Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-01-28


'housi most OF the remarks made by the gentleman
from Amelia had reference TO IL exclusively. N II
were proper for inc, at This time, to do So believe
couli ss.ign many good ,son., why the Governor
.houid re eiectedby the people, in preference 10 the
| Legislature =
beg leave, however, 10 call the attention NJ tho
CONVENTION To on o. tvs Of the remarks made by the
g'n'iemaR from Amelia which conceive ougnt not to
he psrnit'ed to pas. unno'ieel.
He tells u.s. that IL the Governor IL TO he elected by
the people, the choice will always be made by portion
rather than by the great body Of the people. Now.
SIR granting tor the cake OF the argument that he il
correct in that assertion, (hough 10 not admit }
-hll he draw conclusion from that fact in favor
II electing the Governor 10y the Legislature. For
there factions In the Legislature ell among
the people. and the Governor under the existing Con-
ion. his election in ano every instance TO
q legislative faction. I know this, sir, partly from
personal ob.ervaton-it the in the election OF
the only person who has been made Governor since
nav been member OF the Legislature, which is
icnr years. Aud 10 satisfy You how well legislative
factions manage their in,rgues, will ineuton H. c
lent which occurred a, the time Of that election Not
ocing one OF the iui lated did know with any de-
yrrr oi certainly, that the individual who ei- cted
was to be can 'idAt- until h. actually put in
nomination.. When the nomination speeches wer
ov.s "ni the Committee hal gone out 10 count In
ballots, ! Walked into thu lobby. where heard a
gentleman, who happened to be in Rich,nond at the
tune, say, that Their. would ~ majority for Of
h- Candidates (na,ning hn,) the ~ ballot This
was tn trst intimatio had that the thug hal been
agreed upon, AMI found when the Committee retura-
cal mat the result al the vote had bern predicted
aetiy came the cone ussu then that il II b. true
as the gentle asserts IN there will he faction. A.
mony the people which will coniroui the election OF
GOV ernor--tAt all we have 10 do il to choose between
legislative faction and faction among the people;
anu confes would rather trust the latter than the
'oher in@snuch AZ they will be able TO practice less
concralnent oi their mo'ives
Another objection which has been repeatedly urged
against the election OF the Governor by the people, and
"h'ch has Just been repeated IL founded upon the
supposed ignorance Of tn. people. Without g,ing for
he present ino any enquiry 10 the force OF this OBJ
lection feel my self perfectly jnstf in saying. that
the objection be vail one, il applies with at least
'qnAi strength 10 the Legislature. Tn. members of
the Legislature being assembled here from all parts
OF inc state, and in some instances not knowing who
are 10 he candidates for the Office until the morning of
'ne e''cion' many Of ,h IN mu1t necessarily he a.
profoundly ignorant OF the prcen.or. and qial fcA-
IONS :" IN 'se candidates a. II il possible to conceive
any portion OF thu people 10 be- an no d re-
spect TO the Leyi.'au, e, sir, Of which am myself
nemser; hut IL, impossible that the members of a
o"dy can he able TO make judcious selec ion em
amongst those who may be put in nomination for the
Once oil Governor when they required to vote un.
der circumstances which preclude them from all other
h"rna''"n except such as is TO he derived noni-
nation speeches. And every man here know, what
feHh - 10 De placed upon nor alton derived [, ON
such source. For my own part, ! have aIyays been
more disposed to regard such sp:ece, a. standard by
wh'ch 20" might measure The extent of ia. .peake A.
magin"on, rather than the candidates qualifications
for office
Several intim'ons have been thrown out in the Lac,
rev iay! that should we fail TO accomplish the object
VIII attach TO the friend Of refor who are charge
win presenting TO the Convention wild and visionary
projects ior change in the Constiu,n And one ind.
v'dua with total disregard To Justice propriey a.
ih 9ught proper in his capacity Governor of this Com
mnnwea H. to chTacterize our schemes of reformation
a. wild and visionary, in an Official conmunca lion to
the Legislature.
shall nnde- ake to decide upon ,v bicb cid.
the ianit lie; thsti question Tor u.s. but for our
constituents tn decide, and they will decide il very
shortly. IL viii he for them tie ermin- whether orr
IN he
giant schemes OF reform presented one side or 10
resoluts determination the Other to reject ey.rv
proposition Tor amendment, however, 10 ,sonable or ne
cessary and that VITA view to defeat the known wish.
3, OF the people.
The gentleman from Frederick, (Mr. Mas ,n) told
US the other day, that 'hi. was in reality conc. he
ween The people, who ask for reorm; aud he off ers
CT government, who seek to prevent it, And the peo
pie will have to decide whether the failure of tbi. Con
ven'ion TO d" any thing, should that event take place
owing 10 ths nismacag. Of the advocates Of re-
form. or TO the powerful influence and active and in
erest"h exertion' oil the officer, Of government 10 pre-
vent any change being made in the Constitution.
am not disposed al this time 90 into any xanina
uon OF The question az to which party will h. most 10
blame should this Convention adjourn without having
Hameh Constitution, which will he acceptable TO the
prope. abstain from any further remark. upon th,,
SUBJECT now becam.e il is calculated to give rise 70
angry feelings in this body, which have no inciina
non to aronse But wish it to be distinctly under.
STOOL that II that question doe. before the
am determined, and perfectly prepared to discuss it,
and to Vndica'e my own course and that OF the other
m" mbers Of this Convention who have acted with mo
IL having been strongly insnuafed by member who
"-y addressed the Conven ion that the friends Of The
white basis of representation, were pushing their
schemes oil reform to extremes in other mis- OF
the government, in order TO compel the oppoi,e Marty
TO come TO a compromise that subject deem /,
proper 10 repei that charge, by asserting, that I
nave Deen actuated by no such motives in any vote
wich have given. | have voted for extenIing th.
right OF suffrage greatly beyond its present limits be-
cause have thought II ought TO he EXTENDED And
have voted tor the election Of Governor nv the peo-
pie, because believe the people more competent to
make suitable selection Of person to fill that Off G
than the Legislature. The charge Of yaciII on which
ms been made against the member Of this Conv ention
or some OF TN in rather bro, terms has no appIica
ton TO me. have moved straight forward sccording
10 the best dictates OF my judgment, in pursuit OF such
changes IN The Constitution as have deemed nec.s,s
ry AMI proper. And see no Inconsistency in the
ccnduct OF those genilemen who although the arc on
posed TO u "a to The basis OF repre- have vot
ell with us Tor extending the right e suffrage ami IN
eectng the Governor by the people. In giving each
oil hose votes, have no doubt they consiIe red them
selves "a consulting the kn,wn wishes of their
uent, which it was their duty TO do
My sole object in rising 10 put the advocates Of
IN election OF Governor by the people their guard
against the resolution offered by the gentleman from
Northampton, in which hope have succeeded. Aad
b-ing up, thought not improper notice some ol
TIE observations which have been made by gentlemen
on the opposite side, tending eensure The course
which aud the other members e this body who have
acted wi me, have pursued in orivr that IL may b..
a'c"y understood that we shall he fully prepared 10
Juniiy our conduct as members Of this Conv.n,ion
"h'nevrr the proper time Tor doing so hall arrive
DOI8STIGe
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