Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-05-19
Fog rHE WHfn

Having the support OF d msjorty of nv county
Tor seat in the convention, and foreseeiug I shall
not have an OPPORTUNITY for personal commandment II
With SOME of you, take this uiode Of presenting
70 you Of the considerations and opinions by
which shall probably be governed if charged with
the important duty Of taking part in the effort To A.
mend our state constitution.
IF elected, snail avail myself of all the lirhts
which the deliberations of that body MAY produce
W no shall command The purse and Weld the s,yurd7
is the most important question TO be decided Crm
neCtCt with this, are tire interesting quustions-who
shall ENJOY the right Of suffrage and on what
basis shall representation be fixed? Political
power should be III responsible hands; and exercised
by those who cannot make rod for others which
does not Affect themselves. ugreu that the right of
sutiragn ought to be extended. But shall the arri-
cuurists who support the whole community by their
!abours, put TO hazard their Invaluable rirts by in
Producing partners il rule who have no immediate
concern In protecting the interests of the tiler Of
the earth The owner Of the soil and the grower of
the crop, have community and permanency of inter-
est giving them right To suffrage and rule: So have
all men who by their pursuits in life are locally fas
tened, and must remain III their places and answer the
calls OF their country upon them StouDnp short of
tins, would exclude from political power many valr
able men: Going beyond, would I think introduce
great evil The poorest man who has this copnexion
with society should have the same political oowcy ,e
the richest landhoder; because the poor mans ali Is
as dear to HIM as the rlch mans abundance. MANY
talk of personal rights and derive them from Heaven,
But of what use are personal rights, If we ,nov
not employ faculties in the pursuit and endowment
of property: If numbers be the only basis OF rule
what guard have We that those who NAV have tho
power will not use it without regard to Justice and
especially TO the prejudice of the cuivators of tle
earth? VIII they give constitutional assurances ;
We would not lead them into temptation. If il he
asked what guaranty they have that their personal
rights VIII be maintained, the voice of than hall
! Il century answers the question. The Legislation
of this commonwealth from its foundation, defvinp
the most astute effort to designate law discrinna
ting between the two classes and iniuriousy the
rights OF those who claim the rule. furnishes the
| pledge. But # the power Of taxing property be
based exclusively numbers is IL not nlan that the
agrcu!turst below the maintains holds his property
at the viii of the above 1t is known that with
reference 10 their schemes Of improve rnent they levy
taxes freely. Why1 They contribute about one
fourth, we Pay three fourhs: and in the disbursement
they take threc-fourths and leave us one VIII Won
give them this perpicnns power is the great gies-
ton you are now called upon to decide. Our brethren
Of the Rorth claim through the tariff protection
Tor telT mapufactufeour state brethren nf the yes
that their country be improved And with view
to this end seek TO place the power to tax in those WHO
90 not pay. The country Of the mountains has
suffered lnucl-aml If the designs developing be
executed, must suffer from cir twofpd action
regard the bill Of rights Of Virginia rs the GRAND
depository Q? tiie best principles Of government, and
as The invaluable Legacy OF the purcst patriots. tits
expedient think that the legislative power should be
in two bOdes-The one sufficiently numerous and
not more than sufficiently 90 know and 70 be KIN OWN
by the people; The other humorous erorgh % So
cure 70 It's DELIBERATIONS, caution, Wisdoa and rcg-
pectabty Under the operation OF this principle
the one house should consst of 90 OF 100 members
tire other 80 10.
II is not right is u1saa thu: the Iarislative or
any other functiOnaries Of the government, should
have authority 20 increase during their continuance
In oihce, theDspwn official ennuments Plie indie
pendence Of the judiciary ls with me cardinal point
in government. II IS equally important thot Judges
be responsible. Their Independence is essential to
the protection Of the rights Of persons and property
as well agninst the attacks Of unconstitutional
legislation, Of private force and frand Judicial
responsibility, Is neceesarv 10 secure business doing
character TO tho body, without which hcy constitute
an mtolerable grievance. incline strongly w the
opinion, that the desired independence and account
ability will be secured by periodical elections by tire
legislature recurring OF long intervals; and by crea-
ing ana hHng some where, nat too remote, power
10 remove Judge for rnsuses or nonuscs Of Office
as TO another and most important class Of iudicn,
officers, The justices % the peace I'm dccisvcl, Of
opinion that they should not possess the power Of
pcrpetualing their own power. BY what means this
shall be done do not feel assured ~ M present
advised, prefer the plan suggested by Mr. JocTrou
II IS principle that the lcgisativc judicial and
executive departments ofthe government be- distinct
The union ~ so many powers e. ihc persons of the
ncticns ofthe peace contrary tOths prncirlo is IN
evil which may be corrected.
~ tothe executive branch of'iic government there
IS out little difference Of opinion. Nnost alI agree
ihot lts powers should be exercised by n governor
iic11 0V irv advisers ord fbef ~, cyrrgffvr c,rr