Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-04-20
CoMMUNICATIONS-fo, the pireinia.

ueSrs EdiiOrs-ln your paper OF the 18th
mat observed. over the signature Of n +" a
Freehoder, SundTy heterogeneous, propoun.
d.d 10 me, with offers who have been nOini-
mated as III persons 10 b. voted for IA the re-
pieseniailres of This disiilct IN the app onc ing
Convention The position il Which that nom
hniion has placed me- brf re the voters o this
district imposPa mn oblig alton 10 give each
aud all OF us citizens the most int aud chndd
exposition OF my v.ans on the great subjects
thst wiil'probably ocenpy the attention of TINT
body, aud should have replied hose IN
trrrosatoTes sooner, but for my necessary alb
spnce hom home during the grealer pnrt al
the past wyk. Your correspondent will. how.
ever, excuse me, If, instead ol answering di-
usc,ly 10 each OF his inlerrosntorns giyt IA
gen, RAJ siee ofiny principles &opnion' In re
lnton 20 the reform oflhc oNis'ing constitution
oi this state. IN doing this, hall in the Grsi
place, state the great pri.cipics which ] con-
ccyr ought To govern the drlIb ratiOns of the
convention, and then my opinion OF The man
ner ~ which those principles should bS applied
TO the formation II n constitution Tor virginia.
! ! shall not enter into argument 10 prove their
orrrctness MY Object being simply to snie
| them. aud leave it 10 the people To j dgr how
lar Tiny qualify or d.q1lliy me for their rep
4 rcSrulaiiye.
| sust, then, for The principles on which GOV.
ritnr c,is oughtio he established. They are ms
| follows: That the people have Alright 10, aud
nre capsule OF self gosernnrrt--Th govern.
mrnis are established aud ought 10 be ndnin.
isered for their brnefi-ilat magistrates and
| rulers are their servants, aud ought 10 be RS.
ponsible to them tor the proper discharge OF the
duties Of their respective offces--thnt this re-
| ,pousibiiy shoMi not be merely nominal
| unf,lt and unseen but an active fangblr prin-
ciple, constantly operating upon the mind Of
the officer, aud urging him onward 10 the dis
charge Of his duty -" that no mnn or set of
" men are entitled 10 exclusive or separate
=" emoismenis or privileges from the COMM
" nIty but in consideration al public SCI wees,
aud consequently none should continue 10 re.
Cpiye the salary OF en- 1lnmcnts attached 10 ~.
Office Of hich he does moi disChaig. the du
iirS--ihal The legislative, executive, aud Judi
ciaiy departments should he 90 ordinate bran.
chPs Of the governppe. and, rs itr as prscii-
cable, independent nj each otpcr that power
'honld be so di.lrbuird amongst the people
'i.M the will oil the innj orlty should be carried
itaD effect by the goyernm' nI--that every eiti-
zen capable of furnishing evidence Of attach.
nCni 10 aud n common interest with the corn
muniIy, shonlil be eutillrb TO perfect cq,r,li.
~ oAlights mud privileges Hnd thai while the
Legislative bDdf shDuiu nv so numerous ~ 10
represen, the local feelings and interests Of
the pcope. and to gl,ard IA far rs practicable
aeains, intrigue Aud corruption, ii should not
he so much 40 as 10 emhariass and.impede lha
progress OF the Business.
" viii be at once perceived thai ihesrErrm
ples with a few exceptions that seem TO ~,
mind 10 NJ ise necessarily. from the others) nfe
drawn from the Bin of Rights. tina, inrstnable
legacy of DOR fathers ofihe Revolution. hcb,
although it has become The subject of tlcr3ion
with certain class OF modern politicians, Ms u
- fanfaronade OF ahsirseiions," deservr., a.
conceive, to DC held 10 the uin,ost reverence as
embodyne the only true principles VI repub-
tican government.
In the application or the foregoing principles
to the formation ut n constitution for Vifgtria.
In the Legislative body wonld reduce the
House Of Delegates 10 hing like one halt
Of lie present numher---eqnali2e the repTeses-
tation-anh extend tho right OF suffrage 10 all
free white male citizens, over twenty -one years
Of age, who, By residence, paymeai Of taxes
aud performance ofother public service, had
given evidence Of attachment 10 aud n common
interest with the community. ~ The consttu.-
ton ofihe Senate with the exception Of an ex
tension of the right ofsuHrage, see no good rea-
son for any considerable chang probably some
increase OF number i redu .tion Of the term OF
service might he expedient. The Legislature
thus cons,ituted, shouldbe confined as strictly
as possible 10 inappropriate duties would take
from il the power OF nomination e. appointment
10 Office, " hch, 10 body so numerous, Il where
1.-The responsibility IS so much divided, Is calcu
eted'o csii of the stief4ian 81 nembrfs from