Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-05-14
BY PARTICULAR REQUEST.
From the welEsbuns Gazette.
no. VI.

FeiLoto Citi<ens e5' Western Firg1nG: -
never had taste for political life, and bat very
small taste oft. | am no political asplrant, but
am an advocate for political as well religious lib
ery. aware that they both stand fall together -
Public opinion has prescribed all MEN who choose to
nculcatc the religion of the Bible from taking
tive part in nlattors purely political To that dcci-
sion respects my taste and feelings huvo ne OBJ
lection; yet of the correctness OF such decision
have not yet found the proof II is the offspring of
the iorarchal distinction Of courts, temporal and
spiritual ofclerGy and lsyof priests and people,
ChrstiGa has the right OF ctti=cn under this gov
ernment and any person or calling more sacred than
that OF christian neher the Bible nor tight reason
has introduced to my acquaintance. am rcpubli-
politically, morally, and reigiously, and such
and as citizen, fec aysslf bound TO servo my fell
low citizens and the csuntry have made MY own,
IN whatever relations may judge compatible with re
Ggious and moral obligation, and for which they
might reasonably suppose me capable and eligible
From these considerations consented to represent
you Of this district IN tho late Convention, feeling
common interest with you in having government
better adapted TO secure and promote temporsl
interests than that under which we have lived. The
same considerations induced the request of
some of you after my return home explain, in the
most plain and familiar style, the bearings Of the
new constitution and the causes which produced it ,
that the yeomanry of this community might vote nd
vjsedy upon il at the ensuing election. This have
attempted though under great disadvantages having
more writing TO do for my own Office than any
man could do well. But that obligation just now
/ mentioned has constrained to appropriate few
hours 10 liisduty had determined to go eti 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 rment in some Of the
western papers together with the near approach of
the election renders the farther discussion of the
Constitution at this time, unnecessary my part.
In this nv last address you before the elections
commence shall, to give some sort of finish to the
outlines proposed, call your attention TO few items
not yet glanced AT in My previous essuys:--
You will see that while there is a discretion given
to the Legislature to exercise some supervision
the different courts Of justice in this government, the
present County Court system, with all its anti
publican and anomalous characters les, remain
conJttutonaily sacred. The self created arrstocra-
cies which have always governed the Counties and
which have been the schools and nurseries in which
the state arstocrdcy has been nurturod and educated
are still 10 govern the counties and sustain tho arts
tocrdCy which has hitherto governed the Common
Vodlth Pherc is nothing wanting IN this syscrl to
perfect hereditary aristocracy but for ;Ic mag.s
tratss Of the counties to elect the members of the
| Legislature. And this they uisy do in many CO IN.
ties if they please, five years in every seven under
the system as It nov IS. Not, indeed, directly and
Immediately, in PrCptid persona, but indrectly
They unite 10 their own psrsonsthe Legislative cy
ecutae and JudIcia powers of the government hev
levy the taxes upon the counties and appropriate them
at they please and who dare say 10 them what have
IJou done' The Bilof Rights says, that we are not
10 be taxed but by Representatives, 'that no er
sons TO be taxed ordeprved of their prouerty for
pubic uses, without their own const Mt, or that of
tRer representatives elected by them" but who of us
consented to the Magistrates taxing ~ or what rep
FeSoH,"ti~' Sf 49, as'eOi hJi - that oounjy
/
beng au1enable to tis:The Bill OF iobrs decIap~s
that magistrates are the peoples trustees and ser
vents and at all times amenabe them" But the
Bill Of Rights Ia but the text and fho Congti,r,;,o
Is the sermon and, like most sermons il departs vcrv
! taF from the teX,.-Tho ma gs-rates of anv countv
lin the Commonwealth not account able TO the non
PIE ana under the New Constitution never can be-
1iSy lGglsain for us III matters more important IN
rs than do our representatives in Richraonj thew
lJudgethe law for us, and they execute IT, And II
complete the picture of little finished arisocracv
Sney 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 grade; they do appoint the COMMUNICATIVE
attorney, retain in their own hands the Sherifaltv
ahd may appoint one Of themselves the Commissions
er OF the Bcvcaue.-Thus enprossing all the ofic..
nthe country, and having it 10 their power to nT,I
encc puoiic opinion, 10 1t not in their power to select
one OF themselves TO the Assembly as often gs tbo,,
list And IS not theLegislsture of Virginia oner,i
! ~ crowded with Magistrates Sherifs and Lawyers,
~ tney DO not domineer over us, to what is il ow
Ing Not 10 the system, but to the intelligence
ahd virtue efthe magistrates. The constitution mis-
III thor power thus TO and If tkey arr NOT tho
veriest fyraHts IN the VSrld must thank the mon
| Snd not tho system In some counties one or two
Ldullcs nave governed IL for generations: asd in a.
theirs, one religion har had the political ascendoncy
az the religion Of the court party Thezo nrc hi,
INC legitimate fruits ola system which gives to bo
ny OF mon the power Of perpctuatnr fb.noa.Iyo ~
gafdless Of the will OF the people pic .;,;on
any county IN this Commonwealth, could a. sos,Iy
ISsoVe me governor OF Gsorgis the King of En-
80 = o pLs oHlce ~ to remove single magis
HaSe rom MS oeneh. Hs is not Of their creation
and consequently not responsible 10 them.
70 gay that men hosorabIe and bgh nr,,Jc1 ~ -
az; ~ 70 ny mat government useless For n roven1,.r,
asa laT DO not proceed nPsn pTs,rr,rtiso 30, -
90, Wndt nees rs thero FOR government lsgo The lac +.
righteous man; and the object Of rovernn,cc,
uo 20 PfsTeT, agsre',on opesf'u andnjuo il has no
o al az NO sysem sfgovor1msnl could be desired in sny
CuVT, PtahSsns republican, doctrines. r,ore .a,tr
with republican principles and more ns,pv, Ill;
ment NJ Virginia ' '""y 0"uH govern
n pay The MAGISTRATES for their services s Seeued ob;,
soe' So u y nors objectionable to say them n q CO.
"' "uBtuon ana dii'
gay NOT ane' two, or three naSaes fsresepin, the ,
Woen lheY are 70 descend from the beach and m &c., ~
JUSTICE provide FOR themselves a rich hargs ,vbSs
~ oSroes INTO their hands have moi i,,,,r,c,
o. tos or' repeatedly secured How has Inc ,oct", =, 80
e 5coIuuated and az other diminished on ne
oS,taln terms Is not this explained by Be
auo Merciioss avaro8 OF new po,,rntcn,, a..
5uSne % pa 10 tbo 'Peedy and regular despatch Of
yiraS ana ~, "a pay tne magistrates direct or heir -r,.
20 Ienoef 'hen, as they ought IA be tyng ,hei, -
ssIaoy, Inegblo ~ scat IN enher nn,n N IN. IS 49, ~