The central gazette. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1820-1827, 1825-01-08
CENTRAL GAZETTE.
CONVENTION-No ~.
SATURDAY, JAN. 8, 1925.

ENIiON-No ~.
The author Of the 'Subs.itute,' has
argued with the same logical acumen,
which distinguishes his general reason
ing on this subject, that 'the trainers Of
the constitution, intended to establish a
purely republican government, without
my the least mixture OF monarchy
This intention. Is indeed s,rikingly exempii6
ed in the distribution which has been made Of
the executive powers Of our government: but
Vow much farther. our constitution ia purely
republican, we shall presently inquire. The
executive OF Virginia, says the gentleman, has
been Invested sof all that Influence in the pub
hc councils which renders this department
SO formidable i'm most other countries its
powers have accordingly been reduced sto the
lowest degree practicable, and so it has been
constituted mere instrument for executing
the laws The executive Of every government
IS constituted for the execution OF the laws, as
the term itself obviously imports, though this
department has not generally been 'divested o.
ak Influence in the public councils The ex-
ecutive is constituent and CO ordinate branch
oil government. having certain duties and pow
ers which properly belong to it. though they
are distinct from the duties and powers Of Ell
Their OF the other departments 1t cannot be
wise, then, to exclude this department from all
participation in the councils Of a government;
for If you do this, you must render it subser-
went to some other department 10 whic h there
!, an undue accession Of power and influence
The existence OF legislature, n judicial and
an executive branch Of every government,
proves that all three are useful, while reason
and experience teach men the propriety, nay,
the necessity or preserving each distinct urrtf
independent OF the others, in the Legitimate
sphere of its duties IL is not that the execu.
tive OF NIruInia IAN inc rdi at sho IF
influence, or that it abuses the very scant pat
tern OF authority assigned to it by the Consli-
luton, that the friends OF convention. com.
PLAIN OF: they object TO the manner in which
that department is organised, as calculated in
great measure to defeat the ends for which it
was established.
Inc opponents to conyention, however,
who seem resolved to eulogIse what is not pal
pabiy absurd, and to excuse the most glaring
defects in our plan OF government, ascribe the
existence oil an executive council, to rather
singular reason. The first object, say they,
winch the trainers Of our constitution had I'm
view, was to render the executive harmless,
by divesting j. Of all power and influence the
next, to render this noffensive thing more
harmless still, by dividing that power and in.
fuence' which it never had. among nine Off
cia' heads OF department. That is. to make a
governor 10 do nothing, and assign him eight
'~-.'~" W w " bi'ti wv u.
There were some reasons for an executive
council, Il this branch of our government had
been vested with an excessive share Of author
ity, and the constitution did not afford an a m
Pile safeguard, by the diotjnctness with which
each duty is enumerated, and the caution with
which every power IS. conferred The several
departments OF government when properly
constituted, serve as mutual checks upon each
other An executive should necessarily have
han, hon L.,
what the legislature wills. The executive Of
Virsinii have. as body. no original, Inherent
power, no prerogative which they can cali
their own, save the power to pardon malefic-
tors, and to command the militia when in ac
tnal service. This department which should
be distinct and SEPARATE is elected, by the
legislature, paid by the legislature, and except
IN the instances Just cited, directed and con
trolled either by the legislature or the county
courts, IN every material opei alton. 'rbus
constituted, an executive must be at the mefcy
OF legislature. 1t may, Notwithstanding
continue to be nominally, distinct body,
while our legislatures are virtuous and wise ::
but should they become ambitious and cor.
rupt, 1T viii indeed, be the instrume mt and
tool OF their depravity.
Notwithstanding this legislative surpeik
lance, there is no noe act which the governor
OF his own accord and by his own authority.
S"h uo' M tnu1t DC cone w ADVICE OF cOun-
Gil so that in effect, there are nine yoreynoys.
who share equally, the brief authority and
shadow OF power, which belongs TO this de.
2artment OF our government. Dispatch,
PromPtncss and decision, are qualities which
with one consent have been regarded as in.
dIsPensable to this branch of government.
There can be no despatch, where there is no
unanimity--theie cannot well be unaoimiy
IN multitude OF counseIers' This feature
OF Our government might be considered
good one, II debate and dehberatIon formed a
past Of executive duties, If it were the pro.
vince OF this department TO originate measures
which required discussion aud argument But
OF what importanceis It, when county court
recommends a, q to the executive Of Vir.
gTnia, as man IN every respect deserving pub
nc confidence, either as a country squire. an
ensign OF militia or sheriff; Tor this parliament
OF governors, to assemble and discuss The me.