Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-12


are approving, tue wheels OF State stand stilL
The question being taken on Mr. Scorr's amend
ment, II wa rejected.
Ayes ~, Noes Is
(Messrs. MADISON andMARsHALL in the afhrma-
Mr.. FirzHUGH moved as an amenlmen', "ihat
the Executive C)unc,i ought 90 he abolished
The question being taken, it was earricd-Ayes 90
SO the Committee have voted to seoii'h hs Council
OF State.
The Committee then proceeded to consider the 9th
aud 7th Resolutions Of the Executive Committee, which
Resolved That the Commissioned Officers Of militia
companies be nominated To the Executive by msofify
oil their respective companies.
Resolced, That the Field Officers OF regiment DC
nominated 30 the Executive by maj 'ry OF the com
mis- oned Officers of their respective companies.
Mr.. TREzvANr said, that MS both these resolutions
had been adopted his motion, he would take the Ii
bcrty oil propo'ng an amendment which he though,
He presented ii in the words following:
Resolved That the mode OF appointing militia oi'i-
GERS ought to b. provided Tor by law: Prorded lie.
vertheess that no officer below the grade OF Braga
dier General should be appointed by the General AS
scmbly.
Mr., T. accompanied the amendment by a few
rena k in explanation. going TO shew that some change
In the present mode OF appointment was desirable, but
That ii The experiment; he proposed should On trial be
found 10 produce results than the present sys
tenn, the step could be re,raced.
MI. MAcRAE moved the following amendment 10
that OF Mr.. TREzvANr:
RESOLVED Tnat the General Officers of the xnilitis
shall be appointed By the Executive, by and with the
advice add consent OF the Senate, upon the nonina-
trics, and ia such manner as shall be prescribed by
law.
Re 'iped That all other officers of the militia shall
be appointed in such manner shall be preseiibedb by
law.
Mr. MAcRAE expressed hi. concurrence with the
vie OF the grn,ir man from Southampton in respect
TO the inferior officers lie thought the present msde
ofappointment judging by its resultsas bad any that
could he devised; and therefore, he was willing to
make the experiment OF elective nominations but,
experience, the only test Of human Institutions, might
demonstrate the latter TO be than the for
msr, he disposed TO subject the whole matter to
legislative control and dsci etion.-rhe military cleo
tons in Penn ylvania, had resulted in instance, in
the choice OF Colonel Pluck-whilst here, perhaps
il might be reorted our County Court recomme nda.
tens, had given many Colonel Mo- Piuck Nth
cut pluck, as the experience Of the late had
happily manifested. The Constitution OF New York
provides for the election OF the inferior officers Mi.
lila; but, distressing this mode OF appointment, il au-
thorzes the Legislature TO substitute any other in its
discretion. So that upon the whole, it seemed to be
edi abolish the presen, ituonal re-
strcton, TO the mode of appointmen and TO leave it
TO the Legislature, To provide such circumst ances
shall recommend TO its adoption.
As to the general officers he adYcred to the high
importance OF selecting men OF the best military quail
i6cation; and lie declared tina, lie considered cleo
non by The General Assembly, not adapted TO thai
end, and as resulting in practice, in many excepiona
le appointments. He claimed 10 be reiormrr; but
he was theorist he should 20 Tor the principles that
would work well; he would deluce them from facts
supplied by history and experiences and he would ap.
ply them with view 10 practical results. lie asked,
II IL was not the tendency and effect of the present
system to choose politicians rather than soldier; pre-
fer civic merit 10 military endowmens and TO make il
the most essential qualification TO attain the station of
virginia General, that he should be a Member OF the
Leglaturcl Ii must he from The nature of things,
and the ordinary working human nature: the elector.
have opportunity of skiing fair comparison OF the
precnsions oil the rival candidates. and they, there
fore readily yield 10 the Influence of the esprit du
corps OF personal friendship esteem contracted
during their association in public duty. The I.egisla
iure had proved itself 10 be wholly incompetent the
due exercise OF this elective function, by the cin,
mcnt Of popular men, wh,, however amiabie and re-
spectacle, were not recoEne nded 10y either military
service or military talent; of men, who not only had
Nor the division Of a battle knew,
but were Incapable OF d. Hing S,rgeani's Squad and,
perhaps had held cOnmssi 1n Ia the Sc re.
mark he disclAimcd any particular illusion. He spoke
only oil the general tendency OF tho system; and he
doubted not, that there had been many honorable ex
ceptions
But he utterly disappreved orhe principle OF re ward.
ing military service by civil Office; and he thong the
converse equally true and that civil service ought not
TO be rewarded by military office. He thought that
military men the best judges OF military merit
aud that the best depository OF the power Of
our commanders, would be the FIELD officers of Reoi-
ments, who, however deficient many of them must be
from the want OF experience, will always embody the
mass OF the military talent and spirit the State The
nominating power onght TO be To- iged in the hands Of
those having the best capacity and opportunity to Judge
Of the qualifications Of those recommended T. office and
he asked whether this function could be properly
formed by the members of the General Assembly who
are civilians, and not soldiers and who have no
oil comparing the professions OF the officers from HON
in general the selection ought TO be made or other can
ddates presented for their choice? Emulation was the
soul OF soldiers and the hope of promotion the great
incentive to military energy: and these he believed
would be much more strongly excited among our Oil.
GERS, hen they knew that their advancement de I'D
ed upon the estimates formed OF oher from per
sona observation, certain Information and not upon
holding place in the Legislature He proposed 10 give
the Governor and Senate negative upon the nomina
ton', with view to the correction of those instances of
erroneous Judgment, personal injustice which would
occur sometimes wherever The power selection might
be lodged. He had made the Senate participate in the
exercise Of that negative at the instance of others he
content to coniide the Executive alone. and
he hoped that those who objected TO his plan merely
by OF the action of the Senate would move In
strike out that feature of il. His pIan was recommend
ed toe ny its with those great and perya
ing principles OF our Constitutions which had opersed
so happily for more than half century; namely tbe
division OF patronage and local nomination for office
wherever those nominations could he best exercised I'm
local knowledge. These principles were AZ ami "a
bic 10 the Legislative 10 the Executive Depar
OF the Government. The corrup,ing influence of the
patronage OF the Executive of the United States over
the Legislative spartment, had been the subject of
loud complaint and open denunciaion from high autho
Tity and u had been proposed TO " the evil hy
making members OF Congress Ineligible during the term
for wich.hcy shall he elected ssy office i'm the on
OF the President II has been thought that The same
sort Of Influence might e.s where the persons exerci.
ing the patronage might be'tow il upon he,hs,lves and
therefore, The Contributions Of Of the State. r
vide that members Of the Legislature shall durior he
period for which they shall have been elected be nelig
ble to any Office the appointment TO which il coniijed
10 the Legislature. He was not prppared IN On tts
length but he doubted whether III disou,Iic alton did
not in effect rather enlarge Than limit the Id of choice