The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-05-07

nj drafting a constitution q US TO transcend
their granted powers Not having thu
right, is their work, never having been tx
press y acknowledged by the people, vniia
What rirht. said Mr. E. ask, had a Con
yention - organized, to make consiltu
ton for the government of future genera
tons No more, Mr.. Chairman, thar
your present Legislature. II IS said VI
need not 10 try To render Il less de
fecive, because we have already livrd IN
der it happy and prosperous for fifty years
But that is bad policy which confines
us 10 old systems. If old systems are besi
away with all improvement. The system
Of agriculture so years ago, was not so per
feet as II is now. Innovations were neces
sary. Men In succeeding generations ne
cessarly improve upon the system OF Their
forcfithers and legislation, like every
thing else, was susceptible ofimproyement
from experience. We have been asked,
Mr.. Chairman, what are the defects OF the
constitution, and what amendments are
necessary But, why is ii, that the warm
est dcgotee of that INSTRUMENT, readily ed
mits thai it might be made more perfect.
while he continues To repeat this demand +!
1--we be moi benefited by wisdom aud ex
perience, which are every day aceHmulat
iu5, We live to little purpose indeed.
As to the right Of suffrage, we have been
told by Mr.. Nelson thai property 10 the
only proper c'i,rricn OF presentation
But such sentiment is war with the prln
ciples of republican government. The
man who owns not a foot OF soil, who sits
in his ho,rl, and eats his crust, feels az
mnch interest in Tire prosperity OF the
country and its institutions as the lcrdllng
who owns a thousand acres. II this Just
principle be adOitted, where is fine justice
Of Mr.. Nelson's criterion If it be not ad
mitted. wn unto such are 80 unfortunate As
nof to be born with a silver spoon IL Their
mouths. Such principle would not have
been recognized in IS. There are many
objections To the constitution, which IT Is
not necessary here To eu1meratc. Among
others, Mr.. Chairman, Object 10 the exc
cutve council. 1t Is the duty esary three
years of the legislature, by what IS called
scratch, 10 exercise the very unpleasant
task of removing two of the members
This IS an objectionable feature, and IT is
universally admitted that IT should be ex
plugged. There IS 4 portion of the ludlcla
~ system which should be altered. LISA
irst principle. recognized by all our couatl
talons, that the three departments, of gov
crDment, Legislative. executive aud Judicial,
should be separate aud distinct. In Viz
ginia alrnc we have an exception to this
sautary division. Magistrates of county
courts are eligible 10 the legislature. II
there be any force in the principle, that the
legislature and Judiciary ought to be scpa
rate, it IS done away with by this blending
The Magistrates, (who form a respectful ,
par; ofthr community first make and thru
expound the laws. Is this right; Mr.. f.
said he was not disposed to fire the meet
ing, or he would point out other inconve
nlences and grievances to which the people
were subject.
MIR. CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY sal,
hs had not Intended TO enter INTO the discus
SION of this subject, for which the state o
his health as we'll as his pursuits IN life en-
tirply disqualified him. The great impor
lance Of the subject alone induced hlri 4
snrmount these objections. He admitted
the right ola free people to change Or ALTO
ed upon the advocates of this change u
show the existence Of any practical eVl
which rendered necessary recurrence t.
fundamental principles. No practical evl
has been shoWu-no Corrnpt0n-no OF
preston, aud III this state of things, We ar,
called on To abandon the system undr
which we have so long s. so happily lived
Are we prepared for tins Are we prrDar
ed totncur such hazards, to remedy suppo
sed defects ? | call them supposed detect.
because no real evils, sptiosug from them
have been pointed out Until those evil
are pointed cut, (said Mr.. A. /, FOR one
will cling to This constitutions, which ha
given Us prosperity in peace, AID carried
US triumphanty through two wars.
The FIRST proposition in the resolution
Continued Dir. Al says that we have n