Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-10-20

Aiier prayer by the Rev Mr.. Korr, the Convex
ton, at O'Clock called to order
= There being no business before the Convention
Mr. DopDRtDGE. after stating that some furlh, :
documents has, been obtained from the Auditors
oihce, winch would under the former resolution of
the Convention, be handed to the Public Printer
iHovcd that the Convention do now adjourn, winch,
was carried in the affirmative.
The Convention then adjourned til Monday at .
;'ock.
Wns <. Perrin, Esq. of Gloucester elected by the
rn;ning delegates tron that district (the 2it) to
supply the vacancy caused b. the death of Dr. Cal
e. Via H. Read appeared in his scat Saturday and
was appointed TO the Committee on the Eli Of
flights, &c.
TIE Coain,iitecs-in the Legislative Committee On
Saturday, Resolution offered BY Mr.. Johnson was
adopted, fixing the Numbers of the House of Dele
ssata3-the minsmun at 100, the n,dr,aat, at f50.-
duch debate occurred this and other propositions
In the Executive Committee, the Cha rn,an Mr.
SIiic at the request OF one of the Commit
tie, delivered his sentiments ut large, on Govern
:ent in general, and the mode ofeleciae the Cover
itor IN particular 1t was curious speech, and we
Should be pleased to have it in pwer to report
it, After an explanation of the purposes for which
Che Convention met, and disqusion upon t,;,
theory of Government MIR. Giles proceeded to siv
that all Governments were founded upon of two
principles, aciotu6Tty reSponsiJitity The first
he said, introduced by fraud and cunning hackc
by force and had foundation in nature or science
She last depended upon principle founded in Ill
tre and sustained by science and was 1,ecujiur Tn
these States. We were pleased with this part OF
Mr. Giles argument, all except his historical iuus-
fce nInaccuracy, In asserting that responsibility or
accountability was unknown to all other nations, and
peculiar to our 1t is credit enough to the Ame-
Mcan people and to Geo. Mason, that this RESPONSE
bilty has been fundamentally established and re-
cgized as the very salt of representative democracy;
aus we credit and honor enough, without seek
Ing to violate the truth of history and DENYING Justice
10 Older or extinct nations. Nothing struer than that
responsibility has existed, and must exist, nccessi-
tue rel; in all Republics for Mir Giles principle Of
nvioahity, or Responsibility, is founded upon the
notion of divine light and hereditary claim so it is ne
cEsariiy excluded from all governments land the con
Tary principle of responsibility estabshet0 which
clnaaate from the people Ancient and modern his
tory, are fill of examples, and Charles the l. and his
son. show that responsibility was known and enforced
ton, Ill England Not In the u. States the respon-
sibty OF the public agent defined or insist ed,
upon, than in the latter country.
Having got through with his theory, the Governor
entertained The committee with panegyrc and s:o-
ny the Constitution of Virginia, which he PREFER
10 all that ever did or shall exist Never before
its birth, had the world seen political light. Geo. Ma
son was the terrestrial Jehovah who had lllunlina cd
the UNIVERSAL chaos! To him was assigned the undi
rided glory of the Constitution of Virginia, work
Ysa4t in III itself, and constructed without model
Al this sounded to very like bonbast That
Geo. dAson, WIS., Mr.. Jefferson says, in the first
order of great icn every Virgininn at least will
gladly acknowledge; that he the principal archi-
tet OF the Virginia Constitution all agree be true;
hut that he worked without model before him, and
originated the Constitution out the depths of his
own intellect, is an absurd and untenabc idea. lie
of Eugand but he has initiated that model so
exactly, I'VE had almost said serrileiy) that the
original aud the copy are externally undisn-
gJiishable They differ it is true in MANY tlngs
bat only in degree and not in principle. In England
the powers Of tho Government, vested in three
departments, kept separate and dstinct-so they
by Constitution and the parallel throughout is SO
complete, to differ only, i'll the mode of constitution
Of the Executive, aud one branch of the Legislatures
and the extent of power entrusted to the gov
ernnent and to the other. 1t is the very close rela-
no yyn u1o ict ,o .,l
cause OF the desire of change Ill Vrgnia-the nves-
ting the Legislative power in the andholder, instead
OF the Prpic. Does Mr.. Giles imagine that George
AtasoD did not borrow the freehold qualification from.
Englandtllat the theory of the three Departments
that giving the Governor Privy Counc-that
making the tenure oftIc Judges during good beha-
HIour-;hat the idea of County Courts Shcrifs
Constabes, and The posse, not MI borl owed
from England Nay were these p inciples not all
in operation in Virginia, hundred years before
geo. Mason hourished, and is it not true that he
did little more than engrah them in written Con-
stuton, with such adaptations suited the change
from Monarcby to Democracy? In the felicity OF
these adaptationsin making in fact, as little change
as was compatible wit the new order of thngs-in
his knowledge Of human nature, and the character
and habits of his couprymeu and in his pa riotsn,
nnbending aud unbenching-the true plory Of Geo
Nfason und his corDpatrots consists. These afford
50 ample fund, that his admirers and those of his
ycrjet and original 1oorh, ought to be satisfied and
not 1ure lis fame, by blowing it up like bladder.
In opposition TO the election of Governor by the peo-
pie MIR. Giles was Jealous, and gave for it some
reasons which we were rather surprised TO hear
from patent democrat. The Legislature was
prefcrrcdas more intelligent, than the whole body Of
the People, whose morals be thought would fall a
sacrifice to sohiskey if they entrusted with the
power ef choosing their Chief Magistrate!-
lie know he said, mode of escertaning the mo-
raj condition of nations but one and that through
tIc assistance Of the Penitentiary system The
Penitentlary of Virginia contained 40 convcts, the
houses of corrections in New York, I500-that is
about times as many Virginia, making allow.
ance for the difference of population. This was
asc'ibable to the ertenton Of suffrage in New York
That and that Only, accounted for The difference il
favor of Virginia!
This sample may give some idea Of Mr.. Giles yer
tans city of i6o 900 inbabtsnts that The yegco
Of justice from al countries, land thcro--that grea
cities always the nurseries of crime and inmor
ftv. and that larpp nroportior &c ,bo-o oan,,;.,