Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-03

Siouu De 'airiy tested tic did not want splcndi
EoVcrnhcHi--a splendid Executive, bnt he desire
one who Should be- elected by the people He knc,
NOT why the people coGd not eject tho Governor
1t required no recondIte studios. 1t was only neco
sa Tor them to determine whether the man present
ed to them is q, person for the Governor us 70 On
pacity. standing, &c. The people ere to decide IN
question; aud Ii his fame has reached the peopIf
he is not fit to he the Governor. Any man who I'm
arrived at proper age" and who has performed grea
PUBLIC services. will be known to the people III
people vii thus kRye the knowledge which is r,cu;
site. Have they then tho wilp
lie would call attention 10 the practice OF Nh
lotheT States Eighteen s: atrs choose their C,yorn
ioe by Tn" people; while the others choose throur
tine MEDIUM o others. III did not reic To the cars,
pursued IN other States, authority. Fc discisin
cd such idea--he would almost say, he distianei i,
iie merely gave the fact for wl,nt il WAS worth IL
"dveFted to the principles which, separate and dis
t!hct depR.i ments established. The r.cat priy,
cipic was to constitute them. so that ti,ny should h
Immediately responsible to the ponpl"-''icir con.
g .r constituents. he advrrte' to the opinion o
MT Jefferson which had becn auo,ed bv the gentle
man IF IN Brooke lie quoted ono eZirect tron, ,l
4dh plumber Of the Fcderalis, to support his views
re ne further qao'ed nj cStrac: from Mr. Jefferson
votes winch Notes we're prepared by Mr. Jefferson
the very year after he was the 6 " .rnor OF this
S'a'e. The gentleman on the other side sav-Shew
US abuses-Let US hear thn: these things are don.
now lie would reply tiatil was niuc lecoeoustos,,
such things were done then, than that they are done
now or haze cn done within the last enht or tel
years. sir. jefferson said that the Governor wu,
hnhLually contributed bY the Legislature. Did an,
one dSuht the veracty OF Mr.. Jefferson He knew
rs well as any for he had been the thing ac,ct
on. We are told that the people do not l5-ny: NH,
| IS their Governor. They are not even disturbe,
from their sunbers, and their beatifc visions BIZ thu
enumeration of the fact that they have Governor
lie desired that they shorld know that they have ,
Governor, and that they should feel IT, not bv the cas-
'igatinns they receive, bu that they should know on
feel u III rational way.
lie reminded the Committee that in 1910, the poo
| - an ntf . ,1 II
to create dlctaior, and again in the year l70l.-
In The last instance it required :,ut few votes t.
cothe one MIN with all powers, extending avcn to
HE and dcith Her FRED - Ieff.rson's notes io,
That FAC Does any one doubt the patriotism o.
the Legislature of that period. He presumed i,
was considered necessary, in consequence CT che
iin5'city of the Governor He referred TO the
irngmagc OF one g,ntleman that there speck
visible in The political horizon. and That the i:,ne
may arrive. when Virginia will be compelled to take
sand IN defence OF her siation, n t:ie ranl:
OF states Is 'hcn in the prospect of such tat" O.
things, that are to have a weak and i'm ,cc;,.
Executive forced upon u? He wished one who
would have rig; with, and enjoy the confidence
! of The government.
He read an extract from the 5ist nur2bcr OF the
Fedcraist, in which it was laid down that the mem
bers OF the one branchoi the cover nent should ha
as little as possible to do with the appointment
of the other lie believed that he lertimaie object q
the legislature is lcgsiation that for this pm pos
that branch vas !created, and that its attention
onght 10 be limited 10 thnae purposes for which
was created. BY Dves'i ing the Legislature with Tn
! power of electing the Executive. you lead then
away from legitimate functions. to perform ihos,
which not properly theirs. Ii they flithfull,
perform their own duties they deserve we'll OF thc
country
II had been said the reference of the election o.
tIovcrner to the people, could only agita.c them -
He, as orc of the people. desired such agitation. II
thought vas an agitation of Wholesome character
and not q deeterolis one. It induces the people t.
gnard their rights, and leads them to those exercise
OF their Judgment which must result iii their owl
moral ana political elevation. It was remarked thu
other day that there ought to be Il jraousy main
tanned by the people. He believed that they 0ugh
to be jealous Of their rulers, fur as becoming
vigilance ana iivity, operating q check upon
those who invested by them with nuthoriiy.-
fIe again referred to the Fcdcralis TO sustain hin
this assertion.
! He was not disposed TO add much to these occa
sions. The gentleman from Eichrnond, when b.
followed, was very tenacious Of the EyccutiIr
Council; considered them as very Vise and eff
cient. lie was struck with The warmth OF the gen
| tleman in defence of these ancient institutions
which amounted TO even prejudice. 1t was said b
the gentleman, that the Heads of Departments nYl
not be competent to advise. Was not the prcsei
Attorney General, aud the present Auditor compe
tent?
Mr. Nicholas explained that he lad no Del
sonal reference. He had not named The Attorne
General, nor had ne any idea OF nputing TO thcl
any incapacity.
Mr.. HENDERSON said tho present Attorney Gene
raj was very compctent-and was the late Alto
ney General If the gentleman would ALLOW it. I
had been asked if we would put the life Of anv ci;
convicted of crime into Tic hands of any one maj
Would 1t not be competent for US to require Of IL
Governor, to take advice in the case Of fife, al
death: Woud it not DC competent to crcate
council Of 8, or n
We arc told, that tie people do now elect Il
Govcrnor--qaifacitp per alum, facitper sc. We mail
tain however that the people should not elect the
Govcghor indirectly, not by agents, when they ca
- h. T. I,o-o
red, aud determined, far as His vote would go In
the people should elect their Chief Magistrate.
the people right in shcir election Of basis, tie
can elect correctly. If they arc to b. wrorgcd
that basis, make them attonement for the wrop
by giving them the election OF the Governor.
tie had been sustained, throughout his rcnnTi
by the authorities Of vencrabic names. If called
to compete with the energetic able, graceful orato
$ Who has called on us for reasons alone, he mig
well despair, but backed by namcs once respcctc
and he hoped respected still be hoped that ne shou