Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-05-05
TO The Editor of tie Alexandria Gazette.

ofVirginla at the session OF 1924, the year De-
fore the Stanton Convention, with many Sig
natures subscribed 10 y.
Loudoun, Iiay I'd, 1899.
To the Senators and Delegates of Virginia. in General
Assembly convened:
The MEMORIAL Of the undersign freehol-
ders of the county of Luudoun, respectfully re-
presents, That, while your memorahs's are I'M
pressed with gratitude, 10 the hors oil their
present constitution Of state government, they
are imprlled. bv 4 sense Of duty 10 themselves
and he ir pJs,Criiy, as well, as sacred regard
for justice, TO inyne your most serious attention
To some Of the defects of tina: constitution, and
your aid towards its amendment.
1t is no Impeachment Of the virtue, or wis
dom of its patrio, founders, that a constitution
of government framed in haste, amidt The heat
of intestine war, the very first, in poin. Of time,
10 which the Anne rican revolution gave buth,
should prove Effective, after lapse on forty
eigh, wears.
Half a century ago, the science Of representa-
live government wa, in lis infancy. The boun>
DIARIES Of the great divisions of political pow err,
Legislative, executive, aud Judicial were imper-
feclly de fined. Tha, ouns'j,r'ion Of each whi' h
would best pf omotc their harmonious co-ope
,oa for he public goUd, The only legitimate
cu,I Of al governments, was matter OF s2e-
cula,,vc inquiry, rather than of practical de-
ductIon.
An Imperfect example ofreprcsentative gov
crument had indeed, long existed, on the other
side of,he Adan,ic; md as was natural, II no.
un,.oidablc, at the lime, with some Of It's good,
NJ, rew OF its bad qualities remained en-
gated upon The constitution Of the new COM
monwealI
The actual separation and relative iudepen-
ience of the legislative, Judicial, and executive
departments, principles, deemed, even then, es-
sen'ial to political hber'y, were not only imper-
fec,ly maintained in the new constitution, but
often disregarded. The basis Of ell repressn
tation, the elective franchise, was so loosely es-
,ablished to be practically submitt' d TO the
ordinary legislature, with the unconrol"d pow
err Of prescribing, by law, the qualifications OF
their own memb rs, and the number compe
tent 10 constitute a quorum.
In allowing an equal representation in the
house of delega'es To coun les and boroughs 81
most unequal ex'ent of territory, wealth and po-
psla,ion, the settled meXim Of all free polite al
communities, that thc majority shall govern
was, in fact, subseIted, as was also the princi-
pie OF The revolution itself, that taxation and
representation shall be the measures of each o.
,hcr.
In limiting The members Of the Senate 10
twen'y-fuur members, snd leaving the house
of delegates 10 Neiaugmen'ed, from time 70 time
by he subdivision OF C oun les, and the erection
Of new Dor oughs, the jus equilibrium between
Tie two branches Of the !, g stature was * pos
ed to gradu i, though c, rlain arrangement, il
no., to al mate destruction.
AN un'nunded jealousy d"nie6 to the senate
not qnlv the power Of amrndiug money bill,
b6f'h I, E originating any MEASURE, however
ihsigp'h an, and while II greatly retard d the
busfhes> 1t both trenches Of the legislature
consigned one Il absolute inac,ion Tor very
near hall ut every annual session Of the general
Assembly.
By resr"g the RICH, Of suffrage on the pos
session of Freehold a,e IN determinar
quantity OF lsnd, without regard 10 the actual
duration, Or value OF the estate itself, the con-
s'uu,ion stood condemned by the bill of rights
prefix, TO j.; which assured o every man, o,
ihrrwise qualified the privilege of voting, who
could furnish sufhcient evidence of"permanent
COMMON in'-rrs, with, and attachment tn, the
community" Unless, indeed, il be coutended
that term Of ninety-nine, or thousand years
is worth less, than estate for single life; or
iwcnIy-four acres Of the best Improved land
than Eve and twenty Of the moss barren.
All Judicial power had been taken from the
general assembly very near century before, and
the new Constitution dives'ed The governor and
royal council Of ali legislative power. But, in
retaining tina council, when no longer neces sa'
ry, and subjrc'ing the governor 10 their abso'
late control, il charged an usrless burthen up
on the treasury, while it impaired The respon-
sibiiity, by destroying the uni y Vi t.e execu-
tive.
In defining the qualifications of the cons,tu
ent and his representative, the contribution i
loose where il is the aim Of all constitutions I,
be precise: it is on The contrary, fixed and i'm
mutable in the allotment Of representation, tc
corporate bottles, where il should have provid
ed for the subdivision Of counties & the grow,l
or declension Of numbers. In om,Iting 10 pro
vide for its future amendment; il aries N,
features the stamp rf thr peculiar circumstan'
usder which il was made and which offel
in truth the best apology for its defects.