Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-07-11

y N
he NAV think w'so--he must be prepared for eomrfa-
mse In order 10 obtain pracoa results II with these
opinons II u The pleasure of the people to cal mh Ia
their service shall exert my bcs, energies Ia advance
their nlefcs; It not sh II NOT rrpine nt not re-
ceisng what do not c,ud whilst NY most earnest
prayer will be. thai tho ahors ol the Convention my
redound 10 the prosperity aud homo, oi N'rg,n,n
Res, cr,fully, JAMES l.. GORDON
--.--------------------
For tho Vrsinian.
In discussing the different departments OF our state
government. h,ueh tho right Of suffrage as ayns nj
the foundation o system, which doubt isdcstined
undergo a radical ch-nye shortly might s'em To be
enlled 10 precedence Of notice in such discus lan the
Executive Department being conadefod bv common
consent Tho most important Of tho three branches OF
Government, viii demand the attention OF the writer
fes md be examined 10 this numhor. In the necessary
delegation Of power by the people l., their rulers our
ancestors docrmihrd 10 borrow fon tho IN ther cun'fy
tho great conservative principle of the division ei the
powers of the government into throo hranche7 Tho tx
utivr the legislative aud tho judiciary Tle oJeci "i
this plan was conhno cnch department to ~ oAn
sphere ni notion, aud soto adjust the division That 'o
different branches might operate M CHI oh one upon The
other The iames nf our q institution had observed the
prea, mpmtanro of those checks and balances IN The
English government and In their wisdom and palro'isIn
they determined 10 initiate the plan, aud I" Introduce u
into our system. Tho British slnesmen Ind learned
from experience that the most petite form oifovernmenl
ever devised hv tho ingenuity of m,n containing nil the
uroi principles ot HE righs of men, with ts powers
consolidated into ono heal. would fail TO secure the
rights and liberties of the pc pie In one OF the gieai
contests lar liberty in England between the Commons
and the Crown This division OF The powers OF The bfs'
monarchy was adopted TO rcsrnin tho King In the eNer
cz, at ,owe, "a bch the euhuhcncd state of he public
mind in England had condemned. Aitor long and ar.
duous struggle. the people through the House o' Coni
gained the vie ory over the Grown ana from maj
day to this the grea, principles OF British liberty have
been well defined and 40 assault has been committed by
tho Crown upon tho privileges Of tho people or lonR
series of wears Indeed popular rights have been con
sanly painnp on the prergntives Of the King under
tho influence of this division OF tho powers ot the gov
nynment ,ll Tho liberty Of tho people has been placed
IN \ tmndalh,n much Grmer thnn ever occupied bo-
fore
On The 6ts, blush Of tbs subject, IT might seem
extraordnary nav il miph, look anti republican To al
vcr /, Englisb nuthoritica at such lime as lhia. Hut
let il bo remembered TINT we arc descended fro that
neople That VIC speak the same language. that we
nroeaa the same religon. and that tho laws To which
I'VE ,ve tho nrotoc,on of our lives our bcre, aud pro-
ne,y nro ,beir laws To bc sure the British govern.
meni cont,ins powera very startling to the republican,
rbo no,,,, n, Jec,ro war conceded Il the inp by the
n,,;,h n,o,nmnnt cannot bc Tolerated by any man
n, all nhn., with tho republican p,inciple 'Ih~ ng
can ,ecare war but the Parli menl can cheek him. They
NAV refuse To furnish him with money, they may 10
,ss IN snn,,y HIM Win regiments aud fleets to wage hs
war of ombition Indeed If that body be composed Of
sns,he and iode,cnJcnt m,n thew NAV 80 worry and
restrain tho NInarch that irresponsible as he may
with ba dcsptic and DANGEROUS powers the people will
,eg,rJ him Ia M other liph han as mere pageant.
civ shoro ol h,s powers for mischief and all those
,nnv resuIs flow from tho division of the powers Of
,hsr ,vernmen, INTO three branches This noble plan
which b,s q, looy chaepged tho admiration Of man
KIND as ,be hes, feature ofhe English government has
h,o, ino our system both State and Frdera
p tho main o,cs,ion n, sue is how shall our Govern
n, he ,pnoinied in u,ut. 2 What mode will the ap.
n,o,cb,og co,ven,ion alopt to elect the Governor
Sb, he Ina made elective directly by the popular vote or
h no he cossn according To the prescott nodeo or will
s",na ney mode he nd,pteJ Every nan knows thai
in ,l,e nas, his election has been by the Leg isa,ure
p,l,,n. ,o mode that can he suogrst,d il liable
manv obiec,ions As that officer is now chosen he is
com,le,elv rresponsble to the pguple II is admitted
,, in rerresen,,tiye government when the agent is
,'a -, lie ,,,., ,h,, wha,ovef The people employ ano
tho, tn A, tbev naturally do themselves But does that
,x,, in n,cs ,npIy To the Virolna Legislature the
G,,hfm exnonen Of the viii Of the people in choosing
,he, Governor 2 Every man knows 'hnt The Cub rna-
ti,, election is no, made an issue at al in electng
dlooatea 10 ,he VIr,ioa erslture IN those elections
no reference m ad To tho choosing of the Governsr
Indeed Tho vnice If the people is as completely hnshed
and ,n,nown in clectng tina, officer in Vlrgino as il
IN Fngl,nJ on tho cornation of the King The excel
laoc 'r Fe ,erI yemmen, CONSISTS in lis mixed chaac
-.
''' a. o -, !, ,bo;, dovo,i,n 10 free government
.l hi, a,o,, soIi;,nde far s stability as well as its