Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-05-14
dams do. aDter vsing III comparison with his, look
like Bolingbroke by the side of Duff Green.
IY PARTICULAR REQUEST.
From, the Wellsburg Gazette.
Nn


IY PARTICULAR REQUEST.
From the weIlsburs Gazette,
NO. VI.
feio's Ciiiscns Of Western Yirg,aia:
never had taste for political life, and but very
Small taste oft. l am political aspirant, but
am an advocate for political, well religious lib.
erty. aware that they both stand OF fall together
Pubic opinion has prescribed al! who choose TO
incrcate the religion of the Bible from taking all
tive part in matters purely politicGl To that deci-
sion as respects my taste and feelings have no ob
lection; yet of tho correctness OF such decision
have not yet found the proof 1t is the offspring of
the hierarchial distinction OF courts temporal and
spiritual OF clergy and aity-of priests and people,
Christian has the right of citizen under this gov
eminent, and any person calling more sacred than
that of christian, neither the Bible nor right reason
has introduced to my acquaintance. l am republic
can politically morally and reliriousIy and as such,
and citizen. feel myself bound to serve my fell
Dw citizehs and the country have made my own.
ln whatever relations may Judge compatible with
tg'ous and moral obligation, and for which they
might reasonabiy suppose me capable and eligible.
From these considerations consented TO represent
ydu OF this district i'll the late Convention, feeling
corirnon interest with you in having government
better adapted to secure and promote our temporal
interests than that under which we have lived. The
sane considerations induced at The request of
some Of you after MY return home, to explain, in the
mot, plain and familiar style, the bearings of the
new constitution and tho causes which produced it,
fhsAthe ycomsnry of this community might vote adj
vIsediy upon it at the ensuing election. This have
attempted, though under great disadvantages having
more writing to do for my own Office than any one
could do well. But that obligation lust now
mentioned has constrained to appropriate few
hours to this duty. had determined to 90 still more
fully into the details but the very able expose of the
pen Of my late colleague, Philip Doddridge, Esq and
the light thrown upon this inst some of the
western papers, together with the approach of
the election renders the farther discussion of the
Constitution at this time, unnecessary my part.
In this my last address to you before the elections
commence, shall, to give some sort Of finish the
outlines proposed, call your attention to few items
not yet glanced al IN my previous essays
y on will sec that while there is discretion given
to the Legislature to exercise supervision over
the different courts OF justice IN tht government, the
present County Court system, With all its anti re
publican and anomalous characters ic5 is to remain
couStitutIoualy sacred She self created aristocra-
cIes which have always governed the countless and
which have been the schools and nurseries in which
the state urstocracy has been nurtured and educated
are still to govern the counties and sustain the aris
tocracy which las hitherto governed the Common
wealth. Phere is nothing wanting in this system to
perfect hereditary dristocracy but for the magis-
trates OF the counties to elect the members of the
Legislature. And this they MAY do in MANY com
ties if they please, five years in every seven under
the system as 1t now Is Not, indeed, directly and
immediately, In ProI'ria persona, but Indirectly.
they unite Id their own persons the Legislative ex
ecuve, and judicial powers of the government They
levy the taxes upon the counties and them
as they please and who dare say to them what have
you done? The Bill OF Rights saws that we are not
to be taxed but by Representatives, sthat no per
sons arc to be taxed deprived Of their property for
public uses. without their own const mt or that of
their representatives, elected by them, but who of us
consented to the Magistrates taxing us. or what rep.
reseutative of ours agreed for US that the county
magistrates should possess this power over us without
being amenabe to us?-The Bill of Riehts declares
al he g tbsm Bt
Bill of Rights is but the text, and the Constitution
IS the sermon, and like most sermons it departs yery
far from the text.-Phe magistrates Of any county
yHnOu y0oy IL
pie, and under the New Constitution never can be-
fhey legslae for us in matters more important 10
Us than do our representatives. in Riclnloni thew
Judge the law for us, and they execute it, And ia
complete the picture Of little finished aristocrscv
they nominate, and thus virtually, appoint their col
leagues and successors They may be also elected
to the legislature they may become military officers
of any grades they do appoint the Comronyy eal,h:s
Attorney, retain in their hands the Sheriffaty
| and may appoint one Of themselves the Commission
Ier OF tss Revenue.-Thus engrossing all the Offices
IN the country, and having 1t IN their power to infu
ence public opnlsn is it in their power to select
one OF themselves to the Assembly as often as thew
tisH And Is not the Legislature of Virginia general
ly crevded with Magistrates, sherifs and Lawyers:
III they DO not domneer us, to what is II oty
ing Not TO The system, but to the intelligence
and virtue ofthe magistrates. The constitution puts
1T in their power tnis to act, and il they not the
veIest tyrauts In the woriu we must thank the men
s Enc not the system In some touri,.cs one or two
Iamliie5 have governed it for generations an in
thers one religion hae had the political sscendeory
as the religion of the court party These are byi
.he legitimate fruits of system which gives to boz
ny OF men the power Of Perpetuutine tRemselve. re-
OF the will of the people. The citizens Of
any county IN this Commonwealth, could as oasiIv
rs,noye me governor of Georgia, the King of En-
s,aho rom nis oiace, IS to remove a sinpfe msnis
tra,e from his bench He ia not of their crsatSon
ana consequently not responsible to them
say that nen are foo honorable aud high minded ,bs
ac TO say that government useless For if s
aw 90 not proceed tbs presumption that men
no, ~na, need 70 tnero for government The law 10
m Iof righteous man and the object of severnnon
s; P,S'en aesres'on oppression has no
d. dii. NO system Of government be desreJ l., 49,
: So's.'ns republican doe,rncs incoparbis
ava than the county court
EO pay the magistrates for their services, :, sseo
Joss !, .oIe objectionable pay in ,yav which
iress- vi h'tSaHon and dis
no one 'yo or three sIsrates foTeseeinp the
nen oey are 10 descend from tho bench and To 49,,
b 81 justice provide for themselves harvest when
'be snerIsJ eoWe5 into their andss And have mo-,
81 nn so repeatedly occufed' How ba, the dock., ~ go
time accumulated, and other Nrnes diminished on d.