Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-10-10
70 he Editor: afihc E1qUircr.

CHERRY ORCHARD, Pr George, va.
II in a ju>, ana beautiful idea, that Govern
,oenls, long established, should not be changed
for eight aud transient causes but presume
there are bn, few rejecting men vino will aver aa
much regarding The Constitution Of Virginia, as
l!,at il. il changed, would be for light and iran
senl CAUSES" Nearly all admit, that some al
leralions, ii they alone could be carried oui,
would be highly beneficial; hnl the great ohJec-
ton 10 the East 10 any alteration IN or Consii-
tuition, or a Convention for that purpose, IS The
fear, ,ha, the Yves, will lake away from us our
slave representation, and, making II, rs al una
voi3able sequence Of lha act, occasion lof reduc.
inc our representative weight in The Legislature
will proceed forward in the accomplishment Of
their mad schemes OF Internal Improvements
and lax rs cd iib.ium for that purpose. Could l.
for one moment. be induced 10 believe thai such
was The object OF those who are striving for
Conventions would abandon them as soon as
wonld The mos; arrani traitor 10 his country, into
whose cause | had been enticcd BY arguments
seemingly clothed in The brilliant sarbs of patriot
ISM bu founded on false and deceptive premises.
cannot. nav will not believe until see this
Thing, that any ViIginan would for moment
dare 10 bring forward, for The consideration oi his
brethren, any subject that would add one grain OF
weigh, To that hell-boIn and reasonable ianali-
cism, that owns Tor lis head and eXrounders such
men as Tappan, Garrison and Charming. All
must admit. that were such a matter brought Tor
ward, il would be hailed with fcndi-h JOY, by
these vile creatures, as triumph, which, now
commencing, would urge them on 10 eyeruns and
deeds ha, would pyoJQ6ip soon spread ccsolalion
over the fair and sunny fields OF the South
Forbid the thought OF such an attempt al tam
pering with our own slave property, which can
have no other tendency than 10 open wide field
To these mad crusaders against our right and in
sutions.
will now proceed 10 notice few OF the OBJ
iecs for which Ibis Convention should, i'll my
opinion, be called on 10 act; which, when settled
would be the dawn OF brighter day for our old
Commonwealth. In the first place, will men
lion our Judiciary system, which certainly needs
amendment: In this matter Virginia certainly
lacks the Republican feature; her judicial officers
OF the high courts ale appointed for life or good
behavior, which is nearly the same thing; Tor II
seems almost impossible TO make a successful
Impeachment Of them for deTeliction OF duty;
and those Of the lower courts arc elected by their
own body, and as officers, as far as know, be-
yond The reach of law. They are, 100, The most
independent sci of men on earth; Tor although
the people are dependant on them Tor the lransac-
ton OF nearly all of our public business, and al
though it is through them that nearly all OF our
common law has efficacy, yet do these gentry
consider il as a matter of great condes cension 10
attend 10 their solemn duty. This state of things
should not remain. Let our higher Judges he
elected as at present, by the Legislature, for
specifed tme-say seven years-oT be appointed
by the Governor, by and with the advice and con-
sent OF The Senate, for the same or any other
space Of Time suggested by the wisdom OF a Con-
vention. And whereas, our county magistrates
(ihe most important sci Of officers thai VIC have)
are now dependant on the prospective profits
arising from the sherifaly, and can only he in
duccd 10 attend 10 business when they have
hardly anv thing else 10 do; let them be
elected by the people, TO whom they shall be
amenable and allow them certain moderate
compensation for services rendered, whilst we
impose fines on those who, when called on, refuse
10 attend to heir duty. And that we may have i'm
partially in the amount of service, lei there be
established a kind Of rotation, whereby all may
serve alike and lei the sherifaty, an Office, from
which our citizens are debaTed The privilege OF
competing for, he made open, for the people 10
place il on those whom they think the most capa-
BILE and the most deserving cf it. do no, feel
disposed if possessed The ability, 10 enter deeply
into these matters, but mention them, 10 bring
them 10 the notice of the public. The next Thing
that viii notice, is the Gubernatoria office
That office is at presen, elected by The Lesisla.
lure and there sfu scope for our Legislators, in
the exercise OF their log.rolling propensties, 10
impose upon US Governor opposed 10 uur prin-
cipIes, merely 10 favor some faction who mag
hold the balance Of power between ibeiwu great
parties, it. by the concession, they may be en-.
ah,ed, through the influence OF this faction, 10 at
tain some tavoriie measure in return. II cannot
be conlrovcrled, that the more our public offices
are under The immediate control OF The people, The
nearer is our approach 10 Republican Govern
menl. Instead Of the present method, therefore,
lei us have a Governor elected by The people;
ALSO Lieutenant Governor in place Of the pre-
sent Council lei the Governor have The veto
power properly restricted and the Senate Tor an
advising power, and hold his office Tor The term
OF four years. | may also advert 70 the subject
Of biennial sessions of the Legislature. The
rlan has been adopted in some of The States, and
seems 10 work well, besides saving ofhousands
OF dollars, which would necessarily have 10 lie
expended should our annual sessions continue;
and certainly our legislators are men Of sufficient
foresight 10 make laws which will be bearable
tog two years The right Of suffrage 100, abou,