Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-04-24

for a eeat in the Convention, even il ! though,
myselS as :" en,inens:y qualified by talents and eY-
Periencc TO aid IN the great WORK of REFORM av
IN your kinouesa towards me, you seem 10 think.
mot because there is any Just ground for ex-
Guiding Judge, morS1ban any other person iron,
joining In deliberaiion upon the important sub,
iects which must necessarily HDnpe before the
Convention; but because woi ot voluntarily
seek TO expose my aetiona 70 The mputation CT
improper motives On the. contrary, consider
that Judge or other pereon. considerable rart
Constitution and Of the lavs Of n as they
have been and now are, would be- cry proper
person to advise with, ~ totthe operation q Dks
present system Of lave, and the probable operation
But neither he, nor any other perspn, ought aohe
trusted upon an occasion, 90 eventfuI 10 the future
interest and happiness Of the community, without
.ne utmost confidence " his integrity and potrioS
You and the other gentlemen, whose names are
associated with yours, in the letter which i have
received, have expressed that confidence wards
me;-and believing that no person. will vote for
me, without feeling the like confidence. Ihave
no hesitation in saying that, il elected, ] shall
willingly and faithfully serve the people In the
approaching Convention. according to the best Of
my abilities. will add without aiiectariop, that
have no belief that possess the capacity which
me Partially OF some Of my friends, including
yourself attribute to me, OF rendering traordi-
nary ana 70 the deliberations in which the Eonven
non vii! be necessarily engaged. ~
s'Our present Constitution. with the system ci
Government which II pre- scribes has been institute
cd for more than half century, il is evidently
the work oil mitch. wisdom and patriotism. 4
have habitually regarded it with great reverence
u Is associated in my mind, with the glory and
lame OF our ancestors, who achieved the mighty.
deed OF American Independence, 81 gave liberty 10
a new world should depart from any OF It's
preceps with much reluctance and cautious cir
cumspection; yetit is but the work Of man, never
10 all things perfect; made at time requiring ac-
tion' and iorbdding. long deliberaton, for State
n M
present, and for a community which, in man.
important respects, has changed It's relations -.
However wise and good. therefore, il might have
been at its original institution. IL haa ceased in
some respects, to bSsuted to the present condition
OF this generation; and in those respects, ought; 20
be reformed. q.
imagine tina. few, if any, think that the gen.
eral principles Of rights and of government as.
serted in the Bin Of Rights, and recognised ifte
present Constitution. ought TO be- abandoned. II
Is new modification of the practical application
Ok those principles, which is demanded MANY
separate and individual opinions exist as TO there
forms which are necessary, and to new proyi-
sions, which ought TO be introduced. Reform.
according to any OF these opinions, will more or
isss Affect the Judiciary, Executive and legisIa-
tive departments Of government, and that article
OF the present Constitution which limits tie rsh:
Of suffrage.
With sespect to tho Judticary--E should rot APP
prove OF any system which would render; tie
Judges dependant, in the tenure Of their Offices.
upon the favour OF any man, or set Of men, what
ever. Few men have virtue SO ihfjexible ai,A
integrity 80 invincibie, as upon all occasions 10 he
superior to temptation. and TO the influence of se
interest All motive, therefore, should be remoc-
ed from the Judge, which might possibly induce
n'm 10 decide one way or another, except ira.
wnicn inc law and justice Of each case SHOULD
prescribe. But the. Judge should nevertheless
be practically responsible to the People for COCO
conduct in the discharge OF the duties of his cfce
and when permanent disability to discharge those
duties. should occur, without misbehavior on
the Fart OF the ,Judge ot1ifa e;o
10 be prescribed, SO that" justice should not be-
hndered nor delayed" bu, he who seeks fo-
perfection in Judge, and expects TO find him Tree
from the casualties and accidents i'm dent IN ntha
men, will seek in vain.
Ihe wisdom and experience of this Convention
Will no doubt enable il to make proper Consti,.
onai provisions in relation TO this subject. Shoui,
be member, shall faithfully contribute what
ever little aid it may be in my power 10 AFFORD
The new Constitution will be made, not for me b,,
ior my native country and for poserity. DO nor
think 1t proper now, to pledge myseif TO any par
tIcular provisions, in detail, on this subject
should thereby exclude myself from the beneit
Oh the experience and wisdom Of NOSE able frer.
and might excite expectations which ought not 10
be realized.
The executive .Depaytn,en, as now cortaitufed
was evidently ordained with a view TO a condition
OF public affairs, and TO relations Of the Common.
wealth, which do not now exist, HwilI, no doubt.
be reformed. should approve Of an Executive or.
sanized upon plain and economical psinc pies with
ample power toe1ecute. the laws effltienily; bin,
WIN hitIe patronage, and no means of eppfGssine
any individual member OF the couinuDify
The Legislative body might be redcce ed in MIN =
Der, no doubt beDehcially, both in relation 10
economy and the dispatch Of public business. BIZ.
the extent OF this reduction, must depend unonq
The concuPring opinion Of the several parts of f,e
commonwealth; and Upon proper aud equal an
poruonment OF representation, as to provide "a
wen as possible, that no part be subject TO NV
equal burtbens by taxation or otherwise Lex
peer 1t VIII be difficult to adjust thi. subject to the
M oil. n L.
aet upon 1t, being representative oS one patt oS
TIE Commonwealth should not expect TO be abin-
to dictate TO the other parts, or TO any Of ,bern
out should carry with him disposition candisfs,
10 consider the interest Of each and everv 49,
and 10 accept that which should sppear cacuIatsJ,
10 promote the general good of oil The right ri
Suffrage ~ connected with this subject -
ne right OF suffrage, az regulated by the pIc
gent constitution, has been source Of unceasite.
complaint Tor many years. Az the irnproyidan1
legislation Of The State has been attributed 10 IL
MaDy Imaginary evils, as well az benefits <feier
req, have been ascrlhsd 10 il. But l think ths
evils, IT any, have bse8 fnagnified; and feaf
that the benefits anticipated from an enIartemen,-
OF The right ofsufrage, far the public IL c6n
cerned. may not be realized On the other baD,p
am inclined TO think, that tao fears Of those
who have been opposed 10 Coryeniiop geper,f
ly on the ground, that The present Coyefnfnen,
though not perfect, was too good to hazard for he
oretiral perfection, and that The extension of ~
right OF suffrage would tend 10 Impair tho r;cL,
ana security OF property, may prove TO be rronnS
iess-if tho right OF suffrage be extended NM 80,
udiciousIy limited according, 20 the BIZ Of Is;eb,.
10 those only, who can give sufficient evidsncs
OF permanent, common interest ,rfib and attach