Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-04-21

/ Is truly iamentable 10 sec % many OF our self
constituted guides and guardians acting the part
| II tanners, rather than the "xtngushers Of the
nanes-ln my humble judgment, there is nothing
n the whole range Of causes calculated to excite
'@ose angry, distractng animosities, which ara 20
'nimicai to discreet, judicious exeecise Of the
! elective franchise. that would more cfiectusly
rouse those passions into mischievous action, than
| the revival OF the unhappy topics of dissenion,
\ which have been exasp-fating and maddening
our whole country for tho last tour or Eve wears.
Il would as certainly, think. prevent the forma-
ton OF an allie Convention, as If body of armed
men were to march to the Polls of each county
ard at the point OF the bayonet, compel tie people
70 vote for whom they please. If the circum-
stance OF every virginian's being, what has pery
properly been called, Jackson oran Adams mar.
or opposed to both, is fl or to unfi. him Tor our
State Convention, then can only pray, that the
God oil Nat,ontmay protect our unhappy SIets by
some special interference of his Providence; for,
toshonf tis. we shall, in every political point Of
view, be irretrcvaby lost. But, surely the good
people OF Virginia canno,-wili not--be 50 reck.
less OF their best and dearest interests. as to per-
NIT any such influences To operate upon this mo-
| mentous concern.
| Possibly, gentleman, may entirely rnisunder-
stand the object of Your second query. If do,
i6ncere'y beg your pardon. and entreat you TO
ascrbe 1t to any other cause, rather than to the
slightest wish to msrepresent you, or any body
else will, therefore, proceed 10 answer. that I
hid not exercise my right of suffrage at the last
Presidcn Election. But il was solely because
could not conscientiously vote for either of the
only two candidates offered to the people, out. OF
our thirteen fourteen millions OF citizens; AM,
because our electoral Law is such, that could not
make out a legal ticket for myself;-my knowledge
OF the people OF Virginia not being extensive
enough 10 enable me to name a sufficient number
OF qualified electors of my way of thinkiug--liy-
ing in the several electoral districts,-t form a
ucketof my own, or i! certainly would have been
done, at least, in my own case. To have requir-
ed me TO rofe, when conscience forbad IL, for Ell
Tier Of the only two candidates for which leg al
ticket could he made out, would have been an in-
| hniteiy worse limitation OF the right of suffrage
,han The Constitution Of Virginia. or of any other
State, ever contained. II would have been a ty-
ranny equal to the very worst religious test act of
Great Britain, and founded on precisely the same
| preteA;.
In conclusion. permit ma to add, that my OPT
mons on the Presidential Election were never
concealed; oh the contrary, they have been SO
often, and publicly proclaimed, as 10 expose me-
iear-with some at least-to the imputaton OF
being unnecessarily obtrusive in declaring them
remain Gentlemen,
| Your Friend and Fellow citizen,
| JAMES NJ. ,GARNETT.
Essex, April 18th, 1929.
COMMUNICATED.
CHESTERFIELD, April IL, 1929.
! SIR: A number of the ireeholders of the coun-
/ yof Chesterfield, being DESTROYS to avail them
| COntemplat-
ed Convention, if they can do so, without
| requiring, by superadding the duties of
Governor those Of member of that body, too
great sacrifice, on your part, of health and
comtort,-requested us on Monday last, our Court
day, TO consult you in person that subject They
desire public benefit, whilst they would not in
fiict personal injury Permit MS, theref fore in
their name and behalf TO ask the information they
desire.
lie assured, Sir, that il is in no idle or wanton
spirit that we would make alluson TO your afiiic
| tons mind like yours must Immediately ap-
prehend the propriety Of communica alton like this
seeking information. having direct bearing upop
the great subject Of constitutional reform In
such case, common rurnour should not he suffer-
ed TO exaggerate, nor false delicacy to conceal.
the truth. lis desired, of course, 10 make public
| any answer yon may make TO this note.
] Accept sir, assurances OF the high considera.
| ton of your most obd't serv'ts
BENZ. GooDE.
| THOS. L. BURFOOT.
His Excei!ency, VIM. b. GILES.
| RICHMOND, April 10, 1929.
Ben)dmtn Goode, and Thomas E. Buyfoof
Esgttires.
| GENTLEMEN-ln reply TO The note, in beh af
OF number of the Freeholders Of Chesterfield
| which you did me the honor of presenting in mar
son, on Saturday last, now take pleasure in stat
ing TO you, with all the frankness, and candor call
ed for by the peculiarly important occasion:
| That as to the inquiry made in their behalf, re-
speeding any sacrifice Of health and comfort on
OF, those OF member Of the conte mplated Con.
vention, and expressing their desire Of availing
themselves OF my public services, without infict-
ing personal injury, / only say-that am
! not sensible Of any ncompatbility in the per-
| formance Of the duties of Governor, and those Of
member Of the Convention; ard that so far az
regards my own health and comfort thew would
be materially improved i'm one important respect,
arising from my fixed residence here for the pur-
pose OF discharging the duties Of my present sta
tion--being row surrounded with the pleasure
comfort and assistance of my own family; of
which, should be necessarily deprived but for
mat circumstance. In regard to their kind in
quries into the state Of my health be assured
gentlemen, so far from impufing il to wanton'
spirit, in making illusions 10 my personal afflic-
tons, concur perfectly with them in the proprie-
| W oil the call. under existing circumstances; and
SO tar from wishing to conceal the truth in rela-
ten to this, or any other circumstance whatever
nothing could be more gratifying to nae, than to
exhibit the whole truth all occasions for the
purpose OF doing away the Injurious effects all
ways attendant upon tho substitution of false ru-
mours, for the real state of facts. You must he
sensible, however, Gentlemen, that il would he
presuInPtuous vanity in me, even to attempt TO
calculate upon what may be the condition of INV
health, on the first of October next Nor cou,d
the stoutest amongst w., offer any certain guarap-
tee Tor the condition Of his own, at that period -
This matter, then. must be left solely TO the mys
FERROUS disPeDsations Of an aIi-wise inscrutabJe
Providence. In the absence of all certainty in
this respect probabilities only can he re sorted TO:
ann IN relation 10 them, l can only state, that
| have been for a number of years Iabourjne under
severe personal Affections which have rnaferiaiv