Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-05-19
TO BE CoNcLUDED.)
EOu THE Wufn-
rOu THE WING.
70 tie FTeedotders oCthe county Of Bedford

s-s
Fou WING
70 the freedOfders Of tie county of Bed(nrd.
Having the support OF minority of NV COUNTY
for scat III the convention, and foreseeing shall
not have al opportunity for personal communication
with some OF You, take this mode of presenting
90 you some OF the considerations and opinions hy
which shall probably be governed if charged with
the important duty Of taking part in the effort to "a
mend our state constitution.
II elected, l shall avail myself Of all the lights
witch the deliberations of that body NAV produce
W no shall command the purse and WELD the sword?
Is the most important question TO be decided Con
nccted with tlis the Interesting uuesticns-wI,o
shall ENJOY the right of sufrage5 and on what
basis shall representation be fixed? Political
power should be IN responsible hands, and exercised
by those who cannot make q rod for others which
does not affect themselves. agree that the right of
suffrage ought to be extended. Bu. shall the ngr;
cuturists who support the whole community By their
labouss, put to hazard their invaluable rights BY in
Producing partners IN rule who have no Immediate
concern IN protecting the interests OF the tillcr OF
the earth' The of the soil and tie grower of
the crop, have community and peFInanency Of inter-
est giving them right TO suffrage and rule: So have
Il! who by their pursuits in life a.c locally E,s
tened and must renan i'll their places and answer the
calls Of their country upon them. Stopping short of
this, would exclude from political power man. yalu-
able men: Going beyond, would ! think Introduce
great evil. The poorest man vino has this connection
with society, should have the political power as
the richest landhUdcr; because The Door M all is
as dear to him as the rici, mans abundance MANY
talk OF personal rights and derive them from Heaven,
Bat OF what use arc our personal rights, if we NAV
not employ our faculties in the pursuit and enjoyment
Ut property? If numbers be the only basis az r,.lc
what guard have we that those who NAV have The
power, WNot use It without regard to Justice ard
especially to tie prejudice Of the cfvators of Ito
GaFth! GilI they give constitutional sssurances2
" g would not lead them into tcniptatiop II Il ba
asked what guaranty they have tlat their personal
rights will be maintained, the voice of more than half
q century answers the question. The lcrisla'ion
ni tlls commonwealth from its foundations iefyiup
the most astute effort designate law tli:crir,,a
ting between tho two classes and in.uious, 10 tho
rights OF those vino claim the rule furnishes The
pledge But it the power OF tuAing propcltv Or
based exclusively on numbers is it not plain that the
agricutrSt below the mountains holds his nroner,v
at the will Of the men above2 it is known that with
reference TO their schemes of Improvement they levy
taxes freely. Why? They contrittc about one !
fourth, we pay cc-fours and in The disbursement,
they take thrcC-fourths aud leave us one VIM vor
give tIcn this pcrricious power is tho great oncs-
lion you arc now called upon to decide Our p.eliYan
9f the north claim through the tariff protection
Tor thor naHuiacturCsoJT stat brr,rcn Of thr west
that their country he improved; And with a view
10 TINS end seek TO place the power 80 tax in those who
no not pay. The country east Of the mountains buq
suffered much--ard Il the designs now deveouncr bn
executed, must suffer more from their two fold sci2op2
regard the bull OF rights Of Virginia the grand
OF the best principles OF government and
rs the invaluable legacy Of the purcst patriots Its
cxpedcnt think that the Legislature power should be
Ill two bodCs--The one sufficiently nfp,srous ard
not more than sufficiently so to SNOW and be Ln,v,n
by the people, The other numerous c1lonnb tn -a3
cure to its deliberations, caution, wisdom and res
pcctabiiIty Under the operation Of this principle
HE one house should consist OF 90 or 100 ,segbers
.hg other 80 10.
Il is not right is unsafe that the legislative mr.
any other functIonaTIcs Of the government should
have authority to increase during their continuance
n Oihcc, their own official en1olurnents The indie
oendcncc OF the judiciary is with cardinal point
n government. It's equally important that Jndpes
DC responsible Their independence is essential tn
hc protection Of the rights 81 persons and property
Is wei against the attacks or unconstitutional
cgslation, of private force and fraud Judicial
Cspon5iDty, is necessary to secure business doing
haTacter to the body without which they eonsfituts
n mtolcrabe grievance. ] incline strongly TO the
pilon, That the desired Independence ard account
billy VIII he secured by periodical elections by the
legislature recurring at long intervals aU-, bY crea-
ing and h%gg some whcrc MT too remote, power
o remove Judge for rnisuscs or Donuscs Of Office
IS 70 another and most important class Df judicial
'hcers the justices of the peace, dccisive, of
Pinl0n that they should not possess the power Of
heir own power. by what means this
n1l be done do not feel assured. As az present
dyised, prefer the plan suggested ~ Dir. jefferson
IL IS principle that the legislative i1dcia and
XecutIye departments Ofthc gpvcTaRpnt nc distinct
The union OF so maDy powers in the persons Of the
ncticns OF the peace, contrary 20 his principle is an
vii which may be corrected. &
Us tothc executive branch ofiIc government tberoi
but little difference Of opinion. Almost al sgrcc
hat IT'S powers should be cxCrcieed ~ a rovc.nnr
!dod bY ew advisers; and 'hgf lr rrerpso co.n-