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

Of al tine officers ealt With the excep
ton of consables sheriff is the last he allow 20 be
Scarcely any officers Of low rank who have e
influence and who exercise it peicousy tho con.
system OF packing jures Our sister
duced this mode of election; and lawyers years ago told
him that II most Injurious lie who embraces : wauon
soon fose,s the difference between wantonness and otesty
He knew not whether such the Maryland the
sheriifs.
Mr. NayLoR said tina, he something OF the psac,:ce in
never knew or heard of the evils such had pointed
b the gentleman from Chesterfield, existing iiefc In fact
he did how they exist for the sheriff there before
tile sitting of forty. eight men qualified 10
serve jurors, and who during the whole court Al the
trial OF every cause the of those persons
upon separate tickets thrown into bon o.t Of
which the clerk draws by lot constitute the y To
the So that tho sheriff before the sii,ny Of
the court should summon the whole forty eigh, will, an eve to
some particular cause. (Which prcsumedA there can
be no such packing of ries to our own system of
selecting jues, among other good things which he did hope
would sub from this Convention, would be the removal of
that ahoina'ion in the administration justicc for il goes
upon the unounded presumption there are at all times to
he found in the yard during sitting of the court, twelve
menwho are competent and fit to be determining
every cause trial. in which NAV be Involved
the whole estate the character citizens Interested in
noe causes And as to men il, Office pursuing with hostility
those mo have voted against them, hoped tina, high
example OF that kind viii remain solitary one not to be re-
eated nor followed by those in the humber walks of life
knowing or believing II TO be the desire Iane norton OF
those citizens whom have the honor in part represent, that
Tins alteration should he made in the Constitution and witt,
whom 10 heartily ccncui, have heretofore urrcd AS
no iSit duty do
Mt Gus said he did no, think the remedy PROF oed would
Cocc' c evi; and therefore he DESTROYS the
people from the trouble OF elecns, where could
result lie referred to the Of the Judiciary Committee
on the subject or County Courts He referred 10 tie OPINIONS
OF Mr. Jeicson that our Legislature deposn Ifso
was the most blessed dc$po,ism that ever existed He sa;d
The allegation was strange, that had almost deprived him
o, ms senses ANA we are srsvey called defend ess
t"e rom mat charge lie contcndcd that the sbcrIv is
the only compensation which the county magistrates receive
He iey are ,e most useful body of men in tic Commonwealth
Again, 'e sheris arc no cost the Commonwealth and
y" have complete syschof OF Justice vInu,
~ uc o''h"nwea,n cent lie estimated the number
OF magistrates at from 1000 10 1000 If arc to int reduce
new system, Will lead system of corruption The pcscn,
YOU adopt the system oNsryund Justice Of the
constable, may so Through the county, and make the
have conception. " N 00o'
Line amenicn. was then carried in the Affirmative aud the
| rhe Committee then rose, and reported progress
lac Convection then adjourned ill IL O'Clock 70 morrow.
SATURDAY, November &c.
lAe convention resolved itself into Committee of
the whole, MIR. I. p. Barbour in the Chair
:, Inc committee then proceeded to consider the
Executive report.
Mr.. MERCER moved that the Commit % oo y, c,,
TO the third resolution, which reads
"Ifesoired, hat the Executive Council as at prs-
sent organized, ought to be abolished and that il is
ineXFeurnt to provide any Der Executive Council
! Mr.. Mason moved, as the gentleman from R ;cb-
nlond (Nlr. Nchoas) was absent, that the resolution
be passed by.
The 9th and 7ih resolutions were then passed Inv
|
olution. which reads:
"ReS"f0ed, that no pardons shall be granted in
any case until after conviction or Judgment"
ar. Doppn : sand he should be happy to hear
the reason which had induced the adoption of this
resolution, as constitutional provision.
MIR MORGAN said it thought that the Eyacu
tive ought to be restrained from granting u pardon
without sufficient investigations and rcfnrred fo tho
British act of Parliament.
lr. DoDDRInGE said the reasons were not 10 him
SATISFACTORY. tic was aware of the evidence of the
act OF Parliament which had been referred to by the
gentleman. lie suggested that in cuses of dance
rous tuInus, combinations of men, the eycrcis.
ofhe power of Idon before conviction is sometimes
Indispensable to the ends of justice. He said that
there Could be danger entrustiup this power m
out the clause. " '''i"e
Mr. iaoaa -AN said he did not know that it was i'm
P9i'at Whether The clause should be aimed or not
ne sald IL must be within the knowledge of the Com
nlttee That abuses had been practiscd on Tho n
states; Governor had pardpned his own son. Ho
knew That there might be cases. where the ntorfcr
e'ce OF 'he Executive to prevent trials, NAV be i'm
enquiry: 0''D''e''
Mr.. DoDDRrDCE said, admitting that as = oener,1
rule, the power of pardoning before conviction cnbt
not to be given. He instanced the case of Tho W.
Tern lhsirrectlon when thousands were putv of
treason, Many of them accepted Il amnesty offer
Gu ny PRESIDENT Washington, and thus the evil was
checkea' and the Attorney General was not called
on, IN the words OF an English ATTORNEY Gonoai -,
present bill Of Indictment AGAINST ,ybol ai' 70
III the case or rebellion in the state and tho aun
preston oft by the military power of Viroine ma
thousands were involved, it might be NECESSARY ~
publish an amnesty for the public peace He thoobt
II Woud be bettert TO leave it to the discretion Glib
Legislature. avn Vi 'ie
phe amendment was then agreed to, and the res
ION rejected. 0 teo
Mr. MASON, (Alr Nicholas beingin his seat. mo.
Vedto take up the Sd resolution, as follows:
ResoIo'd, That the Executive Council as nt nree
ent organized, ought to be abolished and that il i;
me%Pedient 10 provide any other Executive Council
VI. HENDEasoN asked tor division of the cues.
The CHAIR reminded the gentleman that No ,,,o-
tpn would be taken on the resolution in the Con-
mittee " VIZ Oo"l-
Mr.. Nicholas moved to amend the resolution Nv
striking out all after the word Resoved" and nser
ting the words ~
D.