Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-12-02

pesiuni in imperio. Does not a review OF the
Corporations already granted, present a number OF
niue governments operating within ii genera! one,
completely beyond ats conroul, as far as granted
rights are concerued?--And can there be one re-
II ctlg man, Tho does not already the perpet-
'iai enbarrassmcnts, " hch must he thrown in the
way OF jus; and fair administration, by the gov
eminent oil the whole-wlcn the vested rights OF
no one Corporation can be taken, without its own
consent: And What chance does any individual
Citizen stand anids, these perpetual struggles OF
Operations for e enjoyment 0; his gnal rights
taken ON him and ur,linkngiy grau,cd them:
These questions seem to me TO call for the hest
| considerations OF the General Assembly, before
they become farther precipi;a,ed in this uitathom-
able gull OF partial lrgisation-Taking from the
many, and givins 10 the few.
During this year, The Election OF ELECTORS Of
fresicen! and Wee President has taken p!ace--at
All u;nes highly in'eres;ing but nca'cuabiy 1T
TINS time, III consequence Of the immense rnsgni-
Jude OF the principles involved in il. The laws oil
the state upon that subject, have been duly car.
RED into effect, except in few cases of absent.
and OF informal returns; and my proc!anaiioii an
nouncing the nsnes of the Electors chosen, has
been issued accordingly. copy thereof, is now
respectfully laid before the General Assembly Tor
iniorination.-li has become my duty, which
perform with sorrow and regret, TO inform the
General Assembly, that a vacancy has occurred in
'he Electoral body of this State occsioued by the
lamented death OF Geo. Buckner, Esq. OF Caro-
| line county.
|
OF the Freehoiders OF this state upon the proprie-
| OF calling convention, for the reyi-ion OF the
state Constitution has also been carried into e CT.
On the iirs day OF September last The council pro-
ce' died TO ascertain the whole number OF votes on
Zach side OF that vI'aiiy interesting question,
which had been returned oil that day; and
on the following day, l caused my procla.
| nation to published tor information to the pco-
| pie, oil the actual number OF votes given each
side, as reported. The number in favor of the
call OF a Convention, exceeded the number
| against it, by ma ority OF more than four thou
sand. Returns had then been received from all
The counties OF this State, except the county of
, Harrison. That return not received, until
alter the 9th OF the month, and of course too
late to be included i'll the proclamation. The re.
| turns nom that county, increased The majority a.
move one thousand votes which was Immediate
| ~ announced in the Richmond Enquirer, as the
result OF the official returns IRON that county A
copy oil my proclamation, with the number oil votes
CIV en- IN Harrison county, is now laid before the
| General Assembly
Ii must he presumed. after tins decided txpres-
ion OF the viii OF gr at majority o. freehold RS n
iaVoi oil the call OF Convention, that law will be
passed, during the present session. TO, carving that
Will into effect Upon subject so momentous as
an entire iadical revision Of the fundamental laws
II is surely desirable that it, examination should
| be conducted with the most aispassionate, impair
ial and deliberate consideration directed solev
! 10 the discovery OF truth, and 10 doing Justice
In the passage OF The law, therefore Tor call
/
mat Il may be- done IN ihe absence of all former
prepoS@essions, and local prsndices, and in a -pi
ri Of fair, just and liberal concessions by AIT
| parties Under IA. guidance of such spirit no.
ming but good can he expected by the proposed
recuirvnc 10 fundamental principles; whit evils
| oil great magnitude only, can be anticipated hy per-
nui'ng angry passions. false pr possessions and To-
cal lrejudices, to be inteTmn~i.d i'm the enou,rv
HOW desirable then, would II be lor the people al
So in making their primary elections for Ro o. esen
tatiVes 10 she Convention, 10 toe guided solely by
he desire ot choosing citizen. he mos, renowned
amongst them, Ion their public and priv te virtues
ana aienis!-trom benign all influence the.
convention would consist of the best talents and i'm
! esr'y in the commonwealth; from whose delibe-
raons ali distrust would be baui-hrd; and NOTHING
but the best results anticpated--its whole e,:er,
| eies and talents woui be directed % the dis
covery OF the true elementary principles of poli,i
! cal science. and most erveniiy hope, they will
be found competent, upon hose great principles 10
lay the solid foundation oil perfect we ath
as Tar al least as any human tribunal is permitted
| TO approach perfection
| Ihe General Government has now been in prac-
ic" operation Tor nearly forty years; during the
brsl thirty years OF its administration, il was gen
! orally conducted with a respectful regard 10 the
written provisions OF the Constitution At inter
val, however, during most OF that time, indications
OF a spirit OF eBcroacbment may be seen. Within
the last ten years. the administrators of the Gene
| iai Government hays, H. 1 conceive set no claims
| 10 powers 10 an Unde hnab and unlimited extent
ihty nave Substantially, III my Judgment assert
ed general jurisdiction over the oil over the H.
berty OF the person aud the rights OF prjvai..
property, within the limits oil the states respective
~. lhey have, l conceive, asserted the poyy or
oi unlimited controul over the whole proceeds OF
ne iAbour OF the community, the great de sidc-
alum Oh their political economy In this Ciliu To
unlMi I'd power viii be found, the essence
II all modern desposni. 1t wouiI satisfy, as /
'hIhk, the whole prrtensions 10 power of he most
absolute autocIdt Upon earth Ii -ubstaniialiy A.
sunies tie proposition; that all RI" his held by in
dividusi man the gifts OF the gov. rnmeI,t and
not the gifts oil his iicd-It has converts indiyitl-
u d man on naturd b; Ing, endowcd with right.
rom his God, into an artificial machine the slave
and property OF The government. Here then is
seen iederatiVe government, originating in ex.
crna causes, created for external objects decIar-
ed, echoed, and ECHOED, TO be of limited now
ers, Insinuating Itself INTO The sanctuary of private
rights interineddling with individual OCCUPATIONS
ana dealing on PORTIONS TO Ddividuais, OF The whole
proceeds oil labouT oi the community, at pleasure
hot leaving To the state governments ACCORDING to
my best judgement, one exclusive sovereign now
81, which would the basis Tor the for,na-
ton OF a state Constitution.
i hope, in this extraordinary and perpicV;no
state OF things, may be permitted 10 congratulate
me GENERAL Assembly upon The recent occurrence
oil grea event, which has rendered the present
an suspicious moment, for the monentous enquiry
nto the true foundation and best fnodiiic alton OF
our state consiiiuton-i feel myself more partic-
ularly called upon TO make this cheering congra,-
udtion, by the deep and anxious Interests felt by
great majority OF the reehoIders of this state re-
centy manifested in lis favor, by the solemn pro-
"uuciatlDn OF their audible impressive voice
Ihe recent election OF Electors of President and
wee President, has given the most certain as
surance, that the present Administrators of the
General Government will be removed from their
Official stations, and others introduced i'm their
AT l.-I 4.