Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-06-09


| 3. All well founded governments are esseh'iai-
Is and necessarily conservative resisting Inc en-
croachment Of power on the one hand, or, on Inc
other. dissolution by popular violence. IN 60
yernmens of written constitutions the Les's,a-
| lure can only make avs IN accordance WIN Tue
| con>ti,u,ion--the judiciary can only expouno,
/ and the Executive can only enforce laws 70
| made. But While government IN liSelf, IS thus
stationary, new wants, new purposes ana new
interests grow up in society. requiring d nc"
constitution 10 embrace within us acton NE
new CONDITION al things, and il IS the night OF us
e,,j-eas 10 reouue the recognition OF sucn new
want. purposes and intere Is. and their Incorpo-
ration INTO the fundamental law And while inc
government protects sIistln@ rights oil persons
and OF things, II il bound 10 weld IL The progress
of public sentiment demanding REFORMS rot IN
consistent with The welfare and safely OIL The
whole.
4. That government is, or ought 10 pc, insti-
tuled for The common benefit, protection, and Sc
curly Of the individuals composing the BODY po-
iitic which institutes il, and should provide IN The
mos ample manner Tor the enjoyment Of their
lives ami liberties and flr securing 10 them The
means Of acquiring and possessing properly,
and ii pursuing and attaining their own happ-
ness ana safety
5. That tJr these purposes all authority is vest
eli IN he CONSTITUTIONS OF the respective States
aud OF The United States ana he laws consistent
with each and all Representatives, Magistrates,
and other officers but delegates exercising me
powers SO conferred and limited.
g. That il is unwise in government To reco2-
uise geographical distinctions, and where these DO
exist, i, is true policy to blend them into uni
form system Of interest and mutual dependence,
50 that lis citizens cannot say whe'e one Interest
or feeling ends and an opposing interest or SEMI
meni begins And, as il is in the unity oi Sia'e
that lis strength CONSISTS 50, Constitution, based
upon ocogra phcal divisions is SiIoC2'y calculated
10 continue an create local pieludice- and IN
teresis and psrpetuaie pnosins factions, Or on
the other hanj, t. unite, IL the legislation OF the
state. Inn itic comulnalicns lcr special Objects,
and IN ncafiuus c1EspracieS, which end N he
plunter of The public treasury and in violation Of
every Just principle o legislation.
I. The Legislature, he Judiciary and The En-
ecntive should be separate and distinct each from
the other And as The long possession OF office
corrupts and the long continued exercise power
makes men iyrannical, 10 the end, therefore, that
all representatives, magistrates and others e1er-
cising Office in the commonwealth "may be re-
strained from oppression by feeling and par,ici-
pating he burhens of The people, They should al
fixed periods be reduced TO private station, re-
turn into that body from which they were ori2i
naly taken and The vacancies be supplied by Ire
qrent, certain ana ie5ntdr eiecticHs.
s. The Legislature should represent all The in
tresis Of the community and as Tar as possible
should be 50 constructed as 10 insure the great
ends Of good government, viz the protection Of
life, The preservation OF Liberty The possession OF
property and the continuance OF the public safety.
Tha, in Just government representation OF Inc
whole number ot lis citizens vii! give protection
10 iadivid by inusins popular spirit INFO
the Legislature, wEi:e due regard 10 all the vest
ed and long settled Interests OF The Commonwealth
will insure public safety and promote wholesome
and necessary reform, preserve 10 Virginia her
moral and political influence ia the affairs OF the
General Governments be vel calculated 10 pre-
serve The compromises Of The Constitution Of the
United States and guard the necessary balance OF
Interests and OF political power which exist be-
tween the different sections Of The Union.
9 Legislatures Shout he biennial and OF lin
lied duration, as recommended By public econo-
my and the morals OF public egislaliun; il saves
the peoples monev-ii prevents the too frequent
assembase OF the same men 10 carry out precon-
certed arrangements; precludes The repeated ios-
tering OF social induleeDceS which too frequently
give force aud effect to impolilic and improper
measures OF legislation.
