Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-08-30
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM-The oucs

CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM.-Th qucs-
ton ct cailing a Conyention has elected also
SOM discussion about the pItticular lnodii-
cations which should b. made in our consti-
tuition. In answer to some questions of an
other paper The Richmond Enquirer contains
an article from which we extract the subioined
observations upon the election OF judges. JUS
tees ot the peace, sl,cri1s and the Governor.
~ ~ PEOPLE. The entire article is written
cautiously and appeals To express the settled
and deliberate convictions OF the editions and
II probably indicates the views which are held
by the majority of Eastern virsinians. I'm
tins aspect we deem its opinions worthy of
consideration. The rule which the En1uirr
lays down Tor i,sclr-to oppos, precipitate
radical changes, unless ,o carry on, great prin.
.ciplcs which have been prorcd To h. good
Is certainly a. conservative as any one could
desire. But we proceed, without common,
OF our own, TO lay before our readers the oprn.
ions oil the Enquirer. II says;
We are against the election of MAGISTRATE,
Constables and Shcrins BY the peoplr of tb,,,
7 respective counties, towns and borourhs. -
we nave an abiding confidence i'm the virtue
Intelligence and full capacity for selfgovcm-
m NJ oi the great mass oi the people. But. i'm
our systems OF government, State and Federal
the people are called upon, already, TO elect ~
many officers OF different kinds. and are there
by mddced, or compelled, to devote so much
lime To the canvassing the merits of cand,.
dates and TO electionecring generally. at such
q sacrifice oi money and OF other equally i'm
portallt interests, and at the further sacrifice of
soclal intercourse and OF some of the best feel.
mss of the heart, that we think il vould M,
better Tor them ana better for the country tina,
the number OF appointment, TO b. made nv
them should not be increased. 1t is better for
them to trust to responsible agents TO act for
them IN many matters. Justices of the Pence
amt ministerial officers ought not to be sub
Jectcd To the changes and Caprices of parties.
lof 10 thelr reScntlnentSo or rewards. The an
Gent maxim Is a good one, that the aid of the
uods Is not TO be invoked on trivial occasions
The sovereign action of the people should i'm
like manner be reserved for few and impor,on,
matters. We speak the more positively nm
tins question as we huve enjoyed a practical
experience OF the operation of the system
from the arts employed TO catch the votes of
The people, and the pledges made only to NJ
broken, we Were lar from satisfied that - pnp-
ular election OF these officers would promote
'ie cause oi Justice, or the welfare of a com
munity' we could sugscst changes in the
county Court system, as we remarked nm .
former occasion, and we would make then !,
part oil the organic law but To give the cleo
ton oil magistrates or the officers of the corr,
10 tbe people, Is not one of the changes we
contemplate. We are opposed to precipitate
lduicdI manages, unless to carry out great prin-
clples which have proved TO b. good.
we think that the present mole of ~clec,ing
Judges is as good. perhaps as any that can be
adopted. An efficient rcsponsibilitv oupb,
To- b. introduced into the jrd.c'al dc. ar,men
OF the Government. Responsibility TO the
p o.lle or their constituted agents. in some
proper form, should be the animating and mo-
wing spirit OF the whole political fabric. We
are therefore, oil opinion, that the judicial
teIin should be limited i'll some proper manner.
we would retain the power of appointing
the Governor in the hands of the legislature
We believe ii to BE- impossible for the neonle
III d large State, TO concentrate their votes upon
any one individual, witiiUut the intervention
ot machinery not recognized as a legitimate
offspring OF the appointing power. Without
the previous nomination oi a Convention, or
caucus, or OF some portion or party of the Leg
%islature, II would be almost impracticablc TO
make AN election. We believe il would be
better for the Legislature 10 make the an
poin,msnt in the first instance, than for vari-
Gus partiesin the Legislature to make separate
nominations. or for a self-appointed Conven-
ton oi the fragment of q party, as is some
times the case, to nominate, and, then, for the
people 10 go through the mere form of ratify-
ing what is thus set before them. We are
opposed, too, To the system of candidates,
stamping it through the State, and exciting.
umduly, the people against one another. To
promote selfish or inordinate ambition. We
have seen the ill effects of the system in other
and we are not disposed to try it i'm our
OWN. We could give many other reasons for
our views upon all thes, propositions, but we
desire TO te brief.