Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-03-12
From The Political arena.
IlDIEG IL .lE llNAEN IInN


Mr.. EDiroR:
he minds of the people cannot be too in
tensrly bent upon the great work, of which The
ensuing sprmg aud autumn are tn witness ihe
DONG. None eau mistake INV meaning. al
lude TO the selection We ne 10 male, OF fr per-
sons 10 amend our frame oil government; and
the assemhlage of those persons IN convention
to execute the high aud solemn trust confded
to them.
II would be id aud snprrnuons 10 descan.
upon the qualifications. which shonld dstin-
gulsh the deposltories oi this momrn,ous trust.
Dex eriy IN .baie-cautlon and aenteness in
deliberatinn enlarged poli ical views soundness
Of republican prncpe-and pre-emnentIy It
hove all, exc pon from any bias or tiabthty
10 bias, by psrsonal interest against wholesome
reformaiion--are too obviously the requisites
which should guide our choice, to need em force
meut or illustration.
The legislature have made all men eligible
They could not IN fact, rightluly restrict TIE
choice OF the people. But il behoyes us 10 I'M
pose restrictions upon ourselves. II beh0yes
us, if we desire that proper reforms shall TAKE
place 10 elect none who have not all the essen.
tia qualifications that have mentioned, and to
Jold those requisites Indispensable, in pro.
portion 10 the vitnl degree Of their wpor.
lance.
III HpOltiOn Oh I'VE executive CDhnfl--lHHt
eucumbering fifth wheel u our Wagon Of tate
ia so irrevOcably determined upon, that he
personages who compose il, il any OF them
should be thought worth electiug) could hardly
he DIR AIDED rs opponents tnthat Salutary expur,
Cation. YET, SINCE they are interested 10 op-
pose II, (mpOtent MS their opposition must be,)
principle should be adhered 10, and no Coun-
cillor chosen t. the Convention. But TO the
eligibility OF our State Judge, aocordl TO the
test under consideration, The objection is no
such matter of Indifference, nor one to be thns
family urged. II is powerful in proportion to
their t.ients and as these rise in the estimate,
that becomes irresistible. They have palpa.
bic interest against one OF the chief measures
ofreiormation. For many sabaltern, yet vex,
ntous, and (where often repeatedly fragrant OF.
fences, these gentleman EN- total impunlty
--lmpeachm, nj, the only remedy AGAINST them.
is IN practice, mere lame. The N ghty mass
thai must move before the o. ocrrdmg can be
begun, the difficult, (cycn before an Impartial
trlDunaD of cOnpicling ealthy, talented, and
powerful iransgr essor-and the Likelihood, yer
cling upon certainty. that his rcrhren. who try
aim, similar IN .talion, IN responsibility, aud
perhaps in delnqnences, vii 50 deeply Sympa-
thlZe with him rs 10 he virtually judges tn tlsH
oun cose--a'e So many uniallIng guarantees,
that Impeachment, as a restraint upon these
blbH ihhNhOhdilts IL iuiiit IVA lUG diClditS OF
justice before the sword Of u usurping conquer
er OF rs written unstutiun, under the con-
struction of a thorough paced Iatitudinai ian.
II IL not Wild belief, that 10 correct this wi
TO render these officers responsible tor misde-
mcanor and FOR incapacity, 10y some practicable
mode of prosecuiion--will be a leading Object
with the sagcs OF the Convention. Aud II a
Judge he am 'ng them. will h. not resist this
change? VIII he not resist an " innovation,
Gas he will call ~ by which he and his brethren
snail be deprived OF their Ing possessed privi-
iege, OF neglcctng duty or OF being incapacita. /
I'd tor II, yet ot still enjoying the dignity and
wage given MS the con liberation of its dis !
charg"? Whoever thinks he will not resist
knows nothing OF the human hear, and must
deny, as "A foul calumny, the hitherto unques-
toned axiom. that " Interest is The main spriug
of human action" Even previous character
for integrity is here bnt slight ground of
confidence. No one " III rely upon it, who
knows the inability oI poor frall man, TO with.
stand The powerful impulse of self interest, whrn
seconded by the coincidence OF tempting oppor-
tuulty.
lwarn the ftIe ds of re. orm-and man,, op
posed to convention. are still the f lends of RAJ
tronal reform 10 beware, ami trust not their
constitutional maiadles with PITY sicans impel-
led by the strongest OF all human motives, 10
Obstruet the cure,
A BuCkSEIN