Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-01-05

assumed the whole interest, anu entire
the subject, aud passed law for ectny an improv
meut deemed Of great importance to the common
wealth, hy n continued canal FROM Richmond 10 the
mouth OF Dunlap's Creek; mrnpk. real from thence
TO the great tails OF ksnawha, and removing the oh.
sruc'ions to tho navigation of that river, from thence
to the Ohio.
or. Johnson's Speech 10 be coaciuicd)
tBxroRs rnn COMMITTEES OF rms wroLr.1
SPEECH OF =. n. NICHOLAS,
On the Resolution to gipc hhs election If Gover,o
10 MepeoPir
II appears to me, MIR Chairman that we are .inr
over vital interests. rapidly, and whou, du. consider
ton. The il Of the most import branche. Of t-
government, aud sense Of duty impels me- to stat.
the result o my ren ction. thr suit ct. There il
aiso, relation III which stand to this question: which
renders II proper that should address the Committee
had th' honor to Submit TO the Executive COMMITTEES
Of which wass me,nbcr, proposition relative 10 the
Executive DEPARTMENT.; which since, with the conseu
of the Convention, laid on the table, ani ref-rre,
20 this COMMITTEES. have announce my Intention I,
submit il "a substitute for part Of The report OF IN.
Executive Committee. The resolution now before III,
committee, IL limited to the declaration that the Go
vernon ought to be elected by the people of the
Legislature. BIT there other matters come cted
with the organization OF the Executive Department,
whch have been already adverted TO in debate. aud
which, in TRUTH will have important bearing, the
question now before the COMM tee. The proportion l
submitted, was that the 9Th and I0,h section. of the
Consn should be retained, and that the h should
10 substituted, by new section, which provides for
retaining Tour member of the council of them to
be chosen and act Lieutenant Governor; hall the
Nounc" 10 go ont al the end OF two years the other
at the end Of four. that though the members are 10 be
re eligible shall be in the power OF the Assembly n
necessary to renovae half the body once i'm two wear.
II IL also proposed to abolish the present mode Of
ing memher' from the Council, and TO allow them .ala
ries mode ate, hut all. qnat,.
Iii stated ty the gentleman from Brooke, (Nr. Dol.
drdgel that one obi CT of calling the Convention wa.
TO abolish the Executive Council do not know w h,
other gen'lemens ay think on the subject
hut believe mine have expressed no opinion on the
m'tter, and feel myself free TO consult my own vie w,
Of what's right and proper.
admit, that have my fears that any attempt that
may make tc defend the Council, will prove fuiiIes.
because many seem TO entertain strong possess IONS
agans il. But this viii deter me from doing NV ,u
yn.endeavourng TO demonstrate, that the public inter.
css VIII be promoted, by preserving this brsnc of the
Executive, under certain notifications Whether
The Council ought TO BE- abolished depends upon our
IDEAS OF what are the proper characteristics of the
Executive Department take il for granted that every
gentleman would tiink il proper, to construct the Ex
ecutve Department on principles suited to Republi-
can institutions The Government from which we were
separated by the Revolution, was one which concen
traed nordinate authority in the hands of single Ex
eeu,v, Magistrate. The monarch had the powers OF
war and peace the fountain of honor and ofJ; "a
ad could increase the house OF peers who are boJv
OF hereditary mobiles TO an unlimited extent, Iooi
al The preamble TO your Constitution, which enume
rates the causes which induced our ancestors 10 sem,
rate Tom Great Britain, aud you will see that GU Re
voluion was to great extent founded On the tyrann
cal anu oppressive exercise OF the powe.s and pre
negatives of the b., sh King. Smarting "a our ,nras
tors did, under what they declared 10 be ga
and nupportable tyranny" il was natural "a ,v Iii a.
onr, that in the Government they were about 70 90
taosh hey should en'eavor TO conform the structure
OF me Executive Department, TO the genius of Re.
