Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-05-08
MIR. M.aSON'S REPLY.
TEMPLE HALL. A,r;, Q. ,

NESTLEMEN-iregrel lhat Inc receipt d,r,
leter OF the 18th instant was DELAYED S,"
absence from home. In that letter YOU ,, %|
to know my sentiments in relation TO c,r,s
propositions Of reform, which will r,r,,,'D,
be the subjects Of discussion in the ann,o,.t
ing Convention. Recognizing as an ,,ion
that, in order to secure true and ;u,, n,s
sentation of the people, the political ,sn,im,",
Of those who may be placed before them ~
candidates to represent them, should be v.T
and intimately known, eheerfully comply VIII
your reques', and will answer your queri.ss.
the utmost frankness.
Your FIRST inquiry is, " Whether am in f.
vor of liberal extension Of the RICH, Of 81.
frage ?" have long been Of the opinion, h.
every free white male citizen Of the Comma.
wealth, Of full age, should be entitled to III,
privilege. lie, some test Of citizenship bes,
tablished, such as one, two, o: three years ~,
dence, or any Other test which will eoneu.in
ly show bona f0e intention Of permauen, n
sidence in the State, and let every man ADM.
ted to citizenship enjoy the elective i,archir
Al present, fresholders only are permitted
exercise it and, if properly Qualification !.
an indispensable requisite to the enjoyment d |
il, know not in what manner the right can h |
benz ficially extended. To fix any equab, +, |
nit, presents an almos, lnsurmosn.abl, dia, |
Guilty. The declaration n'aued in the Bill |
Rights, that all men having sufficient .'r
dsnce OF permanent common interest with, ,E
attachment 10, the community, shall have b. |
right Of suffrage" as a general proposition, Is |
unobjec,ionable, Blu, its terms are 100 vaea
and ambiguous to furnish guide Of pracliu.
utility. VIVA, shall constitute such sui. |
cient evidence" still opens wide field forda
cussion anG diversity Of opinion. But by II
curing to the fundamental principles Of ,oc'
ety,-that all the members OF a commung m
equal, and that all are entitled to an equal en-
ioyment Of civil and political rights, the df,
Guilty vanishes. Besides, the very first pr
pie Of republican government is, that II
Of The majority shall govern; and hoN Gan b
principle be carried into effec,ual cp al. J
the will Of the whole community b Do. -
pressed
An answer in the afr NATIVE 10 20, ....
inquiry, Whether am in favo' c! .s-.t
ing representation, agreeably to The '''- .'
populalion" flows, as necessary cr"h
from what have said on the sublfc %.
elective franc hise-or, 10 speak more az re-
ly, though il amounts to the same hFs Dc
re presentation should be proportional 70 De
free white population entitled 10 the rig
suffrage.
Your third inquiry is, Whether ] an 10
favor, of reducing the number OF the memo'I
of The House Of Delegates" The h'u'' d
Delegates ought to be sufficiently numtr'0'"
be intimately acquainted with all 'he .'ea y
teres,s of The differen, paris Of the S'a'e "a
at the same time, 80 limited, as to AVOID ,'n,
fusion in the transaction OF bushes" "hs
the assembly is too large, i, is no, pracne-ISs
Cor the members 10 act undersandingIy on III
the subjects that may be brought before 'n'n'
and bushes. will be often caresssly Gop
greatly retarded, or entirely neglected. ""'
is the proper number Of which the h0u" =,
Delegates should consist, | am moi p'e2'0.
de6ni,ively to say. do not think 1t 0a6ni
ever to be less than one hundred, or 10 exec
two hundred. But as tie General hssemO'!
Virginia is at present constituted, there ~"
tainIy too great di,proportion between =" y
number of The House Of Delegates and 'n!' " '.
the Senate. The one ought to be reduces "
the other increased.
Your fourth inquiry is" Whether ! Al I'D !"
favor Of sbolishiDg the Council o. o'a', -.
otherwise reforming The Executive Depa''" ',Si'
so as to increase its efficiency and respo"'n, ~.
li,y?' The imbecility Of the E1ecu'i" 'n n
parlment, and It's subserviency 10 the W" L,so
the legislature, are defects which nav. ',t
so long apparent, and so generally eonasH'' =,
that I presume there can be bu, one opinion I"
10 the propre,y and eIpediency Of so Te'v ~ i,
izinp i. as to add 10 its Independents 90: "a
responsibility Blu. whether that o1l &c Sat,
be effected by aboIishing the CoInen , ~ 10 &C.
or in some other mode better eaieu''. sOr,,io,
complisb the purpose, deserves eon'''s'If ,,o,
Your next inquiry is, "whe,her | am IN =, ,' IN.
of reforming our judiciary SYSTEM 50 .i,bos'
ereas. the Responsibility OF the judges. S,,a,
i'm pairing their independence. . 10 ,hOsId
indie pendence of the Judiciary luus. and re.
hold their Offices during good BEHAVIOR - b. d,
c.iye fixed and adequate salaries, MOI " 49,
minished during their continuance 10 . oh
To insure their responsibility, proper .,,1 "s;n.
should be established for the trial Of az! ,.,i,.
ces with which they may be charged, i'or,
10 their judicial duties; and, upon soH In The
,hev should be dismissed from office; ~ n
admini,,ra,ion Of justice. too i, should .' much
;. memb.red. tina, acts Of omission are - l,,s d,
,e.. of misbehavior and violations o. usE INV.
act. Of commission, and sometimes a'v ID:
rious to the public in,eres'.-but w" e for ib.
courts now fixed by the constltu!.o""r vosE