Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-02
COMMUNICATIONS.
ELECTION OF A GOyERNOE

eu'S' every 1h'ns Whlch the pubIie good requires;
and one Of the most plausible arguments which they
urge against popular Governments, is their fnefr.
Cheney or want OF power from confusion Of counsels
to promote the public good. In Short they saw.
that representative democracy is an impraetieabls
form of government and tina, in all cases where it
has seemed, for while TO work we'll it is indebted
for that felicity 10 soine happy accident, The North
American Republicans say they. have been boas,irs
Tor nigh half century Of the splendid success of
their great experiment in government. Blu, see to
what 1t has come, at last. A deficient revenue. and
growing debtin time OF profound tranquility, or
at least Of external peace with all the world A
deprecated currency, which the prevalence Of fac.
ton, IN their councils renders it, every year more
difficult to bring back TO a sound condition A
continued drain OF the precious metals, to pay TO
reign balances growing out OF uuwise laws for the
regulation OF commerce. States only half repre-
scented IN the Senate of the Union by reason Of fac.
hous disputes among the electors. Others not re.
presented at all, ior the same reason. Every thing
IN short, tending 20 Anarchy.
Ii is time that great effort were made to con.
vince the world that these things arc the accidents
not the vice, OF our system Ii party spirit has in
sensibiy desenerated into factious feeling 10 such
an eNte1. that our Legislative bodies can no lonocr
agree upon any efficient remedy for the We sro,n
under, time Tor every true patriot for every ons
VINO owes well'resulated liberty. and a5hors enar-
ehy, to shake eff The yoke OF faction end go for the
country.
Even we in Virginia, albei, not quite so mad with
iaciious feeling our misguided brethren in Ten.
nessee, are beginning to fall into state of ANARCHY
Is II not an opprobrum TO the State, tina, it remain.
ca so long only half represented in the Senate of
me Union2 We, the strenuous asseTters of State
Rights, voluntarily abdiclting our power and irflu-
ehee IN that body which Is spec ally entrusted with
the conservation OF those rishtsi-Can such things
I oe, and not excite our special wonder
/ AND wha, is the spectacle exhibited nj the rrc
sent session OF the Legslaiure1 One of the three
great departments of our sovernment-the Exccu
Ne-is 10 oe Kept, II seems, Tor another year. IN
manned and paralytic condition. because the furc
tonaries appointed by the people, TO elect a Cover
nor, cannoi, or will not, perform that DUTY Not the
sshteSi cisresPeet is meant for the worthy and re-
SPee'aOe eiIizen on whom in this infsrregnuui the
duties OF the Chief Executive Magistrate are impos-
ed. !, for one, would be perfectly well satisfied 10
see him elected Governor Tomorrow. But usase
mas made II part OF our constitutional law that
an acunS Govern or" Is not bound like 4 regular
~ elected Governor, 10 devote his whole time ard
energies 10 the duties OF his Office. The exisencies
OF the tunes require an undivided attention by The
Governor, 10 the public veal.
exercise the right OF citizen OF the Common
weaIh, by saying 10 the General Assembly tb,,
/ me people expect them 10 perform their dutv bv
e.eeuns Governor. Il comports not with the do
nity OF Virginia, 10 confess to the word tb,, al.
machine o. her Government is so III constructed
mat u sH not toork, or that those WHOM, sb. ia,
selected, 10 keep II 10 order and in motion are
pe'ent TO the performance OF that dutv Mo- opsb,
. 20 oe forgotten, that the neglect OF the Genera
Assem0y 70 perform ITS duty, as a college OF elec.
tors, IS bad and dangerous precedent II tbey
may omit eeetirg Governor they have a sir,i,.,
right to omit eec'ins Councillors, from wear 10 vesr
I'LL the whole Executive Department Of the C;oys-n'
uen' IS ne'lih-d. In the same manner, and with
equal Tshi may they neg eci 10 anpoint iudges. ara
SO the whole frame Of the Government r1,y ri
INTO runs, and anarchy ensue. |, IS an evil mo-
sveeh', and many an error by the same exam
pie may rush into the State"
IL the General Assembly, from any c,u,. ~,
unable 10 make selection among those who bs,e
already been nominated, let the field OF selec,en L
enlarged. Il would be easy to name many citizen.
