Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-04-10
WINcnEsrER, March .25th,


WiNcHEsrER, March 25tf,, 1926
e" htessrs: billidm Bywaters, Joseph Hack
1lsy Wit!idm Lyn", and Josiah Locknart.
GENTLEMEN Your favour o! the Odd Inst
was received by the mail of Yesterday Repre .
scnting, you do, highly respec table norton Of
the citizens OF Frederick county, am bound by a
sense oil duty TO give prompt frank reply to your
nterrogatories the several subjects ,pon yvhef,
you ask The explicit avowal Of my opinions 4
presume this call proceeds from my name bavip,f
been announced IN the public prints az one of four
individuals who would be supported as representa-
tves Of This Senatorial District in the Conyenfiop
10 alter and reform the Constitution of this Com
Donwealih, appointed TO meet at Richmond in Oct
next. This annupciatiou was not at my request or
with my knowledge However gratifying 10 any
individual II might be, to be selected by his fellow
citizens to discharge 30 distinguished and resr,oo.
sibfe trust, IL is station that have thought and
sill think, it would be unbecoming to solicit, bu.
objectionable TO decline. The object is certaiDIv
oil vital Importance, not only to the present gcneI
alton, but TO those who To succeed US; and my
most anxious wish is. that so high trust NAV he
ooniided 10 tho best intelligence, the coolest de.
iiboration' and the most approved integrity tho
y in view. the people Of Virginia have every ,hinr,
10 hope and nothing to fear from the result II IL
upwards Of twelve years since my opinions ,,pon
the necessity OF reform in our State Constitution
were openly expressed and re ously urged lite
subject upon which / have felt strongly g. spoken
freely. thave looked abroad and contrastcs. witt,
feelings OF deep notification, the declining pop,.
fauon3 uie aoFuVe attempts at internal iinproyo-
ment frustrated and defeated by Legislative folk,
and mismanagement--the Ianguishng industry
the paraysed enterprise of my native Siate--yit,,
the growing prospeyity--thc improved sgrjc,tJ.
the admirable facilities Of communicated 81,
roads and cansls--the active industry and capey
enterprise OF our sister States I cosId not resist
the conviction, that this was to be slfibn,-
ell, among minor causes, 10 the radical nper-
ieclions and errors IN form Of government
mainly iInputable 20 the hum hating truth, tha,
we have lived under the coniroul os sectional
minority, encrinbered with powcricss and ex-
peosiye executive, and an Inefficient anJirrespon-
sible judiciary. Correct these evils judiconsty
and thoroughly, and Virginia, renovated, will a.
gain the rank among her sister States that
che originally occupied. With one other preIirr.-
| mary observation, will proceed 10 aVow, explicit
1 ~, my opinions upon The several subjects en-
braced in your commune alton.
! IN framing Constitution, You " III readily pet.
ocivc that detail, TO any great extent, would no
not only nindiciOus, but impracticable. All that
can be expected from the trainers OF the cornpsct
I is, 10 designate several departments into which
! the government is 10 be divided--to assign and
define their respective powers and dniics-9,o pTe.
serbe the tenure OF office, and 10 FIX The time and
manner OF appointment Detail must necessarily
/ I've left to after legislation. In answering your
questions, therefore presume aeneret views
, alone are expected, and not my opinion 10 The
particular manner IN which the delegated poweg ~
OF the several departments are TO be carried in,
execution