Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-12-07


to which he could mot bur take exception. he |
reminded The Committee that he was smenan'r
TO his constituents, and he was held by them
responsible for his acts, and he would no mo-
,hing to forfeit their confidence and eslrcm'
Upon the resolution to abolish the Executive
Council! Mr. LEIGH made some remarks ~
the Con, eu;ion, which we subJoin:
Mr.. LEIGH said he considered the Executive
: Council 20 be one OF the most important noo'es
in The State; and he was sure, that u was not
in order TO entertain the motion OF the gen'ie.
man {, ON Fairfax, because he always preferred
10 decide upon al questions. in comparison
with others. lie referred 10 The propositions
which lad been submitted 10 the Committee
one is. no, to toneh i've principle as II now Is,
hu, only % modify its practie'; and 'hr oth'r
,s 10 enable the Governor tn .rtq"ire the al
vice of lhe grra, "ffi ers OF The Commonwealth
hut not making T. imperative on him 10 do so
These are the questions to comparr. J he ex
,s,.nce ri a Council was recommended 10 MS
mind bv its effect in dividing and rendering
unanimous The patronage OF the department.
Again. il is importlni that IN case OF ''ck"es',
death. or other contingency, there should be
some one 10 communica'e 10 the person who
,uccreds him, The knowledge Of the dries ard
details OF Executive business He migni re-
fer to the experience "f 'he Pr'sen, in' unb"n nj,
for ,upporl of his assertion, that such ADVISER
; as ,hc CouociI afe. TO an "Hitrr Jrs' Entering
on his du,cs, is an essential provision. II
made the same appeal 10 all who had hl1ed IN i,
Or ulbrr responsible "fIi rs. No on" person APP
! poin,ed To succeed another. as Governor, could
oh,oin the competent knowledge oi The details
Of the cfIicc. until Ne could have an oppoftuni
~ Of Informing himself BY exp iiencr. nc
I ,,,;s To- hpp n, py
enc in This Sts,e 81 yrars; we have hfaid The
merits OF ,h- office discussed herr; II has been
exprrieuctd during two wars, III one OF which
This new government went into operation; yei
! in all this time no single abuse OF Executive
power could be pointed OUT, keep. that OF The
burning of TIN few kegs Of damaged powder
Are we then 10 abolish this system, and 10 sdnpt
new one !, vas the very wano SIS OF IN
noya,iop, originating merely In the love OF new
things. He intended nothing of-nsNe hy the
term. But we arc called on TO repudia'e all
the lessons Of experience, end adop' new ard
un,ried scheme. A grr,, t.-al Of abuse has
been lavished on the Council One would sup
pose, from common report, thai they were The
creates, FOOLS. He would not say they were
the ablest men; the compensation did not com.
,nand that elevated talent; although son,r OF
our greatest men have sat IN the Council Bni
the Council are charae erized BY industry and
integrity. He had never but once com 5lainrd
OF their acts; and ha, was waen shey spared
the life Of slave, who was condemned TO die.
Ii was mo- done at the instance Of wealth,
man, but Of a poor slave: and although he hsd
al frs conde mned the act, he subsequently, felt
that he was wrong-"ihe accusing >prit hrw
up 10 H. aven's high chancery with The cha, e.,
Iint The recording angel as he wro'e II down,
dropped tear upon The line, aud blutted it out
forever" He rfpea'ec, that here we have TO
instance OF misrule; we have not a charge Of
misc ondncl; YET we are about to abolish this
Council for new and untried scheme. He
had thought i, righ' TO say thus much in de-
f;nce Of III institution, which he taougbl the
mos important 10 be preserved, except the
RICH, of Suffrage, and subj~ct 10 come on
hpreafer-the county courts. Give him the
plu,al Executive, the county Courts, and the
srffiage IF the yeoma',y, and he would be viii
ling o give up almost all The rest
| The h ResoIu ion Of the Report Of the lie
gi,la'se Committee, being under consideration
on "Wednesday last. Mr.: COOKE moved 10 a.
mend the srcond meu.b Der OF tic said Resolu
| onhy striking out the proyiso (Which disqua-
: e d Ministers of the Gospel from being cleo,
d 10 Ike l. aislature.)
| Mn. RANDOLPH sa,d:
TO me his Is most unlocked for PROPOSE
ion. There is no, one single article in nv
political creed, aLuut which have not great
disposition 10 doub', han IF he proprie,y #
| excluding class "f men, drdies'ed 10 h. Of.
6ce OF Religion, from the posse ssron Of political
power. 4 gentleman told Us, that bu, for the
insertion Of lint proviso in the Consli, ion he
should he Tor excluding them from the Iegis.
| laturr. I would much rather vote 10 strike out
| tire whole, aud to leave thu Constitution a. il
now stands, and for his plain reason: am.
| a"d have ben, and ever shall be practical
man; and when mce' with legislative provi-
.ions OF this kind. rather smile al the fears
which dictated them. than appl.ud The caution
they exhibit. The Constitution is inst as saf.
without, as with them The legislature ofVir
GINA cannot, and II II could i, dare not, at,rm2
Sur 4, Ia Il .tin f,ch