Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-04-10
K. PHWELL'S LETTER,

MR.. PHWELL'S LETTER,
(coPv.)
Winchester, March 9Itll, 1922
10 9ieSsrs Wiilin,n Bycaers, Joseph Ifuckncy MI
tiGm Lynn, and Josiah Loc&ha!%.
TENTLENEN: Your favour of the 23d inst. was re
ccIved by the mail of yesterday. Representing, as
you do highly respectable portion of the citizens of
Frederick county, I am bound by sense of duty to
give prompt and frank reply your nerrogutories
on the several subjects upon which you ask the ex-
Plclt avowal or my opinions presume this call
proceeds from my having been announced in the
public prints as one offour individuals who would be
supported as representatives OF this Senatorial dis
lict IN the Convention to alter and reform the Con-
stltutlon ofthis Commonwealth, appointed To meet
at Richmond IN October next. This annuncation
was not at my request, with nv knowledge
However gratifying to any individual It might be- to
oe selected by his fellow citizens discharge so dis
tugulshed and responsible trust it is station TIM
have thought, and still think it would be unbecon
ing to Solicit but objectionable to decline. The OBJ
Ject ID certainly of vital Importance not only to tho
present generation, but to those who to succeed
us; and my most anxious wish is, that so high trust
may be conhded to the best intelligence the coolest
delberation, and the most approved integrity the
State can furnish. With this rule of action stead.
~ 10 view he people OF Virginia have every thing
TO hspe and nothing to fer from the result II Is
upwards OF twelve years since my opinions rnon the
necessity OF reform in State Constitution were
openly expressed and zealously urged. 1t is a sub
Jcct upon which have felt strongly and spok.p
freely. have looked abroad and contrasted with
feelings Of deep notification the dcclininr popula
tlon the abortIvc attempts at internal irnroycn,on
frustrated and defeated by legislative folly and mis-
managerneu-thc iangushing industry;--thc PAT
aysed enterprise of my native Satc,-yyth fhaI
growing prosperlty,-the improved aoricul.ure th,
admirable facilities OF communication by roads and p,
DalS-the active industry, and eager entcrprize oil
our sister Stnes. could not resist The conyicfinn
that this contrast was to be attributed amoa r,ror
Cnuses to the radical iIDperctions and errors in o,
1Jrm o government, mainly imputablc to The huuii-
Eating truth that have lived under the confront nj
sectional minority, encountered with a no weTes
ana expensive executive, and inefficient and irros
ponSibi; Judiciary Correct these evils indicor.y
and thoroughly, and Virginia, renovated will again
assume the rank among her sister States that she
originally occupied. With one preliminary ohserv,
tion, will proceed to avolY explicitly rn, ori,,or
hDon the several subjects embraced in yoir comm
iucation. N''''''''
In framing CONSTITUTIONS you will readily na-coi,
bat detail, to any great extent would be not onIg
lljndlclous' bat lmpracti6lc Al that can be ex |
I'5cted from the trainers Of the cOmoaci is in doe;
rate the several departments into which tho co,'
Jnent - tn DC dIvrcd;-to assign and define their rn
pectlvc powers and duies-to prescribe the tonne
ut ohIce, and 10 fix the time mud manner Of oppop,
If.ent. DEAL must necessarily be left TO after H.
G'saNoA' IN answering your questions, thcrc-
lore presume general views alone are cxpectod and
not ny opinion as 10 the particular manner in which
inc oeieg8:sG overs o the several departments are
to BE- carried into execution
Four cnqiirics are four in number, and relate TO
four distinct topics.
l. TIE te7gien q tie rigtf2" sgGragg.
@. The b1sis nj rcDrcseataf;o-, "
q. .Nefg II. .deifHg tie jaai;c;rir.
4. Lbe u1dl y e'ceijig Tie ereevtir2 AMI aq:a.g.
trial qficerS.
shall reply 20 tln-o questions in The order j., !
which they stand. To the fret answer that nm,
in favour OF extending the night Of suffrage / /
otetf7 shbscrse % the dec'aration contained in or.