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

strength it is hoped he will be able his seat
| The House then went into Committee Of the Whole
Mr. p p. Barbour in the Chair. and took up IN, Report
Of the Executive Committee. (,he discussion OH which,
occupied the residue OF the day
When this Report last Under consider ion, the
LIST RESOLUTION had been proposed TO he anne nded by
Mr. Do9pRiDGE, 20 as 10 declare, that the Governor
should be elected by the qualified voters Of tn. Com
nonwcaith, entitled to vote for the ,no.t hume rous
branch Of the Legislature; that he should hold hi. Of
hee Tor three years, and then be Ineligible for years
more.
But Mr.. ID. had consented. that Mr.. POWELL should
first offer Substitute for the 1t Resolution the FOL.
Resoiued, That the Executive department tho ex.
i'ng form OF government ought to be amended as fol-
Sec. 1. The Executive power shall be vested in
Governor. He shall hold his office for years,
aud he ineligible for the terih Of years thereafter
And Lieutenant Governor shall be chosen at the
same time. for the same term and under tile same
striciions.
Sec. 2. The Lieutenant Governor shall act as Pre-.
sident Of the Senate, but he shall have right
vote except the Senate be equally divided upon any
question: in which he shall have the casting vote
Sec. g. No person shall he eligible to the office Of
Governor or Lieutenant Governor, except citizen Of
the Commonwealth any who shall mol have attain
| ed the age Of years. and who shall have re-
sided years next preceding his elcctiob, In
the State.
Sec L. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall
be elected at the times and places OF choosing members
OF the mos, numerous branch Of the Legislature, by the
voters qualified TO vote for members Of the General As
sembiy; provided that the election shall take place
throughout the Common wealth on the same day.. The
persons respectively having the highest number OF
votes for Governor and Lieut.. Cover shall be elect
ed In case two or more persons shall have equal
number OF votes for Governor for Lieutenant Cover
nor. the Legislature shall Immediately by joint ballot
Of both Houses choose Of the having equal
number Of votes for Governor Lieutenant Governor
the Governor or Lieutenant Governor, the may
be- -
Sec. 8. The Governor shall be commando r. in chief
Of the militia. He shall have power to convene the
Legislature extraordinary occasions He SHALL from
ltinln In inf n.
condition OF the Commonwealth, and recommend TO
their confederation such he shall Judge
cessSry and expedient. He shall expedite all such
measures may be resolved upon by the Legislature,
and shall take care that the laws are faithfully exc
cuted.
Sec. 6. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor,
shall, at stated times, receive for their services
pensaion, which shall neither he increased nor dmin
ished during the term for which they shall have been
elected.
Sec. 4 The Governor shall have power 10 grant re
prieves and parions after conviction for all offences,
except 'reasous and N cases Of impeachment. Upon
conviction Tor treason he shall have power suspend
the execution of the sentence, until the shall be
reported TO the Legislature at its next session, when the
Legislature may pardon direct the execution of the
criminal, or grant a farther repricve.
Sec g. In case oil the removal OF the Governor from
ohfe, or OF his dea'h. resignation inability to di-
charge the duties OF his office, his powers and duties
shall devolve the Lieutenant Governors and in case
= OF the removal, DEATH resignation, like inability
OF the Lieutenant Governor, the Legislature may pro-
vide by law upon whom the duties of Governor
devoive, until such disabilities shall be removed,
Governor shall he elected.
Sec. 8. The Governor shall have power TO nomi.
nate and by and with the advice and OF the
Senate, appoint Judges OF the Supreme Court Court
OF Final Jurisdiction, and Judges OF such Infe ,or
Courts from time TO time be established by W;
all Militia officers from the rank of Colonel exciusi
the Treasurer. Auditor of Public Accounts Re riste
OF the Land Office, and Attorney General. The Legs-
ature may by law vest the appointment of all other Of
hcers Of the Commonwealth, whose appointments are
not herein otherwise provided for, in the Governor
with the advice and consent Of the Senate, or in the
Courts of Law.
Sec 10. The Governor shalt have power to fill IN
all vacancies that may happen during the OF
The Senate, by granting commissions, which shall ex-
pire at the end OF the next session OF that body
Section H. The Governor shall have power to re-
quire I'm writing the opinions OF the Lieue Gov
or, and of the Attorney General, upon all matters APP
pertaining to III, duties of his office.
Sec H. No person, whose tenure Of office depends
on the pleasure OF the Governor shall be from
office without the advice and of the Senate 10
such removal But the Governor shall have power at
any time, TO suspend such officer and appoint an
other TO discharge the duties OF his office, until the
next session oil the Senate, AMI until their advice and
consent to such removal shall be ascertained and ex.
pressed.
Aud the question being that amendment,
Mr. POWELL then rose and addressed the Committee.
(Mr. P.'s speech in next)
MIR. TAZEw rose in reply IL was not hi, in
tenon at this time, TO at length into the merits
the question. The mover of the amendment, had COM
menced his argument in defence OF it, by stating its
chief merit to lie in that feature, by which the election
OF Governor, was given directly 10 the People. On
that feature Of it, he should addre.sa few remarks to
Ought the Governor of such Commonwe alth as Vir.
, ginia TO be elected directly by the People!
In discussing this subject, the advocates OF the pro
position, had invariably commenced, by LAYING down
the doctrine that Republican principles the People
and the People Alone the legitimate source OF
er and that, therefore, they ought TO elect TO all the
offices In the Commonwealth. None that ever he had
heard OF, doubted The position, that the People in this
Country, are the sole, legitimate source Of power
The only question said Mr.. T. is, as to the mode
in which they shall exercise their power: shall thew
exercise 1t themselves in the first instance by agents
whom they appoint for that purpose! Either of these
modes is equally republican, Will the gentlemen con-
tend that the President Of the United States is not elect
eddy the People? Yet the they employ in elect
ing him, is to appoint Electors choose him by their
votes. The means by which the Governor of Virginia
is elected at present. Of the same kind The Peo-
pie elect the members of the Legislature, with the
knowledge that they TO choose the Governor The
election oil these delegates is the Of all the People
And the only question is whether they shall call an
individual to the Executive Office in their own persons
or through their agents. Like other questions in
politics. 1t is question Of erpe9ency to be referred 10
the condition of the country and the nature of the d
ties to be performed by the Executive. The gentleman
himself comedies the question, in another view of it.
II be true that all power originates with the PEOPLE and
mat, ey0rc, they ought TO choose their own officers
and the Governor Of tbem why is il not true
that the People ought to choose the Judges aso WIN
deprive them OF electing officers of kind and admit
them to elect those Of anoher3 And yet the gentle
man himself makes this Distinction. heartily concur
with him th the judicial Officers ought not TO be cbo
equally inexpedcnt that they should elect Executive
Officers. have many objections TO III to not one Of
winch the present mode of election is exposed.
/ do If caII;n Tho De-