Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-02-03
FOR THE Eve UIRER
TO THE LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.
.Hppo ntmenfs to Office.

TO THE LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.
appointments to Office
Gentlemen In the organ alton of the new gov
ernment, all the appointments in the Executive and
Judiciary to be made anew. The Executiv il re-
duced to Governor, Lieut.. Governor and two Coun-
ciilors The number and duiie, of the Judges will
depend upon the laws you may enact on that subject
Itis remarkable, that in relation to the Executive de
Partment, odious feature in the old Constitution
should have induced the Convention adopt proyi-
sion In the new by which, upon the death re-
signa,on Of the Governor, after his election, he
three Councillors shall succeed according t. seniority
10 the chair of state. The oldest will Governor
for the remnant OF the first year Of the Governors
term-and the other two will each serve one year as
Governor-al going out OF office in the routine prescr
bed by the Cons tuition From this provision is IL not
apparent that the Intention OF the
that person should be made Councillor, who is no,
qualified 10 act as Lieut. Governo and also as Gov.
ernor. upon the death, resignation inability OF the
G,veynor?
In th. of things, you are called upon to elect
the Executive, ADD ought you not to have an especial
ere to the qual cations Of those whom you
may appoint TO the Counc There lie surely no force
Ia the idea that the Council is only small advisory
body. The number was reduced by The Convention
from eight 10 three that you ght attach TO the of
nee sufficient salary to induce men of the highest
character and talents to accept the appointment
Heretofore, it has been said, that the Council was
house of refuge for amiabe aud necessious ndyidu-
ais or for young men in search OF improvement II
this he true the question presents ITSELF Is such now
TO be the character of the body IL is not my wish
disparage any of the present members of tat body
II You s.iect the three Councillors from among en-
you must unavoidably leave out many five. The
Constitution has wisely given to The people the
advantage Of knowing your indipdidl in all APP
pointmc nts, and OF judging whether not, in such
cases. you governed by strict regard the in,e-
re's of tbs pubic service or by he dictates of prvae
ffiendship Charitable feeling. In such govern
ment ours the public service ought to be the polar
star for the guidance Of all public men and pnb
measures. And I do not doubt but that YOU will
have proper regard TO it, In all your appointments
The Constitution puts IL IN your power to sit, the
judicial benches of the State, ard ria them Of such in
cumbranees as time and acciden, may have placed up
on them.
In the performances of these duties, both az regards
the Excessive and the Judiciary, YOU something
20 the political character opinions of Virginia az
well 10 the abstract details of official competency
and duty The political principles of the ate are
rtaned ard established hry are ancient and or
thodox. God forbid that should insist upon the pro-
scripou Of any man for opinion. sake! Bu, one OF
those who consider that the beanul com
pick system OF government, depends upon an adherence
to the feersl constitution not lattudnous
nerp'etit but a' IL wa wri ten, and inten led TO be
.inde rstood by its framers An overwhelming majority
OF your b~dy, aud Of the good people you repre-
cent, State Right men, AID Republicans Of the JEFF
ferson School. They expect OF you measure, which
khsil weaken their influence either at home or abroad
Your predecessors actuated by noble disinteresed-
nsss have often dseegarl4d political opinions in an.
pon mens 10 office. Indeed, they have so often done
cd, that too large proportion OF the public funciona-
rtes 10 Virginia, oP'osrd to her doctrines. l. IL
fight is il consistent wi the duty which you owe TO
your opinions or those OF your constituents that
you shoud surrender nearly every department of the
Government toto the hands OF political opponents ;,
This cannot surely be owing to the pAucy of talent
and merit in your own ranks IL is go regarded A.
trosd. You know what i0fsreDces draw fsom the
appointment OF an executive judicial officer in an
other State. IL Is regarded index OF public sen
ument, and becomes the OF triumph or NORTH.
cation, according as The politics OF the Individual ae.
cords with, or dIf.'s rom Ii is so In other
States. in relation appointm mis-: but probabIy
not to the SAME extent. This is owing perhaps IN
the known nagnanmi'y OF yirginaus-- But Is it con-
sisteDt with your duty TO the people, 10 hazard the
sacrifice OF their valued principles for the mere
OF a magnanmity, which has not be n and cannot he
questioned!
In the maintenance Of Our principles we have en-.
countered the conflicts OF two desperate political
In the Of SO, Virginia stood almost alone Ken.
tucky joined her standard, and vi toe weapons
Of reason and argument, they niumphed. The reve.
res Of theorists, npytcks, aided by the silent and
sobte cooperation of old fed ,ra oppOn ms and
the dessers from ranks, whose ptc1s of GO
verDmental grandeur aud omnpotency had been 10
famed by temporary residenCss at The giittering
Courts OF Kings, left the Oh ,miuon in the al.
most sole possession Of her original aud fres pfnci.
pes" North Caroina and Georgia, ii is true, stood
by her eide with cons,aney and good ai Wih these
faithful allies, cred in o he ses,nd eo.Ac,aod
in the end, succeeded in exp1lng Tho eoaldon (roc
its l-goueu power Our ranks have been fncr,asog
ever since. ln the most appalling times we rever
struck our n ". IL must be APPARENT ina, aIbousb
we have MT yet re'rdc,ed the government. and our
danenisi principles, sdll the retreat 10 going on II
neither BE- comes has lily to pfecipitste IL nor 10 re-
tari il by any derelictoa Of duty part.
I, odght not to be thus forgo'tep, ina, bu,
Few years ago, when tn conflict OF political inciple
wsged with The most Disgrace fu psrsooal violence
gina, an opponent 10 our principles, WIS hailed in
the other ates az pro)f positive that Vrguia wa
giving up her snHlsced devotion and that nothing
bnt ihe PRIDE Of oi'.,eoey kept Or IRON going over