Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-05-08

TO bring myself to the notice Of the district. has
forced me reluctantly before the public.
ROBT W.CARTER.
Richmond County. apriI 20, 1929
KING WILLIAM, May I'd, 1929
GENrLEMES: The Congressional Election, in
proceed without delay to snswer some interroga-
tories, propoundcd in your paper, 20 those 10 NOM
inaton, as INT persons to represent this district In
Convention, the ensuing October.
1t seems 10 be settled principle, that the DOW.
or of government, should be divided into separate,
| and distinct departments, legislative, executive,
and judicial.
On those points will briefly express my pre-
sent impressions; feeling always disposed change
| for good reasons--Of the Legislature, tho house
OF delegates is believed vastly too numerous; il
| might be advantageoGsly, reduced to one hundred
members. thereby avoiding injurious delay In le-
g's'a,'on' saving immense expense, and retaining
equal responsibility. am not opposed to a full
representation, bat to that redundancy of agents,
which invariably begets idleness and nattention
| TO business, rither public or private.
would curtail the Senatorial terms of service
| TO two years, and add to their numbers. ans1her
| member; thus INCREASING the revising branch to-
| one fourth OF the originating body--but not ex.
| tend its powers in Legislation. OF the Senate, n
sale. special tribunal might be established, to try
public officers Tor neglect Of duty, incapacity, Of
! corruption Thus rendered moro important, the
| electors would USE greater circumspectiol in
choosing their ATTEST men to fill it.
4 o
elec.ing the chief magistrate, his term of SER
vices 1t is done by the direct representatives Of tho
people A lieutenant Governor, TO perform exc
cutive duties IN case of accidents, might be chosen
IN like manner; who with the Attorney General,
would form, sufficient council; dispensing with
| the present BOARD.
| The judiciary to be chosen as heretofore. hold
ing thsir offices during good behaviour & capacity
TO render service, but responsible and triable by
| the Senate.
The county courts have rendered more service.
at less expense, than any limb Of the government.
saould be retained, with notifications.
Their seli-creating and taxing powers are anti
republican. Principle should never be surrender
ed for convenience in practice; for that reason
have uniformly refu,ed 10 assume the powers Of
| taxing the people magistrate.
Land is the only stable property Of government;
every other object Of taxation is liable to removal
at the will OF iinerdnts; possession OF the soil is,
therefore, the best possible pledge ofintention TO
reside in country; and most certain security for
| governmental dues.
Our foTefathers made il the basis Of suffrage,
because of it's permanent characters; their success
| sors gradually reduced The quantity, to extend
that right, FAR possible, retaining the princi
pie, as a safe rule
| To the acquisition of which pttance, there is
no impeachment, except the indisposition Of the non.
treehoidcr. To what does he object, That he is
taxed without representation. What is his re-
quest To have voice in taxing every acre Of
land in theState mot paying cent thereof me an
no encouragement to those persons, being acquaint
| ed with numbers of high minded honorable men,
as any on EARTH thus situated; but dread the pre-
eedent. it-nay pave the way for corrupt capita
lists with hrengs at their heels, to infiict dead
| ly wound on my country. The signs of the times
| are much against the honest, hard labourng cIaAs
OF men, promising every thing to speculation and
peculation. II, however, the old rule must be a.
bandoned, wou'd cheerfully cooperate in the
establishment of any equitable system.
Let the public purse be fairly filed, and its con-
tents justly distributed according TO the rules of
| representation, whether based on white population,
or souls and property combined no portion of the
family will have just cause TO complain For ex-
ample; each Senatorial district, founded on an
equal number of voters, to advance its equal pro-
portion of revenue, for general purposes, and raise
its own means for local appropriations; then. YOU
would keep the fingers OF those disposed to tax, out
of the pockets Of those they would privilege 10 pay,
and thus at one stroke, destroy the seeds of cupid
Hy injustice, and discomfort.
have witnessed 100 many obliquitics in the
character of general iceyare; aud seen that much
abused word, patriotism, too oully road in pursuit
OF snug emoumeDts, created at the expense OF q
suffering people, not TO desire stipulation, tina.
cannot be twisted by artful construction. Yours
} respectfully JOHN RoANE.
5 To The Editors of the Enquirer
: GRNrLEMEN-Ihave been called on, in your
paper, in common with John Rosne, ST. Dr.
BaDkhead. VIM. ii. Roane, and other gentlemen
, who have been named and who may be disposed
to serve, if elected, for the District, composed Of
Caroline, Hanover, King William King & Queen,
and Essex, 10 give explicit answers to the follow
ing queries -" Are you, you not, in favor
| of extending the Right of Suffrage to all free
. white citizens of the United States, who have
= | evinccd 'permaneni, common interest with, and
1 attachment TO, the Community" by paying tax
for the support Of tho Government of Virginia,
agreeably to the 9th art Of the Bill of Rightsl"
am in favor Of extending the Right Of Suffrage
according 10 The declaration contained in our Bill
Of Rights, 10 all having sufficient evidence
OF permanent, common interest with and attach.
. ment TO, the Community: II can hardly no,o
o bs necessary for me to say, that am opposed 10
FL unqualified suffrage. think however, the right
D to vote, will and may be safely extended to a nu-
tue, and interest in the welfare Of the Republic, 10
equal to that Of those that now exercise the right,
, will 10; call it privilege.
r * il be t-ne, (and that conclusion has lately
Ibeen forced upon me) that the freeholders are a
minority of The fres white male citizens of Virgil
} MIA, 1 admit we have no longer the right to hold
the Government; and il that tho only reason,
Il would be sufficient TO Justify the altering of tho
Constitution, and great extension Of the Right OF
Sufrage-how qualified and limited, must be
matter Of expediency and compromises most
! principles of government, formed in compact,
must be from necessity. While { am in favor OF
[ the extension OF Suffrage, cannot oTree TO iss
universally, or that " all free white citizens OF
the United Sates,'' should be permitted TO VOTE
must repeat that my opinion accorls fully with
the principle iD the 9th art. of the Bill of Rights
50 furnish the reasons, (ss many have done) upon
which my opinions founded, would swell out
this answer vastly beyond the limits have pre-
scribcd 10 myself, and would be flying in the lace
Of the admonition IN the Editors have given 10
respondents situated as am.