Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-12
GQM MHIWWe
TUESDAY, Dee. 3.
IN Committee Of the Irhoie,-.,r. r. P Barbour i'm
the Chair
" EsDAY, Dec. 3.

g..
IN Committee Of the Vhoie.--.nr. p. p. Barbour in
the Chair
MR. POWELL'S SPEECH.
The question being the Substitute of Mr. Pow
ELL. Tor The lst Resolution Of the Executive Commit
tee. MIR. p. rose aud ssid /:
bss leave 10 assure the Committee, that il mol INV
Intention 10 occupy their time by protrac,ed srgune at
IN favor OF the proposed substitute under conde.
ration al this psred of esson after aving expe
ell nine weeks in discussion, WITHOUT having dc tntrly
settled single principle should reg ard self as un.
pardonsbe in trcspa.ing upon the time of the Commit,
tee, for moment longer than WAS absolutely nec.ssa-
ry Tor explanation. shall content myself with bring
ing 10 the view OF tho committee the and distin-
gushing principles which is my ohjec; to nu.e into
the Executive Department Of the Constitution. and III c
leading considerations which have influenced my
Judgment, in presenting the proposed substitute.
had hoped, MIR. Chairman, that upon this SUI
there could exist no sectional party feelngs-iha
we should all concur in organizing the Executive De-
partmcnt upon settled and acknowl. ed principles
acknowledging as we all do that in fair represea ta.
tive government there ought TO be throe Departments
nat hese several departments ought TO be, in the dis
Wiouton oil their respective powers, separate and
distinct, as lar as practicable and especially that
they ought 20 he independent of each other but
above all, believing that department should not
owe IT'S very existence TO another. had hoped that tho
Committee would promptly have applied the e princ-
pms to the Executive OF the existing Constitution, and
reformed IL accordingly II such reform not required
al the present moment, ask gentlemen look forward
to future times and ask themselves whether in the course
oil human events, the time may arrive when the
present poweress executive may not be totally isad
equate 10 object Ii 10 pe vi to look 10 ey m.
bstt - wise TO provide for such iimeso be
'or the evil day, when IT shall arrive. The time may
come, when an efficient Executive, founded upon the
Affection aud confidence of the people, may be abso-
Iuteiy necessary for security and pre- SCI alton
These general considerations, prompted propose
me infusion OF the Prehxed principles into the
Executive Department of the Government. IL mua
be conceded, that the Executive is now but eyphrr-
l. bye word at home-an object of riijeul, abroad
The mere creature Of the Legislasre without soil.
iary, substantive, indie pendent power-bound 10 ODE
their will, and execute their mandates: The very
name CT the Governor. unknswn TO many citizens OF
the Commonwealth, during his whole term of service
Bat, Mr. Chairman, am transcendng the limit. l
hsd prescribed to myself upon the present
MY object was only TO present 10 tina consider s'op
OF the Committee, the new and discriminating urin-
eIpes was DESTROYS ofintroducng into the Executive
Department will proceed to this duty.
propose in the first place, the creation OF ne off.
Ger, with new powers aud for specific purposes Lieut.
Governor have proposed this. with eference TO what
this Committee have already done, by most decided
vote mean the abolition of the Council of State;
and moreover, with view the possible death or dis.
ability OF the Governor. Ia the latter event. supply
his placeand in the former, constitute one OF hi,
advisory Conncil-rhis officer, Sir, might also dis.
charge other and important duties. 1t is provided
that lac IL to be the President OF the Senae-and ia
him, the Legislature would be expected assign dI.
ties OF vital importance, under the general supsrn en-
dance Of tho Cos erBo' the du'y Of watching over
and participating in directing the ope raiions of the Lit
erary Fund.- and the Fund for Internal Improve the nj
and general superintendent over the Penitentjary
Systom-du,ies OF sufficient interest and importance
fully TO occupy the time, and 10 require the talents OF
|
in certain events before alluded TO.
The second principle propo'ed to introduce into the
Executive Department. H. tina, the Governor 10 to be
elected by the people, and not by the gsature a.
now provided. In other words that the Chief M.gis-
tTatc OF Vrgnia--the head Of a distinct Department of
the Government, s not to hi, official existence TO
a coordinate Branch Of the same Government, is moi
to owe his official existence Branch Of the Co
vernment, upon whom, in theory, he IL 10 be
cheeky whom he is paid for his services. OF
not, according TO its will and pleasure "A Branch
| OF the Government, who may say 10 him, 70,
every indie endent exercise Of opinion contrary to III
will -" We will only deprive you Of your office
at the end Of the year, but will, in the interim,
you Of your brcad"It is TO provide security against
such state Of dependence, propose the election oil
The Governor by the People, in preference the Leg
iHa,ure had believed, that upon this principle, the
could he no difference Of opinion.
But, Mr. Chairman, IL the people capable o
self COVE does not follow that i, s their nm
denabe right, TO elect the Chief Magisrate,-a right
ri which cannot, ought not TO divest iham oxcep
il can be conciusvey shewn, that IL would be wise
and unsafe, 10 limit its exercise TO theml
IL devolves upon gentlemen, opposed TO the election
OF the Governor by the people, to shew that IL safe
and best TO elect by the Legislature, rather than
by the Pcope.-Permit 10 depart from the course
had prescribed 10 myself, for a moment, to examine
one or two Of the most prominent srguments relied I'D
on by gentlemen, in opposition The venerable gentle
man from Loudoun, mir. MoNRoE) urges upon us
that in the Of ings, il the people elect him /,
must be done through the agency Of Caucus
Without admitting the correctness Of this proposition
let examine, for the character and extent
81 This objection.
Does the venerable gentleman believe that =
gency will not be employed in the election by the Le-
gisiature! What does observation and experience teach
us upon his SUBJECT DO not all know In elections
by the Legislature that cacusses are resorted 10 by the
respective friends Of different competitors for office? That
in truth and in fact, the facilities and efficiency OF the
caucus " greater in small than IN very large
body. Can shut our eyes 10 The fact, that where
the Legislature have the power appoint 10 Office thai
system Of log rolling will occasionally be resorted
That interchange Of good offices will I've made by the
respective rie nds Of candidates for different Offices?
viii appeal 10 the venerable gentleman from Loudoun
say If the system u inevitable, whether there
s danger to be unprecedented from that system
when resortcd 10 in the Legislature, that when indvidu
ale selected and deputed by the people from everS
section Of the State 10 meet al convenient place
10 nominate suitable candidate for Governor, for thI
object alone aud with other further powers
do not think, Mr. Chairman, the evil likely TO occur
hut IL Inevitable am perfectly satisfied that The eau
Gus system springiss directly from the people. Tor
single and unc0nneeted object, Is aoe 10 much fewe
exec ptons, than the system in the Legislature -
Would gentlemen consent, that the President Of the
States should be elected by Congress originally! fla
H.. az. ~ 4. IL