l
governor cannot even give the casting vote -
| The only power he possesses, appears to be,
that otrejusing To execute an advice ofcouncil
IN whch event, il the council and the COVER
nor cannot concur IN opinion. the wheels of
government are stopped, and nothing is done
The governor thus checked aud controlled,
and able to do SO little, sits ally at the
council hoard, in solemn and ide state, with
out enjoying even the privilege Of presiding
over lis dellberaiions; resembling in striking
manner. those famous sovereigns, denOmiDa-
ted In history, q" les rois )aineants," with long
succession OF whom, France was, once, SO
happily blessed
Yet, ito make the contrivance of our consti-
tuition still more Iudicrous,) this governor
without power, this humble Gmnnuensis, to
make known and execute edicts of the council
IS annually chosen, by joint ballot Of both
houses 0t the general assembly, from among
the most able and experienced statesmen in our
country, IS almost immediately responsible for
ms conduct to the repr.sentati,e s of tire peo-
pie, and after serving three years, cannot again
be elected, until four years shall have expired
after he has gone out of office.-The council
Of eight, are liable to removal in the proper
ton oi one fourth only Of their body, at the end
ofevery three years and. (if not SO removed
may remain in Office for life :-they, generally,
consist of men whose talents, reputations and
influence are by no means worthy TO be- COM
pared with the talents, reputation and influ-
ence of the governor. Yet, they, for admins
fering the government, receive salary of about
one thousand dollars, each, per annum; while
he for doing little more than erec,lt,ng their ad-
uices, and bearing the great name ofGOvERNoR !;
Is allowed more than three thousand dollars
system OF more extraordinary inconsis-
ttncy, Inconvenience, and " himsicality of con-
.t.- L..
u IS expedIent, (if a council be necessarily To
make some changes in lis organization but
| perhaps, il would be better TO abolish it al
together ;-consIdering how scanty the por-
tion OF power and Patronage vested in our
| eTecut're, certainly is ;-now competent the
Go' ernor ought TO be, to exercise those
powers judiciOusly without council ;-how
efecfnaily the circumstance of his being an
nunily elected. guards against all probable
danger OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. In such case
ne atone would be responsible for all the mea
| sures'of his administration instead of which,
las matters now sIand.) il is very dificalf,
when any thing wrong is done by the execu-
i've, Tor the people 10 know, icho is TO blame,
and equally difficult To correct the procedure
But this incongruous and ill-arranged sys-
tenn IS considered, in the proposed substitute,
| as proceeding from the perfection Of political
wisdom except that the mode Of removal of
the councillors from Office is admitted to be
objectionable. II is there said, that if the
Council we're abolished, " The office Of COVER
"nor would become an object of ambition {;
ntrigues and factions would agitate the pub
" lie AT every election"
But TO this answer when it is recolected,
that the governors election would probably
still be annual, and fora fern Of three yens
only; the prize To- be won will hot appear suf-
6ciently valuable to excite so much conten-
tlou, as the lively imagination Of the author of
the substitute anticipates.
Ii seems TO me, that the only Inconvenience
resulting from such abolition, would be the
necessity of elecliDg lieutenant governor to
act in the event of the absence, sickness, or
disability Of the governor. II it be objected,
that the officer so appointed, would at other
times have nothing TO do twould be easy to
ob'aie that objection, 10y assigning him other
| important duties.
Mr.. LEIGH admits, that if the union of
these states should ever be dissolved il NAV
+" then be necessary to strengthen the Execn-
+" tive arm" He therefore seems to acknow-
ledge that the present organization ofour Ex-
eculive is too feeble for the government Of
an independent state. But" he says, cit will
I" be time enough, to provide for the exigen-
cy, When that dark and evil day shall come %
To this remark, the answer is obvious, that,
although we hope and trust the Union will
never be dissolved, yet sound political wis
dom requires us, to strengthen our state go
vernment, before the dark and evil day
shall Gomez" to render it without delay capa-
Die OF encountering any storm that may arise
rather than leave 1t for the present in a state
OF debility. ard. hereafter amidst the conyul-
sions Of general revolution and dissolution,
attempt to amend it. The present time OF
peace and union appears to me the most pro.