Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-04-10
March %, 1929.
MIR. poWELL'S LETTER,

WINCHESTER, March 9th, 1929.
Il. ,JieSsrS. Diiiia Bycatcrs Joseph Hlcl,c,,. M
liam Lynn, md Josiah LocthQlf.
GEsTLEMEN: Yonr favour oftho 23d inst. was re.
raivGd by the mail of yesterday. Representing, as
you do, highly respectable portion of the citizens of
frederick county, am bound by sense of duty to
give prompt and frank reply your interroratories
on the several subjects upon which You ask the ex-
piicit ayoWal OF my opinions. | presume this call
proceeds from my name having been announced in the
public prints as one offour individuals who would be
supported as representatives of this Senatorial dis
tct IN the Convention, to alter and reform the Con-
sttuicn OF this Commonwealth, appointed to meet
at Richmond in October next. This annunciation
was not at my request, or with my knowledge.
However gratifying to any individual il mrht be, 10
be selected by his fellow citizens discharge so dis
tiugusfed and responsible trust, il is station that
have thought and still think, it would be unbecom.
ing TO solicit, but objectionable to decline The OBJ
jeH is certainly of vital Importance, not only to the
present generation, but to those who are to succeed
us; and my most anxious wish is, that so high trust
may DO conided to the best intelligence the coolest
deibcrution, and the most approved integrity the
State can furnish. With this rule of dction steadi-
iy IN view the people of Virginia have every thing
to hope and nothing to fear from the result. 1t is
upwards Of twelve years since my opinions upon the
necessity OF reform IN our State Constitution were
openly expressed and zeaously urged. II is a sub
Jet upon which | have felt strongly snd spoken
freely. have looked abroad and contrasted with
feelings OF deep modification the declining pdpula-
frustrated and defeated by Legislative folly and mis-
inlnagcnrsnt-.he languishng industry;--thc par
aiysed enterprise OF my native State,-with the
growing prosperity,--the improved agriculture the
admirable facilities of COMMUNICATION by roads and "a
naIS-the active industry, and eager onterpriZe OF
our sister States. could not resist the c0nvic,io,,
mat this contrast was 70 be attributed amono ninor
causes TO the radical inpercctions and errors in orr
tTm OF government, mainly imputable 10 the huroI-
latng truth that have lived under the confront NJ
n sectional minority, encumbered with n 20 werles
and expensive executive, and inefficient and irrcs-
ponsibf1 Judiciary Correct these evils iudicously
aud thoroughly, and Virginia, renovated, will npaln
assume the rank among her sister States that She
originally occupied. With one preliminary obsnrvp.
tpn' Will proceed to HvOw expcitlv, my oplntous
uponthc seveta subjects embraced in your commu
Hcation.
III framing Constitution, yr, viii readily perceive
That detail, To- any great extent would be NOT univ
inludicous but imprjctiblc. MI that can bc eyy
p1cteu from The trainers OF the compnctis ,o desi,
nate the several departments into which The o,vcr
mont Is % be dlydcd;to assign aud define their rcs
pecnve powers and duties:--to prescribe tho ,cn,,,
O olime ana 70 fix the time rid manner Of appoint
niem' De'nl must necessarily be LEFT to after To-
E'sIa.Ion' III answering your questions, ! thcre-
iOfe presume gcncrW views alone arc cxpectcJ and
not my opinion Us 10 the particular manner in ,bicb
the delegated powers of the several ,lonor 49,
20 be carried into execution. ''
Your enquiries arc four in number. and .,l,to 90
four distinct topics. ' '"'0 "
!. Tae ertga.ea 9r&c rigli IF .g6yape.
3. .NeIo npieiiing me jpdjc;oyy.
4. The mode y eie-fiag the erccRire and mime.
friai g6fcerS. 49," """-
shall reply 10 these questions IN tho order IN
which they stand. To the first answer the, ,,n
IA favour Of extending the right Of suffrage.
heartily su9scriAs 70 the declaration consged in or