Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-12-26
AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION
MR.. JEFFERSON'S OPINIONS


AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION.
MR.. JEFFERsoN's OPINIONS.
AS the subject Of amending our State Cons,i,u.
tion has begun to excite good deal of interes, in
the public mind, we have obtained permission ftom
A. ii. ii. STUART, Esq. to publish the following
letter, which was addressed to his father (la,e
Judge ARCHIBALD STUART,) by Mr.. JEFFERSON.
IN 1871. This letter contains Mr.. Jefrersop's
views OF what he deemed necessary and impor.
tant in Constitution for our State, and we feel
assured that we will render an acceptable service
ny publishing 1t. Many of its suggestions seem
to us to be founded in great wisdom and none
moTe so than those which relate to the Judiciary
and the means necessary to enlist the bes, talents
oil the State in the service of the State, in all the
departments OF government. Mr.. jefferson, it
VIII be seen, was in favor Of he White basis.
| PHILADELPHIA, DSc. %, 1891.
Dear Sill received duly your favor of October
~ and should have answered it by tho gen,la
| L knew of it. e. o'o
That 1t is really importantto provide const;.
| 'ution Tor our state cannot be doubled. As little
con IL Do doubted that the ordinance called Inv
'ha' name has important defec,p. But before we
attempt II, we should endeavor 10 be as certain 40
P'"c,icaoie mat In the attempt we should not
| make bad worse. ] have understood thai Al,
Henry has always been opposed to this under,.k.
ihg' and confess that consider his talents and
! inhuence such as that, were it decided that we
should call convention for the purpose of amend
ing, should fear he light induce that convention
ei.hef 10 nix the thing as at present, O. change il
ior the worse. Would it no, ,herefore h. S,.ii
ha a.lnnt
Ideas oil the changes he would agree to. and for
communicating to him those which we shouid
propose! Perhaps he might find ours not so
distant from his but that some mutual sacrifices
might bring them together.
shall hazard my own ideas to you as hastily
do M business oblgeS me. | wish to preserve
'he line drawn by The federal constuli, IN b, tween
the general and particular governments as il
STANDS at present, and to take every prudent
means OF preventing either from stepping over il.
inoush The experiment has not yet had a lonu
enough course 10 shew US from which quarter in.
cloachments are most to be feared, yet il is easy
10 ioresee from the nature Of things that the in
croachments Of the state governments will tend
10 an excess of liberty which will correc. itself.
las In the late instance,) while those of the pene
iai government will tend 10 monarchv which !
VIII ioftiy itself from day to day, instead of
working lis own cure, as all experience shows. |
would rather be exposed to the Inconvenience
100 small degree of it. Then it is important to |
strengthen the state governments, and as this
cannot De done by any change iE the federal con- |
su'u'ion' Cfor the preservation OF that is all we
nseu contend for,) it must be done bv the states
themselves, erecting such barriers at the coDs,iu
l,ohai line as cannot be surmounted either nv
themselves or by the general government. The
only barrier in their power, is a wise government |
n weak one Will lose ground in every contest.
40 OBTAIN wise and an able government, con-
sider The following changes as important. Rem
ger me legislature desirable station by lessennp
me number OF representatives (say to IOO,0 and
lengthening somewhat their term, and proportion
them equally among the electors. Adopt also a
better mode of appointing Senators. Render the
Executive more desirable post to men of abili-
lies ny making il more independent of the Leois-
laure, TO wit, let him be chosen by other electors
or longer time, and ineligible for ever after.
Responsibility is tremendous engine in free
government. Let him feel the whole weight of
!! then by taking away the shelter of his execu-
1--WE council. Experience both ways has already
established the superiority Of this measure. Rem.
der The Judiciary respectable by every possible
means, to wit: firm tenure in Office, competent
salaries, and reduction of their numbers. Men of |
high learning and abilities are few in every coun-
try, and by taking in those who are not so, the |
able part OF the body have their hands tied by the
unable. This branch Of government will have |
the weight oil the conflict on their hands, because
they Will be The last appeal ofreason. These are
my general ideas OF amendments, but, preserving
the ends, should be flexible and conciliatory as
to the means. You ask whether Mr.. Madison
and myself could attend on convention which
should be called? Mr.. Ma1ison's ENGAGEMENTS
as member Of Congress will probably be from
October to March or April in every wear. Mine
are constant while hold my office, and my at
tendance would be very unimportant; were i,
my Office should not stand in the way
Of it. / am with great and sincere esteem, dear
Sir, your friend and servant
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
We learn from the Lynchburg virgnian that
he Select Committee of the House of Delegates
IN the subject of the call of Convention, have
lgreed upon bill authorizing, in the first place,
he sense Of the people to be taken upon the pro.
,riety Of the measure, and in the event of ma
ority being in favor of it, then providing without
arther legislative action, for the election and or
.anization Of the Convention. There will be
contest, Of course, in the Legislature, as to the
rncple upon which the Convention shall be
rganized--whether upon the presen, arbitrary
Of representation, or upon the basis
white population. Our Eastern brethren, we