Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1850-07-26
WV. LUCAS
REspoNsE OF col. DAyENpoR1s


Mg. ]. ~. Rk1Isn, SOL have heen made
q eandik ate hi 4 scar in the Convention NEliGh
~ 70 assemble Ills fall, By the favor parti9tg
d sosae iretl1s had aud have 20 desire for
suea statitn. ! have not sought, directly ox
indirectly, spy Office Of place Of trust Of psgft
since | wae very young man nor have IpAia
mach aliestI5n 10 the politics 81 the daJ. have
rfy own opialons- whether correct or il-Eppndes,
~tlfey are miise probably some peculiar DIP
Aut seek nlIiss, por,if conferred. shall decline
II. think lie District could be better REPRESENT
"a isian By laf.
lLodking III inn aed 81 August next, many hp.e
ASKED ny sptlcns ia relation 70 the qnesfionf 1f
relotm Aside from ny name being before ihc tiis-
tfict, have 10 ohieetisn 10 any one knowingpmy
opinions wiin may think me OF Importance sahi-
Client 10 eaziiir@ ior them have attended 10
my own business, and have let that Of others
alone. and teiuk have made some profit by aoth
operations.
III have rejected but little on the subject ot "a.
form; hassnot thought of il iii in the midst OF
my labors Heard voice loud ifnot boisierons,
crying out .refprm-reform- pull down--pull
down--dow1s with the County Couri-down Eilh
the old sia1sr--the oppfessor, down with it
change-rhhnge-be the age-all pcwrr il
from the pepple. Now, sir, 10 our government
the people aye not only absracty, but really the
fountain 81 all power and the only quesliun 70
Be decided ii, whether, as the ancenis, itissbef.
tsr for the people collectively to- assemble and
transact the business 81 the community. all icing
Legislators and all judges, or as we have been
doing since s76, under a representative demoera.
cg, Now have no hesitation in saying Ipre-
fef representative 10 pnreS democracy
have, 10 uiysretlremeni, thought ii mos, adssn-
tageous for The country (the peopie) thai we
should have few elections, and seldom as posi-
ble-ihat HE people should elect TO the principle
stations, an1tbat their representatives should Rll
subordinate ones. have no oblection.l can
laye none, IL The election OF the Governor By the
people directly, Iwoud prefer that the judiciary
should 90, BE mixed up in party strife, in an elec.
ton BY The people. In the present mode Of elect
ins judges BY he Legislature, i know party.spirit
enters to esiiae extent, but net, think, no such
extfemcslas il would i the election was made By
Tie peuplf-~I should prefer the judges being M
dependent
/ have nc objection TO The election by the pro
Die 81 ihs sheriff II the county Ills deputies
being Offices os the court, under law, will tbu let
him appaim them, or elect them by the teo e
New he n.,in sasie- ii,en.s and The rounty robrt
mas approve or reject for Sc. They are
lseHislly Van him alhee,s VI the court u The
cAnniy.
Timers Are four honorable clcrksbips in the
lctlnty II Jefferson, 10 vii: Clerk Of the Superior
/
faflsersesdA IL lie Poor, Clerk 10 the RegimeuaI
Cont tiG Eaqaify, and somewhere nearHa hIsn-
Ord Mace. 1T profit and trust hed BIZ A. Qsapl
~. whose 5dils ray
wlen ia aEiadt serrice, amounts 10 one doltsri--
The clerk are the officers the couFt--wlh you,
sr, provide that all these places in every couniy
81 this Old Commonwealth should be filled bylan
election made directly BY The people : would
provide rs lar ~ practicable Tor election BY l1e
people, OF The officers Of government; but there
appears rSaw, almost, II not entirely, Dseperase
difficulties III The way Of eecting all officers and
occupania az place. Virginia contains, think,
SONS 81 euubtes, and four cities, havipg repre-
sentation, In which il NAV be assumed there are
some Ia QUO holders ef offices Of trust and some
etnaluEents.
ri There are certainly some reforms necessary
Hid The county court, but as a system as at pre-
sent advised. | would not give the whole up+-I
cannot beiiess that cheaper aud more ffficienf
one can b substituted. lam open ioeoaviction
II am not irradsd to old forms, nor enatnouFed
with new, and stand ready to take the best Ii
have long thought that the only important change,
(feforml 1.-The one most desirable, was 10 restFict
the Legislature in the extent Of its powers ina
raising and disbursing the funds of The Penple.-9E
think the exercise OF power, as heretofore, is
40 a5nse, aud would limit, by constitutional en-
ariment, tho tntent OF its power TO borrowEand
y
hopelessiy indebted. 4 "a
lam opposed to universal sufftsge, (male and
femaie,) {iherc are ID this county some six or
seven huulfed delInqnents,) and would conine
The frabehiseeto those ichiie (nnmxedl male tit+
liens 81 Virginia. who are ~ years old and np-
wards, and have resided ? months in The enuaty
10 wbica they attempt 70 vote, and who shall give
Il got tssehUlder, some eyidenceiof anBatiath1
meni 10, and an interest in the community, By
wealth, ADD who can produce satisfactory evi-f
dence ef having performed, faithfully. the Other
duties reqaised Of geod eilizens-uo one 70 vote
more than once in any election, and that in the
county ia which he resides; and as all good go-
yernmen,s are instituted, as well to protect pro-
perty as iise, reputation aud the pursuit o happi
nees. "a, id favor " mixed basis of rPpFeTep-
tAiion. The west. with population Of S24,5 $50!
psys into HE treasury S59s7i7 less Than dpe5
fourth Of the teYen,ss Of The State. The Valley
ppeuiAtesla 100. 5s and I pay INTO TIE treasury
the STATE, land both Icomb.ne5 pay but S3S sol
more than Ene. fourth d Virginias revenue, while
the tide .ws,er district. witha poenlastou pt lpz
66O. RAYS S97 81 more thaniohe- fourth VI al the
revenue 1.-THE Stake--and the district bstwren
tie Bloc Rdge and Underwater, with pnPnlais an
of 400 a7pE pays $1s,i more than one tc~fIh
or the resebue.
III would provide, BY some means, that we silquiA
have less fErislaiioa- biennial SESSIONS OF
Iimi.atios OF the SESSION sfthe Legislature.
i am hi reducing The number ii delegates
reducing lheif mileage, it not per dem
should i be selected.lo represent, IN Part, thl4
district. lalt 60 idte the convention an nlsrh y
nothing bsst The batis q representation and 1
cEnSliinticzal guarantee against excessive taxt
alton. Is
Thete may Be some questions agiiatsa 10 ihs
cnsnmaaitg which have escaped me, 6usid 70. !
have 10 s4yI have 70 interest apart from te gsrah
body ii ilx ps.eple amongst whom w4s bora,
raised zna:hAye ever lived and among whom,
" Fertain. I'll fesnskns viii Be deposited
BiRAXTON DAVENPORT.
Jeilefsps County. Jaly 20. 1880
-, -. sss,fe.N ~ FerkeIey. Jefferson and