Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-02
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VIRGINIA CONVENTION.


proposition on tins subj ct lie was one of the
Execu'i"e Commit er. aud had sibmuoi p oposiinn
rs substitute Tor this report. Genl men had gonc
inio ol her CONSIDERATIONS, w..ic Ghcuh k, cp
ont OF tins dIscussIon Inc prop sition wl..cl ho
submitted 10 retfin in the Constitution the pre-
sent forms to appoint prIvy council of four members
We are told thai oicci for which are sent
here, Is To abolish thu Executive Council. He
knew that his district had done nothing of the kind
tie admitted that lac was performing an o1Ous duty
an defending the Lax ,Cujive Council. He said INA;
the Executive Council ought To be comstruc ed on
Republican principles; and referred to the power CIV
On to the King of Great Britain the ub of which
led to the separation OF this country from Great Br
tain. We are called on To depart from the Re-
publican principles which this Department was
founded, and To make splendid Executive We are
told of feeble Executive He did not wish to adopt
that phrase, but he would say that he lid moi desire
TO have any powe' given to an Executive beyond That
which Is necessary enable hinI Ia carry tie laws
into execution. In wc Concentrate all power and
patron &c IN the hands Of man, c'eute n pet
~ monarchy. Oar cOns tu, ed the depart
ment so as to guard against that danger. They sur
FOUNDED the Executive with n Council. If YOU make
Council dependant on the Executive, You destroy
n the effect of check The Council must BE- Com
s;itutional, so tobe efficient check. The Coun-
ca which now exists he coniended did not lessen The
responsibility OF the Governor. On the contrary
the Council and the Governor are equally RESPONSE
BILE Each Councillor signs his name to the advice
which ne gives to the Governor aud is oil course di-
rectly responsible for that advice. lie directed the
attention OF the Committee To New York and r. nm
sylvnnia, to the effect Of clothing the Executive
with too much power The Suites where this power
Is vested in the Executive, annually thrown into
confusion The whole of thePcopie ofihr Sta of New
ioik' were Corrupted IN consequence of the great
patronage of the Governor. And when Governor
WAS elected, his first act .urn every one out
OF Office. We have made an Executive who is To ex-
ecut' the laws, and II is possible, that frequently
numbers of the people, do not know who the Cover
nor ls unless lac Is very distinguished nun.
The gentleman from Brooke, said that this depart
tneni.vas IN violation of the principle which Keeps
tat ed lhut m
almost impossible, To organize departments,
as entirely to keep one from running in de-
gree INTO another. But gentlemen now propose to
transfer the power Of advising the Senate, and in
that case do they not into the error, which
they coRdemn. by connecting the different branches
together, lie considered that tho people do now.
effect ell, CT tie Executives and that they elect him
in the best manner, through their represent atives
you entrust the election directly the people, how
are they to know the characters OF the various idl
vidu0s who may be put up ms candidates. The Lee
Gislature well informed, to the characters of
gentlemen, 81 therefore, better qualified TO decide.
The valuable purpose of having council, Is To a..
a check in the Governor. They see his acts, and
understand the springs which set these i'll motion.
Ii you entrust power to man, for him to exercise
IN the dark, aud without the possibility Of drtermn-
ing his motives you give facilities and temptations
do wrong. But give him constitutional advisers
who will watch and guide him, and lac will be proven
ted from any abuse of his power. He considered
that Executive was constituted, to prevent
the abuse of power.
He did not believe with the gentleman from
Brooke, that the Governor had power. On the
contrary, he considered that the Executive had all
the power which is necessary In Executive ofthc
u. States there arc reasons for giving him more
power than TO a State Executive, although he
thought the powers and patronage ofthe U. s Exec
utve far too great, and reasonable Of danger
TO the country. But here managing our do
nestle concerns aud only object is, have such
Executive will faithfully, and efficiently, adj
minister the laws IL was said, the Governor could
not give casting vote. lie maintained that when
ullU Itttt.i.
act, because he has no legal advice to guide hun
The gentleman from Brooke, in referring
TO the abuses of the Governor, had sufi
GENTLY testified that there was no great
Although the gentleman had considered That impea,
Inent could not be held mp terror he should have
recolrced That disqualification may result from I'M
penchmcnt.
The gentleman had told us that new duties had
dcvolved on tho Governor: and lad named the Lit
tcraTy Fund, &7the Internal Improvement Fund On
this account, hc wished n council to be appointed.
The right Of pardon he consider cd great power.
There Is no man however elevated who may nj in
moment Of temptation, render understandable to
lne criminal low; and nc hoped no man would agree
t"at the lives oftho citizens should be- placed nj the
power OF any single For this single reason. he
would desire To retain the council Of State IN re-
Iut'OH 70 lhiiua officers, the Council have the APP
pointment. Phey have the appoiniment of the Sher
iifs, and Magistrates among tho most valuable and
most important appointments i'm the state How
could the Governor know the cha ractpra OF all an
t"'eo",' ~ ~ Souhcu around hun, he Is enabled
10 PICK up al the necessary information on the sub
lect. The Council are bound to inspoct the Trea-
surers Office, the Banks, &c. Can anv single
individual go through these various dutesl He sta
ted that he was a member OF the Committee of the
Executive. and that the only questions ON which
they could agree was that there should be- Ciovorn.
or and n Lieutenant Governor. Upon all the ques
tions they were SO closely decided that IL was fre-
queny ouly by the vote Of the Chairman that ques-
tons could be settled.
The idea thrown out in some Of the discussions il
that the Governor should be asslnated to the Exec
utve OF tho u. y. IN being allowed 10 call un the
heads Of departments for advice aud council lie
did not think this would be salutary change. lie
thought the persons who fI To be the head Of
the different departments, might not be- very we'll
qualified 10 give advice on important OCCASIONS, a.