Chiei Executive Office. Exercising the rigbt ,yb;cb
belongs to every citizen, will name oneSi ,nSsr
Senate. VI 'He
lbs election is recommended by one considerable,
"hlch, 10 me, seems not unimDorant. He reside.
| IN that great North Western section of The So !
winch has never yet been honored by The sesc,ion
from II, OF Governor Of the Commonwealth ~ !
lnuee1 o. Senator. In so extensive n Common. |
Wealtn as this, when there must, Of necessi,v h.
some feelings Of sectional pride a sectional d,,,ri
ou'Ion OF the honors OF the State has a Strong Ten
deney to promote harmony, and a feeling of attach.
mens 10 the whole Commonwealth. And in this
view nothing can be more anti sectional tbsn
sectional appointment iudiciousy timed and ind |
ciously made:-iudciously timed by preventive or |
soothing, sectional discomfort under long neglect
taxing Ia q prf
OF narrow or sectional views
| In this regard, the gentleman have named ;s |
above al! exception. Every vote that he has given
while member ofIhe General Assembly. on cue
uohs OF iniefnal Improvement, &C. &c, is the vote
! OF Legislator for all Virginia But on ,b;s s,L !
lect and, indeed, on tho general PRINCIPLES or lcs;s
aton' the following extract from his Valedietorv
Ad1ress 10 his constituents, recently published viii
| afford the most decisive evidence of the sonnio
| ane largeness &c his views:
IF public life possesses anv charm N ..,
Tor IT'S ieyerlsh nnXictes nni numerous Drivo,one !,
IS the opportunity which Il affords in tbis vo,,
an1 growing republic, to Statesmen of every er,ds
"heihtr OF high of low degfeep 10 contribute b.;,
humble agency to advance the great cause m H.
man improvement; 10 give a sound and vboleson,.
direction 10 public sentiment, ard 10 nIocn ,,,o,
record their hrm nnd inhexibs adherence 10 those
lofty principles of Honor and Good Faith ,v;tLon,
the Observance Of which, nations are bu, HANDED
robbers and privileged punderers. For nearly
| hve years member OF that branch of The leg;.io
i've power, whose constitutional action is confined
10 REVISION OF the proceedings Of the more nurre,
Gus bodY-wh0se sphere Of usefulness is mos, ab !
surdly restricted by this anuua,ed remnant nj n
former system-and whose proceedings are alnoos,
sehled Voiume' TO the constituent body, / can in
dlcate no important measure OF public policy which
have originated, and none Tor whose adontion
can eam any further credit than my individual cot.
! fct can appeal, with an unshrinkpp md aIidin,
commence TO the record and TO the evidence of nv
brother Senators, TO bear me out in the decI,,,,y
"nen assert, that during my entire service Il, H.
public Councils Of the Staie,I havo eTp,ssssJ ne
opinion, and recorded no vote the effect Of Which
has not been in consonance with tic ssntimen,
above expressed:
10 preserve inviointe, the honor the reput,fion
ana good faith Of my native Siatc:-
10 extend an equality Of political rights 10 every
class Of her citizens.- ''rJ
10 enlarge Tie bounds Of human sniovro.o, ,o
ilI as Sueh SUBJECTS arc within the province OF legs
/ 10 sustain those principles Of fIndarn ntof IA
9hu puolc poHcY, with which, 81 Of character that
possess as public man, is Identified, and which
! oeleYe are essential % Tho preservation Of he
Liberty and Union of this great Confedcraev,-
! 10 stimulate and cherish the prosperitv nj a.
| state IN every department Of human indy.,,y
s"ayed ~ no te.hsh and sectional feelinge ~
| erampoi by no narrow and Contacted vie,s ~
/ State policy '''
! To encourage Agriculture; 10 ssisbiisb T,,,,,.t
communication; 70 WHY commerce and the roecb,;.
arts 70 nmeloratc tho condition Of the ds,C liz
dumb, the blind and insane TO promote. f,, ana
VIDE the cause Of popular education end 10 dsvslon
and bring into active value the NUMEROUS and bopnd
less mineral resources Of this highy favored bu,
greatly neglected Commonwealth"
| These arc large and noble views md rscororsnd
We author n the address 10 the favorable eor,;
dctnticn Of tho electoral body
On The question Of the capleity Of Mr. Fauftne,
70 perform the important duties Of tho Executivc
once We electoral body, and indeed the people Of
VHgini1, have, within their reach the most eorein
1 ali