Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-07-28

some form or Iiung me v,uy p.....1.
ever since the times OF the Colony, when it exer-
clSed Legislative. judicial ard executive authority.
HE loosely defined powers OF our Executive under
the former Constitution gave rso to frequent dis
senlIons and often caused the busncsS of that
department TO be either neglected, badly done.
IT was formerly said, (and with much shew Of
truth) that we had eight governors and ono auto
fm6fon 20 register and execute their edicts- The
powers OF the old Council certainly extended far
beyond mere adrice-as the members not only coun-
SEIZED the person who boro the empty namc of Co.
vernon, but decided and directed for him: so that
! ls Excellency had not even tho privilege of the
wife OF Bath, to shear their advice and take his
own" This was conceded OH all hands to be a do
lect, ana the late Convention endeavored to obvi-
ate 1t by putting things i'll their right places They
accordingly said that there should be Governor,
who should stake that the laws be faithfully
IeSccuted-comnunicate TO the Legislature, at e.
very session. the condition of the Commonwealth
and recommend TO their consideration such mea-
suros as he may deem expedient-be commander.
in-chet OF the land and naval forces of the State
have power to emhody the militia, when in his o.
pnon the public SAFETY shall require ito convene
inc Legislature, &c--to grant repreves and par
dons, &c.-to conduct either i'll person or in such
manner as shall be prescribed by law, all inter-
course with other and foreign States-and during
the recess OF the Legislature to fill pro tempore all
vacancies in office, &c. &c.-Beforc the GoverIur
exercises any Discretionary power vested by the
Constitution or laws, she shall require the advice
OF the Council of State"-which advice he may
regard or not seems best to his Judgment
lie alone can Gct-they can only adUtse
1T was hoped that this new organization Of our
Executive would ensure at least harmony and off,
cIal decorum in the first department of govern
ment. IL was hoped, that the ridiculous feuds which
had sometimes excited notifications sometimes
mlrth, under the old regime, would be moro
witnessed under the order of things But alas;
though the cry of ''peace," .peacc," has gone
forth, L fear there is still ''peace." Why is
this so? Can it be owing to the frame, the
ganiZatiOn of our Executive-or to the peculiar
temper of rulers? We have but just changed
the pldn-the old, crazy edifice has been pulled
down and new one erected. fear that soma
fragment--some sappy piece of timber of the old
structure has been incautiously retained in putting
up this new one. Some of the old leaven is here,
which leavens the lump. Is it not so? Let
see. / have thought could detect III the late
querulous correspondence between our Governor
pro tenn. and the Editor of the U. S. Telegraph,
some lurking symptoms which tend TO realize these
apprehensions. Now, admire the consistent de-
voton Of his subeEcellency to principle especial
y that invaluable abstract principle rotation ocs)
and as 1t is thing these degenerate days.
such striking illustrations of patriotism and public
spirit | would that he should have full credit for
the same. 1t seems that on the Both day of June,
a. ID. 1881, the Governor of Virginia iwho il should
be remembered is from the back-woods) left the seat
of government to breathe his own mountain air
and regulate private affairs for brief season..
His back was Just turned-the chair of state (save
the mar!i) was not cold-when the Lieutenant
Nrho, it is said had unaccounable long ng after
this same chair some eighteen months ago. inducts
himself thereto and finding no graver affairs of
state TO attend to, dispatches his sentence of
excornrlunication against poor Duff: IN the
name of the commonwcalth, amcn!--Like
our amiable uncle Toby, Mr.. Daniel would
not crush Duff-but he held him very, very
uneasy, and let him out of the window
Now 1 have heard this act Of Erectire discretion
ascribed to a dislike which the Lieutenant is sup
posed TO have recently conceived for Duff or his
paper. But it cannot be so-for had the sight of
the Telegraph annoyed his sub Excelency's assyes,
he would surely have vented his spleen time
before, while Duff reposed in quiet the table,
Lieutenant
would not disturb the Governor while perusine
this papcr-therefore he waited until the Chief
Magistrate gone. 1t was n higher-a nobler
impulse which actuated deputy Chief Ma gistrata
on this occasion. 1t was just to be doing
that's ull-''Whcn the cats away, the mice will
play"-IIis time had come ''to be captain" and he
made the most of it. He only desired to see and
feel the dignity of station for which he had long
sighed, and least the Governor should return before
there any thing TO be done, he resolved tn try
his hand on Duff. He could not have selected n
better subject for experiment-the general has act
ed to the life. have heard that Mr.. Daniel un-
willing to share the credit of this transaction took
no ddUice of council about it,
Now, Mr.. Editor, am of those who always
prick up their ears, when any symptoms of en-
croachment the ghts of the States or the free
dom of the PRESS is dsccrned. Rely on it, there
is much more i'll this affair of the Lieutenant and
Duff, than most persons arc aware Of There is
lurking at the bottom of this transaction, some
gun-Powdcr plot on the part of Duff against State
Rights-or be assured of it, Executive have
stricken fatal blow at the liberties of the Press
MIR. Daniel must have seen, thought he saw
armed men in the belly of this Grecian horse, or
Jovo would not have shaken high Olympus in his
wrath. The Lieutenant Governor and Senior
Councillor, would otherwise have consulted with
the Governor a friend surely, if not as one of
the triulnvirate, and adUiSed and warned him
against the perncious practice of reading the Tel
egraPh. 1t is certainly proper that Mr.. Daniel
should be consulted as to what newspaper the Gov
ernor shall rcud-for you know, Mr.. Editor, that
newspapers tell great many lies, and if they are
not on the right side, they have very cerrupting
tendency on ones morals. Besides, the Governor
is raw from the mountains, and not bong an fdit
in these matters, could not have better aduisey
than his Lieutenant. These occurrences have
brought to my memory certain controverste whis
arose great while ago, about the real presence
Qn@re-wes not Peter V. Daniel then ono of tho
nine Governors ofVirginia Yours p O.
D1ED-On the Bird inst. Mrs. ANN HICHAUX
consort of Richard w. Nichaux, of Pittsylvania
county, Va of = lingering disease, which she bore
with christian iortitudc The deceased had been 4
member of the Baptist Church for upwards of 30
years, and continued and died strcnuously devoted
TO that faith. Those who knew her best, could
best appreciate her worth. We have no doubt that
her soul is now at rest.
Departed this lrfe the 18th ofJuly, in the SD
year Of his age, JOHN PATERSON, son of James
Of Buckingham county after illness of few