Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-05-11
p ] nc people ofthe district. composed Of Me
c rpWat.es Of bedford, Campbell and Baessa s

L
,,Inber Of nv friends Of this count, to offer my
solf ne one Of the candidates for the Convention
N the District composed of iha counties OF Bed
,nrd. Campbell x Buckingham ~ having con.
..ntcd 10 do so feel it duty owe 10 myself
ard 10 you the people, whom acknowledged 10
no IN. soyereigns oil the land, 10 state my views
as 10 The evils which now exist, ana TO Tie
Great grievances NOW complained of by mDo-
s;,y OF the goad people of this Comm1nweath
which evils and grievances II w,'l be me duty
afthe Convention, as lar rs may be practicable,
,5rcdress--and 10 restore 10 the citizens ofthis
4conmnnWc al,h such VIII plesomo laws, as will
"a n f. ih.tn in thai situation which God and
Nature seem 20 haze allotted TO mankind-l
IN AN equal rights and equal lhcr,irS.-lt Is
acknowledged by all pariI,5 8, or nearly so, that
our present cons ituii ion is defective, and how
10 remedy that defect seems 10 b. the great
inquiry Fears are enter ained by some, that,
in the attempt to better II. might he made worse
These fears, | should think, mi. ht easily be al
Jayed under n conviction that the constitution
ms amended by law, is TO be submitted 90 the
people for their inspe:tion and iappioVed y!
hy q majority viii lac received ifrejccted, the
nresent constitution will still be the law of the
land so TINT ia IN, opiGion. we may he better
cd and caunoi br Worsied :-Under such cir-
rar,stances, think, we may safely make the
eaperiment, and wai; tie result.
Under the existing statn Of things, the present
constitution takes the power from barge ma
ioIity of The people, aud puts i in the hands Of
u small minor, ', WHO hate, aud stil' continue
To exercise That power, noi agreeable to re
nubcan principles. bni 20 ariSncraicn, ones.
Hence arises the saying, TINT the big fish eat
NJ the little ones.
One of the evils most comir panied Of under
he present cnn stnution is the want OF an exien-
SION Of the right Of suffrage Ga this subject
will take rs NV guide the sixth RI,ce Ut the
bill Of rights IN which il Is sid, " that all men,
; mean citizens Of Q 1 years oi age aud upwards,
having sufficient eyidene, al permanent com.
mon interest with, and attachment TO the com-
muntl should have the rirhi Of suffrage, sad
cannot he taxed or deprived OF their property
Tor public uses. without their own consent, or
that OF their representative, SO elected, Dor
hound by any law, Ia winch they have n0. in
ike manner, assented for the public goLd."-
Vow, ask thu questions THIS che case =
Are there cot large number within TIE reach
of my voirc, who are taxed, and made 20 pay
them, who have neither The right ot suffrage,
nor representative, and are compelled TO pay
taxes, OF their property is taken from them for
that use, without their Own consent II so,
prom ounce such law, (if not UNCONSTITUTIONAL
unju.' On this poiat. | believe, there are ma.
nv who agree with M.
10 pufsue this subject farther The inequality
ofIppresentation Is loudly complained Of A
greeably to the present constitution, the repre-.
sentaiion goes by counties, LET them be large or
small. Each sends two members to the State
Legislature. so thai the number is upwards of
two hundred, TO make the laws by which the
state is 10 be governed Now, wilt il be said
thai the counties which contain four times the
nnmber Of the snall ones aTe not entitled 10
more weight IN the Legislature thpn those
where th, nunher is the smallest : Surely If
equal representation Is the object, this is NOT
correct 10 remedy This defect let the State
he laid of into districts rs tn make them rs
nearly equal rs pussibie in uumber, agreeable
90 white population, and s TO reduce what
SCALED the lower house, 10 half its present
number or less, perhaps would be better. Let
each district send two members--aud Instead OF
the Legislatures meeting once in every year,
lei them meet once in two years. unless there
should he some emergency Then let them be
convened rs they now arc--Should this mode
be adopted, there will he a sayIng 10 the State
of Virginia ofSl50,00o per session ; which, in
my opinion, would be no sMai saving to the
State.
AS tor the Senate, which is ono OF the branch
es OF the Legislature. their number consists OF
twenty four members. They, in my opinion.
should he reduced To about halfihai number, /.
er house.
IS itresyects the judiciary part oftbc Gov.
ernIncnt. instead Of being chosen. as they now
are, by the Geueral Assembly. and to hold their
office during good behavior. | should thinht "a
better plan toC li,rm 10 be chnscn by the ppo.
pie aud not tn.h0 Il the Office for II longer prIi-
cd than that o four wears, Tor less,) il being the
time for whic! the President of the U. States is
elected, and " hich in my opinion, is better
A. otxIt. T., Ed ca
duty, than the present mode of appointment
Then, aud then only, "il your Judges feel
ihemselses accountable TO the people (iom
whom they deri|. their power,) for faithful
y discharge of tie duties assigned thrm.
The county court system as it now stands, is
said by some TO be the best and safest mode Of
coming To JUSTICE. ! approve, myself, ul the
county courts, but rot oil the manner in which
they are elected, NOR their mode Of doing bus..
ness -luslead OF being sei.ekected, and then
having the right of pefpeiuating their own 10.
ny. would have them elected by the peopie,
ana that not for a very long period.
would also compel them, when elected, TO
90 business. aud not eare IT, Gas il now tS,) To
lnelr own choice, whether TO aci or To LEI 1t a
ione.--' think, Gcn,iemen. you have seen e
-nough o this abuse of power, anC will think
with me- that it is high time 20 make some
c1anGe. This faction, tor SO Mr.. Jefferson calls
~ once possessing itself of the bench of a coun
~ can never be broken Up, but hold their coun
" in chains forever
These justices not only ACT as judges, bni in
many cases, as il relates To the business of the
counties. they certainly legislate too--they lay
'ne county levy, have il Co'lp cted By an officer
OF Their own choice, and one from their own
oody, imean the High Sheriff. and itno SO, by
nelr Deputy, TO whom they have sold the office
oisherif. They receive as compensation for
.ne'r service a part Of The money SO levied So
aonS as this state of things continues, we shall
constantly be compelled TO pay heavy county
A' public buildings mus, he kept in repair,
oih ones ptied down and ne ones bulk in their
SaCes, new rnats and new hridpes And hat