public. But, now, we are about il would seem "a de-
part hon these principles We are 10 have spI.ndiJ
Executive. Its contemplated to vest th. authority
IN single magistrates; fni the appointment 10 all Of
hces in the gift Of this Department. is TO be give, IN
him, as some Contend, without conrol and as Others
maintain, wi no other check, save the rover of re
Jecting tis nominations, by the Senate. am NOT nre
"a
slorgan0 says lac ia Tor feebl. Executive TSi. il
not preeis'l y the phrase wouli adopt wish the
EA'cu'We 10 nave wer enough TO execute the laws,
ana no more wouii not invest il with spl, ndnr or
extensive patronage, or make it the mark or instru
men', oil inordin"e anben. Our Executive as at rre-
seat constituted, is simple, and transformations. Your
governor Is r9thiDg more than q citizen called upon
temporarily to execute the laws this done he RETAINS
TO the level Of the great body of the pcope Wh;ls
N ohce, he has with the advice OF the council all the
power which IL nece Try to give efficacy TO your On
vernmen,. Whist more can be desired, n Won i'm.
vest all power and extensive patronage in a single ma
gisate, you create petty monarchy. The gentlemen
who are on the other side of this question: admit the
rroprey ct nterpnsag checks prevent the abu.e nj
power in the other Departments Of Government but tb
trainers OF our Constitution, felt IN these checks
equally, indeed more necessary in the Executive Tn.
check they interpreted, the Executive Cnuncu
This isa constitutional body, not dependent on the Co.
The Presiden, Of the Unit d s a,es ba, cnormou,
powers and patronage, and lie. has no constitutions
council. The Constitution authorizes him TO call n,
The opinion oil the principal officer in ZACH of the Fx
ecuve Departments, upon any subject relating 10 the
duties oil his oice usage has erected these off
what - called the Cabinet Bat there il all the aim.
renee IN TIE world, between such body and coun.
cii organized "a ours. These Executive officers bod =,
the VIII OF the President anil ha can act wi,bou, or
contrary 10 their advice. The Governor can do mn i,
potant act. withou' the advice OF council Thsv mn,
only know lis acts, but they understand the motive
and secret spring. which set these cts in mo,ion \,
You entfust power TO man, to act in the dark and
without The possibility Of dsterm lining his motives Coz,
give facilities and temptations to do wrong You ena
Que MIN 10 indulge spirit OF iavoritism and 10 eonC.r
Offices IN promotion OF objects Of personal ambition
By constitutional council, you superadd TO tI,c re
'Pon.oiity Of the Governor the means if no, nj prs
venti, & the formation Of improper sch,me,,-ver or
their being carried into effect. '''
Bdt, IL is proFo'ed to give The election of Goverpo
10 he people IL seems 10 me, that the power i. essen
tally exercised Ivy the people, when carried into c
ert by their immed a'e representatives. B,b In. IN
We nor ard the members OF the Legislature are
for short periods, which constitutes sunici,n, secnsi
~ Tor the proper exercise Of this power Of ,ppoirtcn,
Ny those, TO whom the present Consniicn ba, on
trusted It, This is Of those sci. c,ions for of;cs
winch can be best exercised by intermediate agen,.
IL impossible that the candidates for Govetn,r ca h
known but in very few counties Of the S,,a n.
TO the members Of the Legislature who arc On ~ ~,
scene OF action, all the public men Of the Safe who
would be bi for The station would be known and ,bsv
could make The best choice. II the Goyernor ia n, =,
elected b. the people at large toy mus dem. nj mon
the representations made TO Them of the claracters
Tue cannlua e. Inc persons wbs may make these re-.
presentations, VIII, IN effect control the election 4,
The one case, them the elections syonlI he mad h o.
representatives Of the people, acting under sen.e ~
nuy and official bility; in the otber bv The H.
huence Of bea'oJ and interested pariizsns. "
But II 10 said, that the creation Of single Execute,
magistrate, AMI resting his choice in the people will
IL a. fuan nVa.tl.s