10. As experience has taught that vast expen-
dtures OF the public monies have been made by
combining interested sections in meagre MAORI
ties, is cxpedienlthaI greater reslran ts be placed
upon The debi.crealing power; that some vote
| larger than majority be made necessary anc
that a limitation OF the aggregate debt and iiabi
! liry Of The Stale should be instituted Tor the pro
lection oil the peoples purse and Immediate re-
| sponsibiliy between The delegate and the oonsi
\ ,uen, BE established bv an al raiorem system o
| taxation, AMI ~ requiring taxation 10 accompa
| ny appropriation.
i IL. The principles OF representation ana taxa
| ton. and of The separation OF The judicial iron
/ The legislative functions are fundamental IN th'
code OF Rcpublicanism, and The omission OF th'
former. ami the union Of the Two latter, being IL
violation OF The Just principles OF government
produce evils OF nature in proportion 10 The sys
TEN based upon such inconsrulr; and hence I'M
| county court system produces evils Of petiy
vexalious, and, bY their nature AND muriphchy
oi an intolerable nature.
4 II That limitation OF the right OF suffrage
10 any class ., c,tzens is opposed TO reforms
/ which are necessary aad expedlsn', ana is mum
Gus ~ exciting ;he hostility OF the excluded class
while there is no ruEc oi exclusion among III
tree whie c,iZeus oi he CONFERENCE.-The. which
i rot Liable 10 abuse and corruption and which
has MOI IN re or less been made an Instrument o
fraud an engine ii Improper party success and
means OF procuring One worst IN principle of po
Initial evils, he msrcp Ge>enfatioI OF counties.
IL. The Judiciary should lie 50 framed as 10 h
independent OF the executive and legislative dc
partments vet with due responsibility for weak
ness. partially, corruption or tyranny, by m
peachment and By Limitation oil tenure uf office.
ID. The executive and ministerial officers, a
,hey represent he legislative and Judicial author
ity OF The political society, shuuld be amenable L
an independent power as iar as practicable AM
instead oi being mere servants OF The coordlnat
branches shnn!d he. also, directly responsible, D.
eesuon, 70 the people.
Is. Tia, The acknowledged principle, that II |
tn tu,y al socelyto cr:let,,he possession Ct pro
p-.ty. the rights OF females sh ud be wisely de
fined aud ii2idly guarded
l6 Monopoes and acts of incorporation, he
ing privileges in derosation OF me genera right
OF The people, should he cautiously granted, care
iully Hunted and vigorously watched. They ar
grants of political power, under which vested 10
leres,s NAV spring up;-where no vested right
have attached the power may De perempiori
resumed when such interests exist lhey ar
legitimate rights protected by the iundamena
law OF society, and if resumed as private pro
perry for public use, il can be only upon JUS
conpensaion Precautionary WISDOM h"wcvei
viii rcSc1rs the power 10 protect me right
and Interests OF society against these powerful or
gani2aiion>, increasing in murders, wealth, PRIV
iieses and dangerous influences.
II. "1ha no free government or the blessing
OF liberty can be preserved 70 any people, but D
firm adherence 10 justice, moderation, temper
ance, irugalilv, and virtue, and BY frequent recur
renee 10 fundamental principles ana Inc ooser
vance Of all which can only be Strengthened an
perpetuated by enlightened ahd efficient system
Of Public Education
In view Of these principles, and as the sens
OF their meeting,
Be il hssolrcd That Convention is attain
able. which will reform many OF the existn!
abuses of the presen, Constitution OF the State
and pu, 10 hazard none Of the great Interests Q
society
Rcsolrsf, Tha, our Eastern brethren are IN
vokcd TO unite with such portion OF our Western
friends as arc in favor .; speedy ieioFm Of nu
merous and sricvous abuses, which bear heavii.
on every portion Of the Commonwealth.
Resoired, That in the reformation OF abuses W
see yrea, benefits likely 10 ensue 10 the whole Q
the Commonwealth, but more especially 10 tn
West; in popularisng he government! OF IN
State; in giving more character and conslaeIalo