Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-10

their Governor tits so in New York-IIe who is for
the Governor is sure TO get the vote of all other Officers
i'm the County Is the nvarabe result But these
not all the consequences that must ensue. by whom is
the election Of Governor TO be made. by majority Of
the Peope' only by plurality If it be said, by a
majority. ask whether, il the People TO be left
wholly TO themselves in this matter, in empire
wide this Commonwealth. aud with little
intercourse between its opposite extremities, any
man can believe it possible that the People will
ever elect Governor at alp On this plan there
would be twenty-five candidates at the least; soue
leading man is best known TO each district Of the
State; and the People, left to themselves will natural
" vote for him; there will be as many candidates a.
there Districts, il not more, md there will he
| election. Then. suppose are to adopt the New
England Practice and turn them back the People till
they shall give one the majority. But in the mean
while, the period will have elapsed Tor which he was
to have served. You will never unite majority of all
the Peoplc Of Vrsiria any one candidate In that
time. But TO guard against this diff cultv you cay that
| plurality shall elect What them There will be
diversity Of votes, and the largest and united
in the state (Which that IL, do not know) will re-
guarly and invariably give Governor to the Common
wealth. Whichever course you pursue you will come
to the same result You must ether get a Governor
who IL not known to the People, or a Governor APP
pointed by small minority OF the people remedy will
be brought Tor |ich dilemma, and what will il be,-
The members OF the Legislature will convene in this
Hail. and here they will hold a CAUCUS 10 make a no.
mination Of Governor
IL will happen from tie necessity Of the case Then
what becomes Of the Gentl,man's principle, In its
place you will Introduce the odious caucus system in
all its vigour, here at the seat of Government and
then, you have election, by the people, hut by
majority OF the members Of the Legislature not APP
pointed the task and wholly irresponsible for the man.
ner In which they perform it, Is IL not better once,
and openly to call upon IN. members TO vote for the
Governor. and hold them responsible for their ac!
For this reason II that the wise framers of your
Constitution gave the election TO the Legsture-It il
better than to give ii to the People directly who can
have little personal information as to the
merits OF candidates, and who make no choice by
majority for long pc6iod Of time who if eiectiny
by plurality, will be thrown into the hands of eau.
Something was said about the erpense of this ee
we were told to cost g 200 Bat has the gen
teman calculated the expense of giving the election TO
the People? Tie loss that must sustained by Them in
order to perform the task Will $1,000 or IL 0OO cover
this? H this element he has not considered Doe.
he think 1t costs nothing call out all the People OF VA
to their Court houses some ten dozen times in the
course of two years! On the score of economv then
| the matter is much better as il now stands
am opposed to frequently converting the People in
any other manner than is at present provided nv the
Constitution. Nothing il more likely to ,s.aisfy the
People themselves than 10 harrass them i'm this vov
We know that even now whatever their disposition
may he some special occasion, but compara,iveiv
few attend at our elections Get them TO beg gin neg
Letting 10 attend the election OF Governor and Won will
have them neglecting the elections of members OF
their Legi laturc; the most calamous event in nv
judgment, of any that can beal the Commonwe...h
These are the reasons for which prefer the mode OF
ee ction provide by the Constitution; or rather
that which will be provided il OF the principles be
finally adopted which has received the sanction be-
ieve, OF all, nearly all the members of this Commit,
tee viz that all the Elections shall be held rira poce
Suffer me- here, one OF the arguments Of the
gentleman which he grounded the fear that in the
Legislature there will be int oduced system of Log.
rolling, as II has been expressivey termed Let me
remind the gentleman that there is to be no ballot boz
each member will have TO record his vote with,
his name to them. His Constituents will know how
he has acted and he will have TO explain when
he returns to them. This will be a great
improvement in the election of Governor. The
people will still elect him, bn not by irresponsible
Il.a ftf,,tin ,yill
act openly pun under the eye of those tho an
pointed him. Bat the choice Immediately by the peo.
pie, will be injurious in its effect TO the people them
A selves.
One word on the other branch of his argument:
mean that part OF II relating TO patronage In modern
times the practical business Of Government
hned principally to two subjects, which absorb all its
actual power; these are, revenue and PATRONAGE I,
has been said by OF the wisest of
times, that g the revenue OF nation is the nation "
~ concur in this sentiment: and next, after revenue
comes patronage. In a Republican Government moth
ing so important frat TO reduce the amount OF lie
patronage, and then TO divide the power shat re-
mains The wise trainers of Constitution hit up-
on The mode ofdong this They gave to the County
Courts large share OF the patronage of this Com,non
wealth; they gave anoher large share TO the Legisla
tire and then they allowed the Executive the rest
The e!'cct has been most happy: There has not been
IN the course OF 81 years, single case al least nv
collection does not now supply with single case
OF general excitement in the choice OF our Governor
There mas been no caucus;oo log rolling The reason s
the Executive has not enjoyed much PATRONAGE But
CLONE the Executive power with the patronage cf the
state, and you Introduce conctins princinI.s
which it will be impossible to CONTROL and which will
have the most dangerous consequences So far from
regarding the second member in the gcntleman's NJ
as any recommendation TO IL, consider il the most oh
jectonable feature Of the whole. Let the patronage
oil the ) ate remain as IL il, and it will produce only
good results; but increase it, as is promised and van
make the Office OF Governor desirable that Won will
have cabals and commoiion throughout the Commu-
nifty.
These are the reasons why am oppos ed 10 those two
no nfIauta me- AL.
stricken out all the residue will be found TO have bee
provided Tor in the report of the Executive Committee
Mr.. WILSON required that the question he taken an
The several resolutions of Mr. POWELL seriafin "a he
was in favour Of some and opposed 10 others of them
Mr. STANARD called first for division of the oues tion
| TO strike ont and insert.
II was so divided accordingly: AID ION the o,estj IN 10
strike out the resolutions Of the Executive
as already amended previously to the Offering Of Mr.
PowePs substitute the vote stood ayes 81: which he
ing minority, the motion 10 strike out was last
so The committee decided not to prefer Mr. PowELL's
| substitute.
| (Mr. Madison voted aye)
| MIR. DoDDRIDGE now moved farther 10 amend The
report Of the Executive Committee as folIow.:
"That the Governor be elected by the persons ouaI
he'd TO vote for members Of the House OF Delegaes n,
the several times and places appointed to hold cleo.
tons for members OF the General Assembly. The Co.
vernon shall hold his office for - wears and after
the expiration Of his time shall be ineIisible Tor -
years"
And the question bring striking out and jnsertoc
Mr.. FITzHUGH said, that the report of the commit,
zee mad been amended on his motion. The opniops he
had then expressed, he held stills if the Cons,i,uiio,
was to be so framed that the election of Goyernor b,,
the Legislature would be fair expression Of The ,vii
wards independent Of The Legislature he ~ ould he
IN favour OF his election by that BODY He tboup n, be