Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-12-07

upon EfHHtmfH w Ieibuutt H.
MIR Br0ddnur moved the first clause of Mr.
Nicholas proposition, leaving the number o
, counc illors in blank, 50 as 10 read - Privy
Council or Council OF State. consisting OF
memhers, shall be chosen by both Houses oil
Assembly, either from their own members, on
the people nj large, 10 assist IN the adminlstra
ton ofGoyernmcni."
MIR. MeCOy asked whether Lieutenant Go.
vernon was uo prov ded, aud whether he WINS
not TO sil in Council
Mr.. Mercer commended, that there should lie
unity in the Executive, aud that its pnwcrs
should he derived from the people--and on these
accounts he was opposed TO an Executive
Council. lie had derived most OF his political
opinions from The federnlis this work hnd
supported these opinions. and he knew of bur
one State. since the publication of that work.
which had adopted ar Executive Council.
MIR. BroddndL contloverled the positions oil
hossrs Mercer aud Mccoy
MIR. Fishugh submitted proposition, sub.
stanlaly The same as Mr.. PawelIs. but on the
| suggestion OF the thiar. that IL was not in or.
der 10 make such motion. Mr.. L. withdrew
it.
Mr. Nicholas referred 10 the usage Of the 20.
vernment, since the appointment nC tho A,ior-
ncy General 10 consult that oiIicer--and hn re.
ferred also, TO the laws To show that the Audit.
o. is subject 10 the direction of the Executive,
and that his acts are revised by them.
Mr. Leigh considered the Executive Coun
Gil as one of the mostimporiant features of the
Government-and compared the Councll Us al
present constituted, aud the one proposed to
DO established. He considered ,he present
Council, as dividing the patronage ofthe TX.
ecutive, and ms makinng II innocuous - Ano-
Their advantage OF Council is 10 supply the
} new dovetnei with those practical details of
| Executive duties Of which he was ignorant.
| lie appealed 10 his honorable colleague MIR.
Giles ! whether he did not find himself Tor Sc.
vera months ignorant of many Of the details
| of his duty and whether he did not avail him.
self oi the Information OF his experienced asso.
ciates? The Governor nodded assent Mr.
l.. stated, thai this Executive Council had
| been in operation for fifty four years, aud YET
| not single usnrpailon Of power could be pro-
dnced, except the using Of a few pounds Of
gunpowder. To change such "a body TO re
pudiate all the lessons of experience TO forget
! no utility which II has caused. is the mer"si
"antonness of Inovniion, gentleman must OK
cnse him, he meant no offence. lie conlen
ded TINT we had the best and most mercllul
Executive the world ever had aud IL must be
the most reckless spirit of innovation which
could desire TO abolish n body that tas had
this practicable operation. And he again chat.
lenged gentlemen 10 name some act OF ilsurpn-
ton and abuse, of which this Executive had
been guilty and he again pledged himself -
show the utter futilItv OF any such change.
GIVE hun this pura Executive, Invested of all
mischIevons patronage, give linn The County
Courts composed OF the patfiarcbs OF the land
and the freehold right Of suffrage, aud he
would be content
M. Nc Coy showed what good effects m ight
result from consulting the Lieutenant Govern.
81.
Mr.. johnson would not say that he would
not vote Tor the abolition OF the present Execn
tive Council bnt he " ould declare that he
would not vote Tor its abolition, until more
satisfactory organization was proposed 10
him.
Mr.. Mercer protested against the language
oi The gentleman from Chesterfield He said
he could not sit and here any one speak of the
wanlonness of innovaton-and hear gen tic
men dare others TO produce proofs of The n
busc practised under the present Constitution.
lie WIS satisfied that many abuses had been
practsed- aud il he chose u enter into the
proofs he could produce many instances of i'm
proper acts which had been done by the EXecu.
ave Department lie protested against any
one constituting his silence under such asscr-
tons, into acquirscence in their correctness.
Messrs Randolph and Leigh rose al the saure
time, but Mr.. Leigh yielded tho 1oor-Mr. !
H. commented upon Mr. MERGERS lnngunge--
he said il reminded him of The protest Of the
peers OF England, protesting for their noble
selves, He said the gentleman might protest,
but where would Inc enter his protest If he
entered his protest today, II would be forgot.
ten tomorrow. lie then remarked upon the
spirit Of innovation that was at work-contend- |
ing that the country was becoming perfectly |
dIsgnsted with the extent to which II was GO I
iag-ihat roihiDg could hnye reconced the
people 10 Convention AT FIRST but the state oil
the Judiciary the delay ofjusiice amounting |
TO a denial-apd that il was not the situation |
of either the Legislative or Executive Depart
ments, which had provoked call Of the Con !
yeuion that there was no necessity TO abol |
ish the Executive Council. He then entered |
into defence Of the Council, aud finally con !
Guided with warning the House against exces-
sIve innovation, enforcing his observations by
repeating celebrated apologize of Addison,
IN which the whole human race wns summoned |
TO one great assembly, and each person was TO
bring and lay down his own peculiar burdens
and exchange them Tor those Of his neigh |
bouss 1t resulted IN each persons carrying
back the same burdens which he had brought
being finally reconced to them by habit,
which operated as second nature. Just SO
Mr.. r. SAID II was with thnse who fnd fault
with the different provisions of the present
Constitution.
Mr. Mercer replied to the structures of Mr. |
Randolph retored upon the gentleman and
yindicated his Own course.
The question was taken on Mr.. Bradlt1r's
proposion-ayes 80. (Messrs. Monroe snd
Marshall in the alrmafive)
Mr. RandOtph moved to strike ont the re-
naming part of the resolutions of the Execu-
live Committee--Losta ayes 80, noes 90.
Mr.. FitFhugh moved 10 add 10 the words of
the resolution, Resotred, that the Executive
Council. as at present organized, ought TO be
abolished" these tcords, aud that the Go.
vernon shall have power to require in writing,
the opinions Il upon all matters ap
pertaining toihe duties his office. Carried,
ayes. 90.
The 18th resolution was then adopted, respec-
ting the appointment OF The Lieutenant Cover
nor.
Mr. ~trtl a.