Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-11-23

that defects, glsring defects exi,, In so,,. -, H.
oil the state-defects which the observaon IA 1870
nence oil past years, in the view Of your nernor,s,
h npes'y require inc prompt in,erposition of your
Your memorialiss dsclau entertaining ,nv aos,,.
Tor wanon innovation on long established Sssgss whnt
cAPeehce las proved TO be sautsry wise: b ,h.,,
arc constrained to pronounce the existing laws for ho,
ing the elections OF this as not of ,n,
clnss. W NV vi uiat
Your memorias,s deprccsie that provision, os H.
.seuon laws which dircc,, that the icctions shall he
ne OH INC resp c'tre curt days IN the month of April
nc .'hs wh'ch that provision gives rise to- are par-
and senate ai elections.
Your inemoralis;s deem il an act of suner.ror,,;o
70 enter INTO an elaborate detail Of the various obec,ions
TO which the present system generally is ob1ox;ons
Let isw suthce-ohers will doubtless occur ,o ,ha
minis oil your honorable body:
Illuminating as is the fact, il nevertheless Gamma, 10
ueh'eu mat the intervening time which occurs bewee
the different elections OF the counties comprising ei,bct
congressional or senatorial district we rem, can
diddtes present themselves is eeneralv emnIoved 4,
pursuing system Of elcctonee rine and intripue 10
. s ,nsomPanoe, as your memoriass believe, with
"e purify ana independence Of the elective franchise
and disgraceful to Jrcemen. The political STRENGTH of
particular candidate (or example) in election which
has passed. in one counties, being ascert,;ned
the political machinery, OF others vet 10 follow is 60,
In motion to defeat him; combinations are ormed-cor
promises made-he passions OF the people are arouse
county is afrayed against couny-and i'm fne stat, an
nss revolving to every honorable and patriotic mind
Is engendered.
,,, - your memoria'sts aver, Is not merely Epry
SKETCH, such instances hare occurred and under te
peSW system, must necessarily continue to occur
a pam men, so RATIONAL and so WE'LL calculated Il,
avert the evils which have been enumerated ss % have
a. e e'.cuons IN the oommoaweaih TO take place on
.e same Day plurality Of votes governing our cleo
$50, e ensnge proposed would doubtless ensure the
expression OF the will of the people the voters
would thus exercise the elective franchise to,aIIv ~
cohuohedp 10y adventurous circumstances. d,, -, 80
mou,u ueermihe our election; the strife would have
u an ePnemerai exisence; reason would promptv re.
sumo her empire, and harmony be "a promnv res.raJ
mna an envaole state OF things when contrased with
the evils which the present system gives birth ,o wili
ca" mo representatives oil the people hesitate as To-
which they prefer' 90
or memeriaists further pray, that the election laws
o' he commonwealth be also amended in reference
10 The duration Of the elections ms TO leave ,otb;n =;
@ e'cnoh oil eher candidates, sheriffs or commits.
o me provisions Of he law upon this subject
yo", uc'oriists deem vague and undo fined and sus-
eeptbe OF great abuse. Sherfs are but men.-prone
20 me same passions and n6rmies that other men are:
hy also have their prejudces and their oredilec,ions
The sheriff is the arbiter to deter mine wbeber ,ho
exists any just cause to continue open the rols HE "a
@ Peanapsi Is h,ndmos Qor he must be more than
man IL ne nave not preference)a contest arises II.
called on to decide-he is in doub-but a len1h Az
t. contrary, perhaps TO the judgment of others
os. pois shsli be continued open, he, perhaps
'eh' az pest SUITS the Views of his fayoiite can.
ueae' a contested election is the consequence ana
.e line oil your honorable body occupied in trying
me issue Commissioners for holding eections .r S;S
10 inc same fraes: and instances have mo, h.e No.,
ing IN which the polls have been kept omen in one die
,ct oil county, aud closed the first evening in tho
is lar IRON your memoriasts 10 ascrbe coyy7,nf rno
ives 70 any man. or set OF men; but they would deem
,h ~ WISE nu proper 10 remove every temptation to
e e's aouse OF power They therefore, pray that de-
period SAY one or two days) he fixed by law for
| keeping open the polls The division of the countss
sneray INTO convenient election districts would seen,
;o reer IL particularly appropriate change the cleo
non .r laws In This important particular.
Ine anh"al period for holding the elections of tina
on ohwesih might also your me n, oraIists believe
be oenehctiiy changed to either the month ot kmus,
OF carry In September. The weather at that season If
we year. Is generally more favourable lhap in the
PSi ~ " Is also SEASON Of leisure and recr.a,ior
, important reason fer chang ng the time il enl
u 70 eon'icera'ion the people woulI have more lime
Ish me ac's t'heir public servants and be better
soTu 20 determine how far they would lie entitled TO-
mr. "'u,e co; bdence; aud the candidate ON the
n"ha' would he allowed more time repel or ex-
pam away any Improper impu'a,ons viii, h NAV have
osrn cat npon his public course 'N
! , "n'ch your mrmcralists pray ay receive the
i , ron'ihsr, on OF your honorable body. Ard
:" =" d"'y oon,d they will ever pray, &c &C.
a. cory. Or the 06ope Petition is deDosred at The
oDee ~ The Enquirer, TO aphich Signatures ,oin be