The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-12-04
ID ON a SPIBa
Mr.. JEFFERSON AsD THE CONVENTION
To Ire Editor ofthc ssn,ine, ofthe Ya.,ev

--~000---
To TIE Editor The ssntine, ofthe Kdlley
sIR--In the year 1916 published a series OF
letters addressed to the people of Virginia on the
subject OF reiorinisg our State Csnstitlision. II
was IN pamphlet form, | enclosed to Mr.. setter
soma copy OF this pamphlet, requesting his opin.
ion Oh The subject. In answer 10 which, recei.
we'd mis- highly Interesting letter OF the loth July
lel6 shortly after wrote to Mr.. Jefferson, re.
qlesiing permission 10 publish this letter in an.
river 10 winch | received his letter of 10Th Sep.
telnhcr.
You will discover that was laid under the
most solemn hilunctions not To publish these thu
ly able and interesting letters; Int since the
death OF MIR. Jefferson, have CONSULTED q unnl-
boz OF the most intelligent indviduals who are of
opnon, that II is my duty now to give them to
the people tor then consideration, and that il
Cannot now be considered a breach OF good laith
To publish them, as the whole object OF this great
and venerable man appeared TO he 10 guard u.
saIo't beng drawn into public aid personal
niscnssloa OF th,s important subject Nor can
hS meraogy possibly be injured by the pubca.
fion--on the contrary, II will add ii any addition
eau be made. 10 the sraaeceadant character Of
t!iis great apostle of the freedom aud happiness OF
his fellow eiseus
You will herewith receive the letters which YOU
a.ea liberty To publish. am most respectfully
Your friend SAMUEL kERCHEVAL
Frederick County, Va. Nov Il, 1926
Copy OF Letter received by 5. Kercheva esq. dated
MosrioELLo July l.. 1916
SIR duly received your favor of June 10
with d copy of the letters on the calling a Con.
sehtion, on which YOU are pleased 10 ask nv
opinion. have not been IN the habit Of mys-
IN g,th, h,,..
up my opinions within my own doublet, on the
contrary, while M public service especially, |
have thought the public entitled to frankness mud
Intimately 20 know whom they employed--bnt /
nov retired; resign myself as a passenger
with confidence 10 those al the present helm, and
ask but iar res, peace and good will. The ones-
ton you propose ON equal representation. has be-
come party one, IN which wish 20 take no
public share yet, # il be asked for your own sa-
tSiactien only, and not 10 be quoted before the
pnbli>, have no motive to withhold il and the
less from YOU, as IT comedies with your own. Al
the birth If our republic | committed that oph.
ION to Ihe world in the drausht of a Constiiu
non annexed TO the Notes on Virginia in which
provision was inserted for representation per
mshenty equal The infancy Of the subject at
that moment and Der inexperencc of self row.
efnnaon eccasioned gross departures in tina.
dTaaFht, from genuine republican canons. IN
truth, the abuses of monarchy had 80 rauch slI.d
al the space Of political contemplation that W.
Imagined every thing republican which was not
monarchy, we had net yet penetrated TO the mo.
Their prinrirle thst governments are republican
Only IN proportion as they embody the will n
therPeople, and execute 1t. Hence, our first con.
s;tutions bad really no leading principle in
item. tateNperience aud reflection have but more
nd mure confirmed me in the particular impot.
t,nce ofthe equal representation then nronosed
On that point then ] am entirely in sou,n,.
with your letterS and only lament that a copy
right OF yonr pamphlet prevents their appeaf.
nnce III the newspapers, where alone they would
be generally read. and produce general efrct-
The present vacancy too OF other matter would
give them place IN every paper, and bring the
question howe 10 every mans conscience.
Blu, inequality Misrepresentation, in both hon.
ses Of our legislature is not the only republican
tefcsy N tins first essay OF our revolutionary pat
riots at forming constitution for let il be arrsed
Chat government is republican in proper,io,
as every member composing II has his egna1
voice in the direction OF It's concerns. fno, h.
deed in person, which would be impracticabl,
hevond the limits OF a city, or small township
out( by representatives chosen by himself aof
responsible 10 bin az short periods, and lie, n
bring 10 the test Of this canon every branch n
our constitution.
lathe Legislature, the House OF Representa-
ives is chosen by less than half the people. anr
not Al all IN proportion to those who do choose
lhe Senate are still more dispropornonstc, ans
xfof long terms of responsibility. In the Exec
! ative. the Governor Is entirely independent o
tie choice fthe people, and Of their controls
the eonaci equally so, and az best but fif,l
4.eel 70 Wagon. In the Judiciary, the Judges
ef,hc highes courts are dependent ON none but
I'll, -asqlyes. In England, where judges were