Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-08-04

/ veity this innovation, this mistaken vision, is
| now also brought to the test of experience. Let
that experience determine their respective merits
in their comparative construction through the pro-
gress of time
Original .fo,intaii--C Constitution of Vfrginio
! Sec Is.
| The Governor with the advice OF the privy
Council, shall appoint Justices Of peace for the
| counties, and in case of vacancies, or a necessi-
y ofincreasing the number hereafter, such appoint
rnenis TO be made upon the recommendation of the
| respective county courts Here the same eau
| uon and wisdom are conspicuously manifested, j
which dictated the other provision. The county
courts system had been long tried, and had always
been found the purest, and best system for the
administration Of justice, that had appeared in the
world 1t vas the cheapest, it was the NEST mo-
raj, 1t was The most just, it the benefi-
| cent to the poor. Through the county court sys-
TEN, justice administered - freely wthou,
reward" The Justices received no compensation
Tor their services at least in their Judicial charac-
ter; they enjoyed in rotation, the sleritiaty.--
Ibis was an nadequate,& contingent compensation
but it was received in ministerial, not in Judi
cial character, and did not add TO the bur
thens of the people This system made every JUS
tice oil the peace strictly c0nssrp0tor the peace
both in feeling 6 interest. II is his interest TO keep
MS neghbors in peace, and nature herself co-ope-
rates with his interest in the good work Hence the
good moral tendencies, OF this wise, impartial be-
nevolent system
Devious Jer!iiizing st edns--Su subsequent Consti-
tufions.
These have attempted improve the original
system by substituting for the principle OF admin
is'erine justice "freely without reward the perqui-
site system. In the opinion of the writer, the most
expensive, and worst, that human genius can de-
yise Its ioundaion is corruption its effects ia
voritism-it brides every justice OF the peace TO
become a common disturber of the peace-L cor
rupts the natural good feeling OF man towards his
fellow man, by making his emoluments to depend
upon strife and contention amongst them. These
emoiuments, too, chiefly burthens upon the poor
- The whole society becomes corrupt, through this
System, by extending its poluons 10 the mldLllng
class, hich must be considered the very heart of
society. The original fountain imparts its purity
to the mddliDg class, and thus keeps the heart OF
| society immaculate. How does this ethic phenom- !
enon here appear in comparative construction with
the devious ertilizing ST. through the progress
OF time Does it appear rude (? Does ii appear !
tinsel Does 1t not appear pure and solid ore ? !
O'tSi1a! tounfain-C Constitution of Yirginia |
PRINCIPLES OF elections by intermediate agents !
6et'oeen the people, and their officers.
The constitution OF Virginia adopts this princi-
pie In relation to all executive, Judicial, ministerial
and military officers. In country in the worlI !
these officers judviously appointed, with
SO little noise, trouble and expence, and under 30
little influence from the corrupt electioneering sp
rit The principle OF the constitution of Virgin
la Is that all the political duties of man. in his
individual Character, consist in choosing his Lesis-
ldtiue Representatives. II is the duty of the le- /
eisiative representatives TO make all laws for the
| Observance of the people, or to prescribe the
rules OF conduct for society. In this essentially
consists the liberty OF All officers no are
found necessaryo carry these laws into effect, or
to enforce he rules OF conduci thus prescribed, are
appoint ed By int ermedate agents
DeUious teTtili=ing stre0ms-su5Sequest c0usti-
fl,fiOnS.
Thee have attempted TO improve this principle. |
by The adoption of the principle of universal cleo
tons By universal suffrage How specious in the
DRY ! J! How m!schievous in practice Time ,
In It's progression is now bringing This refinement,
this avorie theory, to the touch-sone of expert
ence. and what is The result Universal election
eerinS Universal corruption--A waste of morals
- a waste OF time "A waste OF abor-A waste
OF Whiskey- All united, inv diving the most ex- !
pensve system OF appointment that could be devil
'ed, and iht expense OF morals infinitely worse
than the expence OF time, labor and money The /
frequency OF elections under this beautiful fascina-
ting system, having been found burhensome and |
| inconvenient Alabama improves upon this re- I!
! hnement The Improvement consisted in having /,
all the elections of all legislative, executive, judi
ciai and minise officers The same day. What
we've the effects OF this refined expedent in the last
elections in that State ? The Huntsville news (
perr attempted TO draw the picture but hey said
to DO II justice was beyond their art. They de- !
scrbed the whole country TO be in a state of pros
trs,ion, by the delicious fumes of Shiskey, for 3 !
months before the great Jubilee of universal suf- |
frage for universal offices. The Governor, the .
Judges The justices OF peace, the sherffs the con-
stables, and every other Office hunter were seen
trampoosing the whole state, for the laudAbe pur-
pose OF corrup'ing the voters and preparing them !
by due baiIons OF whskey, 10 exercise their great
franchise to the best advantage for their beloved
country, and Tor their own honor and interests !
Upon the arrival of the great Alabama Jubilee, the
town of Huntsville is portrayed in all the fascina-
tons of revelry and ntoxication Numberless (
bottles OF whiskey, Enthusiastically arranged in fantas
teal rows, all decorated with ingenious, fantasia
cal labels, TO attract the attention of voters and
TO entice them TO drink deep of their Pyerian con-
tents, as the necessary qualification enable them
TO perform their first duty good citizens the ex-
ercise OF the great right of universal franchise !
for the good of their country and for the dignity Of
man. The writer speaks confidently with respect [
to the practical effects of this fascinating theory of
universal elections by universal suffrage because
he Is informed, that very general intercourse has
taken place, and continues between the citizens of
Virginia, and the states enjoying the practica;
curses OF these refined improvements; and that their
own observations have produced almost unyer- |
sal connection against former plepossessions of
the practical blessings OF the long tried, solid prin
cple of the freehold right of suffrage. Virginian
principles have almost become proverbia They
universally admitted, even by the modern craft |
OF raficking rehnements, and In The unboly ephe-
neral triumph OF modern craft, over old morals, |
Virginia principles attempted TO be held up to |
derision & contempt. Now, Virginia principles arc
nothingm more than habtual good morals of more than
half century standing. Can il be conceived that !