Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-04-17
MIR. CASVLEMsN,S LITTER

Lynn, and Joseph Hackney.
GENTLEMEN:-I have received circular address
ed to me, to which your signatures attached de-
slrlng me to dsclose to You land take for granted
through you to others my opinions upon certain in
terrogatorieS therein pronounced.
Not acknowledging nor impelled by the general
authority nrolced by you, but influenced by respect
Tor you as individuals, for that respectable portion
OF my citizens, ,rho haze delegated this trust
or agency to ycl and coucealments are neces-
sars WIN me upon the present any other occa-
slon shall proceed TO answer your queries with as
much perspicuity and precision my humble attain
.nents ana ieted knowledge upon the great subjects
IN question will permit.
In regard to the extension of the right of ,lrare
and the equalization OF representation according to
the free white popuetlon,--tbe amount of your first
ana second mterSlsstnfles,-i bad supposed no
evidence wanting either to YOU or the nublic of
my being III Tasof 6osn propositions ms nv votes
III the legislature upon the convention bill have fully
attested, and to them respectfully refer YOU.
Your third inierrogaory las 10 how far the ;udi-
clary system may be reformed" involves subject
OF the deepest and most intense nterest-one rpon
winch the most virtuous, patriotic aud enlightened
men diifer essentially, and upon which am free to
confess, 1t would require mind of greater research
aud of much practical observation than mine To
give full and satisfactory answer But this much at
least Will say, "the creature should ever be sub-or-
dnate and subject to its CREATOR" that all public Off
GERS IN representative republic like ours, should be
accountable, and return at regular periods to the
''iSSN 0IC~-COnSe-
quently no good reason can be shown why the udi
cary should be exempt from this due Responsibilities
and regular return to the bosom of the communitv
am OF opinion that they (the judges should be ele-
gloie Tor e and elected by the representatives ofhe
people in their Legislative capacity at regular nerods
for term of not less than five nor more than ton
years, with all the liabilities to impeachment that
now exists.
fhis plan, think, would render them sufficiently
independent to ensure equal and impartial disnen
sation of justice. and at the same time subject tbon,
TO Just responsibility There are rnapy who tbinl,
the present chancery court system should he abolish
ed and that new regulation giving to the iudpes of
ne and circuit courts of law chancery juris-
dlctlon, might be substituted. AS for myself never
having been iao STUDENT and but little conversant
with law either IN ITS theory or by practical LITIGATION
am not sufficiently informed, to speak concl1svey
upon that point but believing the present system ex
tremey detectives that in many cases instead of ren
derlng speedy Justice, it causes a deIav of + ond
sometimes really amounts denial of Justice an,
ofoplnlon Understandable remedy should he afIord
ed What that should be, and to what extent carried
requiring much reflection, and Justice to
myself and due respect to the opinions of others
netter qualified to Judge to require that more
time ana observation, than | have vet devoted tn
That branch OF the subject should be had in MAKING
up aecioed OPINION on matter of such Importance
MY amPTeSstoHS, however, according to the ua,t;oJ
ana limited view taken of it, rather incline me Tn he
icve, That no danger can be feared nor seriaus min,
ry incurred, by blending the two courts togetber
ana that much good may result from it; but of this
presume not to speak with certainty Perhans il
We're better the legislature should be empowernd to
provide such change in that respect as their wisdom
and experience may find necessary. TO whose mo-
vince II seems to me, 1t more properly brionrs TO pro-
vide remedy. FN
AS to your fourth and last query s:whetber tho nv
ecutlve and ministerial officers should or NOT bo elo
tea immediately by the people" nv opinion s That
the most important Of them should be so elected bt
IhiiK tlose OF minor Importance should either he an
- tfr IL. 4
ture, or by some other mode which the leoisjoture
may provide.
The present county court system, Notwithstanding,
us many exceences has its defects not only in prac
ice, eut III Its ort:sHizatlon 1t is body having
within itsefa principle of self creation; and in en
respects the members OF are priyileoed IN everc;s
executive judicial and Legislative POWERS, tr,s,
fearful IN its possible and probable consenuences
put whence the appointment of those finctionaries
should be derived it is difficult to devise 40 innIJ
be opposed to seeing our candidates for
JUSTICES electoneering among the people for Office
heir tenure OF office should be similar TO that f
superior court judges and they should be liable 70 tho
same responsibilities " VAC
Having thus frankly given Won INK, b,tr,bo .,5 =;
perfect views upon all the subjects reouircd 7 have
only to add in conclusion, that yorr object in eIc
ting them, has been prompted by an expectation of
my being presented as candidate for seat in tho
conventions such an honor Ut conferTed) would be az
unexpected as uEmerted by me; and knotvino no I
do, my great inadeqacy upon subjects INVOLVING ron
stituiIona law AM Me great responsibility Of that
dlgnlfiod station aspire not to occupy It's and With
dtidenoe shrink from the most distant expectotion
of situation which am free to say, can be filed
with more abtyand usefuInass by others. For the
testimony OF confidence extended to me by the neo
pie, or any portion Of them at any time feel ,rest
y obliged and offer them my grateful thanks. and
upon this occasion beg leave to tender them TO Won
md to such other ofmy friends whose partiatv nav
nave induced your notice ofrne upon this OCCASION
am already candidate for the state legislature and
should meet with success, it ought to satisfy me
and aspire to nothing more at the present. remain
your friend and fell0w-citizen,
WIN. CASTLEMAN, Jr.
FaEDERIcK CoUSTY, April d, 1929. '1'
P. 8. Since writing the above. perceive tina. T
nave not sufficiently defined the limits to which |
YOU'D extend the right Of suffrage, and will upon that
point say, that 1t ought to be extended to ali fre
white men, above the age Of twenty.one. who Ly
loylng ia1es Workinr roads G.c rartini,n.. - ~