Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-08-03
RICEHoMD, AUGUST 3.
COMAN.NICaTED.

expressed in il, to be those OF many Citizens en-
close it TO you TO use you think pr, per.
DIALOGUE
Btttoeen Larger Dumiap and Farmer Finley
Dunlap. Good morning MIR. Fnley-I sm
glad TO see you. How is your family? have
had gresl desire converse with you on the sub
Ject OF calling convention TO amend State
Constitution. Finley. L. gives De pleasure to see
you Mr.. Dunlap. How have you done? VIVA is
The matter with the constitutions Dunlap. Mat
ter. Why Mr.. Friley, matter enough Every
tSiag is wrong about II. Ia the hr-t place, we
have, no constitution at all 10 be sure we
have whit is ci!iAl a constitution; but it was
formed aud adopted by convention, elected for
the express purpose, as MI 'shsisoh says ana
therefore cannot be properly considered cons,is
tution. Finley. Mr. Jefferson is giesi authority,
! acknowledge; but you and |. MIR. Dunlap, re-
collect something about this business Ii re did
not send menbe a; that time to make a constitu-
lion, for what purpose did send them: Were
we not entering on a new government! Did not
the people know this! l"deed, did we elect
members to form new government? And when
they came home from Williamsburg and Iold US
what they had done, did we approve of il !?
Yes did, and have acted under the constitution
which they adopted for fifty years. We had al
that day many great well MIR. Jetfer-
son; most OF whom considered 1t constitution s.
good one too. 1t seems 10 me therefore, that 1t
IS rather too late now 10 make this objection
Dunlap. Well, well, Well say no more about
that II matters not whether 1t was properly n
dopied or not. The thing Itself is defective,
that cannot get along under IT much longer
We mus, call convention and form new one.
Fiiley. Why, certainly, ii it Is yer, de-
tective, we must amend. But pray MIR. Dunlap
" hat the defects which you think ought 10 be
amend ed
Dunlap a great many, Sir. will name
them. Frsl in the list, will place, combining
the right OF suffrage 10 freehodels. 2ndly The
inequality of representation. 3JIy. The formation
of the Executive aud mode OF election and 4thly.
The defective organization of our courts; mode oil
appointing the judges and justices aud of Of
lice, and mode OF electing 10 Office generally.
Frikey. What, all wrong? God bless US
Well what sort OF constitution would you pro
pose!
Dunlap. Ia the first place, MIR. Finley,
would propose TO permit all tree white men over
twenty-one years of age to vote. 2ndly, That
the representation Ill the Legislature should be ap-
portioned according 10 population. 3rdly, That
The Judges should be elected by the people aud for
short periods. Ithly, That the Council. of State
should be abolished and the Governor elected
annually by the people. 5ihly, That all militia
officers be elected by the militia whom they are TO
command. 6ihly, That the Sheriffs, Coroners,
Escheators, Oyerseers of the poor, Clerks OF
Courts and ComwssiOnersAoi the Revenue be e.
lscied by the people OF the Counties 7thly, That
the counties he laid of into suitable districts and
that one Constable and one Justice Of the peace be
serve one year. Other officers TO be appointed as
dir ected by law, but keeping in view to elect all by
the people. il possible. Such, MIR. FIiley are my
views, a constitution embracing such features would
be truly democratic, s. in addition, would be popu-
lar with the great body of the people. MIR. JEFF
ierson was In favour OF most OF the provisions
which have mentioned, and says thai many OF
them exist In the constitutions oil some Of the n
England States
Finley. TVould be popular NTH The peopIe.
Why, Ar. Dunlap the people more considerste
on these subjects than Iou seem to be aware Of
and as TO TO the constitutions OF the New England
States, what have they to do with the question
Many provisions mi ht suit the n England peo-
pie which would not for Ymginians-
Ihey may be fond OF having 10 attend frequent
elections, but not. Ihey are full OF no.
tIOnsi we have none. a Yankee VIII stop
stranger On the road, ask hlm where he is going
and what Is his business. A ,Yirginian will ride
by without even noticing the colour of his horse
aad perhaps one hour afterwards W .uId not recoI.
lect that he had met such person. There is no
similarity In the people in heir habits; nor
would the same provisions in a constitution suit
boih. Have you not been sufficient observer 10
kno" that! lave we hot some experience? How
many elections OF OgerseeTs of the poor have Won
ever attended! Did you ever attend one? Do YOU
believe MIR. Jefferson ever attended one They
are important officers, almost without controul.-
They levy lsrge sums Of moaey annually on the
lTeSpOuSI-
he agents; yet, IhaYe never seen fifty persons IRE
sent at one election in my life Our people have
an aversion TO frequent elections or pefiy eiec-
tons Who do yOu suppose would attend the e.
lection OF justice OF the peace or constable
Sir, you could not induce the people to attend such
elections. Why then, place the appointments where
they would be neglected eGd abu-ed? | object also
MI Dunlap, to vote al elections, Tor persons
whom do not personally know. If vote on the
opinion OF Others, given without any obligation TO
inform me correctly, why would nof it be safer
Tor me TO eniIusG the election 10 responsible A.
gent! In addition TO all this, what would be the
state OF things, If the people had to attend such
number OF election! and TO listen to the cleo
pioneering which would consequently follow
why, sir, we would not be allowed time to plant
o. corn or cut our harvesls ne would be bar
g. sed 10 death. l therefore, object TO all this
pretty scheme Of transferring 50 many appointments
To the people. They do not want TO be bunhsnel
with The trouble. IL . not e-senii, o the preser
walton oil their Liberties or lie well being Of the
commonwealth, mat they should exercise all those
powers, themselves Yrglnisns, il NY orinion.
nave always thought ~ more sale 10 look 10 Their
= eat interests; aud enTust the minor ones 10 sub
ordinate agents, to whom they could look and
make responsible Tor their acts. AZ far as the
sohS''u'ion can be amended 10 meet ihess views
lave no objections. D1t ! attn unwilling 10 On far
iher, am not for saving at the spiie and loosiog
al me bung, Mr.. Dunlap. ia all large business.
hs VINO attends too much. himself, to small matters
always heglects he more important. No maxiro
smore true. The people cannot attend 20 ALL
1hey are not sufficiently Informed And If they
were, they have not the time.
oIJect also to your scheme for electing iudees
ns oojsct IN appointing judges office during good
pehaVlOurj have always understood 10 be- 10 pre-
vent Them rom being under the controul or infiu-
5ttfs.