The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-03-24

want 81 good Government.
Before proceeding 10 ennmeraie AMI ex-
nose the defects OF the Constitution, II will
be useful. and ~ furlheranor of our object
10 recur Ia the natural advantages anu capa-
cities the eoaafrv. whirh the goodness OF
Providence, T. the wisdom l. 5nrit OF our nu-
.estors have assigned as our portion of the
earth Take the following description oil Nir-
gnia from the last report Of the Principal
| Engneer--nnd ask yourselves II II he mol
| literally trne
=" M where has the kind hnnd of provi-
! lence been more projpstly bountinl thnn IN
Virginia blessed with n climate H. "A fertile
soil producing cotton aud the 6td tohac-
CO. besides the common staples at the nor
thern states 10 which she even exports her
four Astounding with rich mines her coal
nearer tn tide water than that ui ANY other
state. Virginia IS no less favoured in her Ge.
ngraphical position she occupies in the |.
ninn nm impnrianl central situation aud Tn
mouth Of the Chesapeake, her tue harbour
ALWAYS open, strongly projected against ag-
erosion, is equal to even TINT OF New York.
* She nossessrs, besides, perhaps more
than any other stale, the elements OF manu-
! features, she has in abundance water power,
coal, iron and raw wheriais.
With these nm meuse resources, Virginia
may ask WHY she is not the most nonrshing
state in the Union why she does not oocn-
nv the commercial station for which nature
Designed her Circumstances purely acct
dental and temporary can alone have prodn-
ced this state of thing
ConIi the able, interchangeable and public
| spirited Engineer have Intended 10 rept0deh
us or are we in the prosperous aud Hour
ishins condition which the natural ndvantn-
ges and capacities OF Virginia authorize rs
-. n
! Virginia not Of what she has been OF ought
10 he--hut what she is--and must continue
! TO be, without radical change. II would
BIZ too gloomy, Notifying and painiul--and
| besides is unnecessary. For her siiuntlsu
is mixed to the eve of every citizen aud pns-
! Observation-Disclosures almost every individual
wounds the feeling Of the sensitive aud pat
riotic-and alarmsthose who look beyondth
! present moment.
| To what is This state Of things justly ascri
| hahe 10 the government or the peoplr IN
diyiduaiiy Are III. citizens OF Virginia less
industrious, public spirited or entrrpri@ing
| than others What has tie Government done
! IN advance the happiness & prosperity at the
! pporlr--to improve the condition oi III. eon'-
trv ; Are not these fl subjects for the iegi-
! innate action of State Government 10 moi
the proverbal mprovidence OF Yrglnians gen
. q
5fthe Government Are not the enterprise
and pnhlic spirit of the citizens dormnn,
/ wasted or misdirec,ed. because not elected,
| fosi red and seconded by the Government !!
Bnt proceed to point out the characters
ric defects oi the several departments OF Gov
eminent ms organized under The present con
| stilniiOn--nommenClng with the tJerHfift
| department. The Governor or Chirt Mays
tlatn i, elected annually by the General .fs-
senLIV, when insollice, he cnn.hc no official ct
/ whatever without the advice j. consent OF the
Priv CotIiIciI-which is composed ot eight
members, appointed by the Assembly, and to
compeusate them, rs ndriserS Of the Gorer.
nor are allowed one Thousand dollars each
per anuum. II has two clerks and door
kpeper--and lis annual expenses may he com
| nuted. in round numbers. AT twenty thousand
lnlnrs--.when in council, the Governor is not
allowed 10 vote unless in ease ot a DIVISION
- that his judgment aud opinion weigh
less thnn those nf The weakest member Of
the council II f0llows from itS organiza'
ton Ist that the members of the council
are idle and incompetent, ifihey seek the Office
To- the support derived from its salary and u
they unite other busiu"s- with its duties, the pre-
ference civen 10 the calls Of the former ncapa
citate them for the faithful and prompt discharge
Of the lattrr-2nd that the Governor. office u
merely nomnal--to preside in council and sigt
commissions Hence II excitrs no competition
4 peS not attract the notice Of aspiring aud patr'
otto cilzens-hecause II admits not Of acquiring
Distinction or of rendering material aud impor
tant services to the c.mmunv. Consequently
III filled bythree classes fpersons-ihoSe who
holding another Office. are unnoted add nndis
tinguished therein those who can get no other
and those who wish to use this as " stepping
stoue" TO some higher or more desirable station
This department is. therefore, inefficient an6
cost. too much. II NAV br ma 10 more etficlen
and useful, aud cost not more than three-hfth
of tie above sum--which would save eight thou
sand dollars annually.
Gencral Isw1ajig TIA annual expenses VA
} ~ from one hundred and ten to one hundred
aud fifteen thousand do'lars.--apd must increase
If NOT differently organized II nov absorb
move than one third Of the whole =" revenue pro
per-" or rcvenue derived from the iaNes ol
lands and slaves this expense is so burden
some. and consumrg much Of the peopi"
substance that, verify believe, no others thar
Vreinians would bear tin anv other state,
would produce IN excitement approaching
| closely 10 rebellion. And why should they con
| tinue 10 incur IL 7 Is their legislation 30 wis
and beneficial as To he worth This enormon
price Would not hmftbe number Of Delegate
; do the business befter IN hrlfth time. aud thu
save to the people Hree foUibs Of the ahoV
sum Is eights thousand dollars saved or bad.
expended annually to small sum Tor the motto
Of tho peoplc of Virginia How many miles q
good turnpike ROAD, pubhc ncronH. woul'
the sum. tins u1red construct annually
The Inequality Of representation IS, II possible
even worse Epch country scn's two Dele
gates some Of them contain twenty odd thons
and peope-othrrS two three, OF four tnousan'
-suchis the Inequality Of county popuat' n
,ha' j. can he demonstrated bv fignr Is fwhlcl
neFer rrl that ia" political power of Viremi
rany be welded bv llt'n more thin one sixth .
hef people, to the prejudice gnd against th
consen t of near We sisihs Any one may maxi
this calculation for MS oven .a'i.iHciton. Tak
the censusof 1890. ID together tn population
of one talf ,hc counties (talSm- the small"r) am
il will amount 10 but little more Than ne thur,
the popnaon Of the Stat. Mud elections
are deciied bv naioritirs, few lnore than halt