Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-25

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as Lieutenant Governor, and in all respects. hold the
same relation TO the Governor perform the ju.
ties as the existing Council Of State hold and perform
Two members shall form quorum. and in Of an
cqna! division Of votes the Governor shall have the
| casting vote"
Mr.. u said, the scheme no, yet carrfNd on, into
al its detals-but he offered il to try the sense OF the
| House az 10 its important features.
| Mr.. MERCER expressed hi. regret at seeing the
great natural divisions Of the State brought into any
plan as connected with political arrangements: he fear
I'd the practical effect Of this would be TO confirm for
ever those local divisions, an produce spirit OF sepa-
raie and tiva, interest among the people nhabiing
them lie objected 10 Council which wonld sink the
Governor so lar, TO leave him less power than high
Councillor. He denied the charge OF wishing TO form
| a Government without any guide Ut eXpsTience-and
he appealed 10 the example Of IL States, who were
without any Council, in contrast TO which had this
feature He denied having ever called the Federalst
his political bible, having said IL the only poli
cal book he read but he commended that its language
was always TO be received cum grdno sails, remem-
berng for what end they written Referring to
the doctrine main aimed there that Executive ought
to possess energy, and not be trammelied by Counc
Mr. NJ. quoted, as being much better than any thing
he would say, the entire argument in the 10th number
OF the Federali't on the subject Of plural Executive,
accompanying il 10y occasional comments, showing its
applicability 10 the present measure.
MIR. nj. observed that he had read this long extract
Tor the purpose Of showing that the Executive Coun-
Gil was vice in the Constitution. As TO the argument,
that IL preserved record of the motives Of the Execu
i've acts. il was false in ;aci those motives could be
Judged only by the themselvesand for his acts,
the Governor responsible and liable TO impeach
ment.
He expressed his apprehension OF undue irfu-
ence OF the Legislative the Eek cutive--rsferred
to several instances TO shew the dspo.ition encroach-
ment in that body. and concluded by reference to the
5o'h number Of the Feder alist, (wren ty the very
venerable gentleman in his eye TO shew the danger of
placing all the power of the State in the hands of pop
| ular assembly.
Mr. CLAyroR asked for the yeas and nays: which
were ordered.
Mr.. GILES asked to know whether the Governor
was 10 he elected by majority, or by plurality
oil votes In the former there would be caucus,
ing in the latter, a multitude OF candidates, and
Governor elected by little faction in corner of the
state Now, there was another protector SecretA-
ny of State. BY whom was he TO be appointed bv
the Governor by the Lagi,lture or by tn People
and IN the last case, by majority plurality! All
this was left blank-so all his duties were left blank
the Convention proceeded in this style. it would at
length be reduced 10 the necessity Of making open
declaration OF lis incapacity to form Constitution; and
oil then giving general carte blanche TO the Legsla-
lure After some reflections the inchoae state in
which projects were presented for deliberaion, Mr.
IT, sad that any impartial person after revie wing what
they had been doing for days past, must be led
resistbly TO the conclusion that the less this body
did the better He had come to this that the more pro-
Jecs were presented the more mischief likely 10
ensue yet he had all respect for the virtue and the
talents Of gentlemen who offered them. He knew Of
ou' one circumstance which entered into the case and
that was, that If they did nothing they should still
have done great deal. They would then have let
alone what wiser had provided. Their for efa,hers
had done more for them than they seemed capable OF
doing for themselves.
The gentleman last UP, (Nr Mercer \ had come mi
win the true object ia view il TO form ener
gehc Executive That had been Obvious for some time
Not content with an Executive that could do HARM
they were seeking one who could do great deal Of
harm" An energetic Executive was one of the ca
bastical phrases, of which the nation had scores ;
II meant, when translated, power-power ia the hands
of one man, and uncontrolled AS TO the doctrines of
the Federalist which had been read they had no an.
p'icaiion to the condition of Virginia but was his be-
ei that that very number o. Pubius had introduced
INTO the General Government an Executive with
gy enough to destroy the liberties of this nation aud
II was now busily engaged in cutting up those liberties
as fast as possl" What was all the complaint as TO The
present Executive! was il not for the exercise OF THE
very energy and those who complained so Loudly Of
the exercise of this power in the Federal
were Tor paving the way for its introduction into Vir-
gln'a' The difference between such an Executive as
thai OF the United States and that of Virginia was in
fact, the difference between monarchy and repub,.
canisn.
Mr. G. here went again into an exposition of the
constitution oil the present Counci.-and its operation
IN respect TO the Governor hut have fully re
ported 1t on former occasion, omit il here.
He referred 10 the last Executive of The United
States, and TO the sentence Of the People, That instead
OF having done no wrong. he had done al! wrong -
They had turned him and his all out by the board and
now minority were enheavoring 10 do the same
ny the present administration, all for the exercise of
this energy.
He referred 10 the multitude of schemes nroposea
thought the Convention afl c,ed with too much
light ard overburdened with talentsa all their Difficult
ties arose from indulging igRis dts in the shape
OF The Old doctrine o. human periecibility-bu con-
cuded with this comfort, that il they had done not!ir
thew would have done great deal ~
| The debate further continued by Mr. Moore OF
Rockbridge, who opposed the amendment of Mr. Upshur
as calculated TO defeat the object of electinp the Ca
vernon by the People. Where was the use of this if
council was TO be placed over him by the election
OF the Legislature? The argument seems TO rest on the
| nj Tho o.
or-and so guardians must be put over the luna.
tic He was in favor of Mr. Fitzhughs plan-believino
that Secretary OF State, by employing one fourth Of
MS ine, could do more than the Governor and Council
now did lie was ignorant of what they did: unless il
was TO take bad security in contract about negroes
lie had been here for two month he could scarce
| ~ swear that the council had any existence-two o
The members were gone, and was here as Clerk
yet all went on as well usual. He believed them
be utterly useless. As 10 the Governor he had beer
here at the last election, and did not know ill the morn
ing on which he chosen, that he had been named as
candidate. Instead of being chosen by ga little faction
IN one corner oil the State, he chosen by little fac
ton in the Legisature--hat was all the difference
the Convention should do nothing, the People wouI,
Judge where the blame TO lie. Ii was a confc
between the People and those in power-and the is
sue had yet TO be decided The charge of vac
citation did not touch him. He had always vote,
one way on the question, and if some who were Cd
posed TO the white basis had voted TO give the cleo
ton of Governor TO the People, the reason was Il
be found in the sentiments of the Districts from which
| they came.
/ Mr. CoALTER considered the gentleman from Rock
bridge, as having pronounced ofthc greatest euoqi
uns that uttered in any governm mt He wa
here during election of Governor and did M, hoo
the name of the candidate, till the day of the election
How long would this be the case after the electio,
should have been given to the People? The ocntcmo,