Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-07-26
E,or TIE ~.,SQrIREE.

TO the Peopie Of tie Conrenfion D'sfr,el sompvJJ,|r onnti,s
William, EGirtar. Alexandria and Sterofa Ioun ,ad J.,
uavinr. in the Richmond Enquirer peth l"i"es..u' "
na y" ~ Wv ~nuhcly 10 express my views and
opinions in relation 10 4 Convention 10 elo. , Im oalI ld
Constitution, | deem IL my ooun ,h,nd u ,irh,, 10 do so, fas in
,iIs ca.cS promptly and frankly TO respond lheieIo' anu
which Shall cndcavor 10 do, upon the present occaslJn' Mi'
nh convenient hrcviiy, although coniica u NY ."a'n n,;
@' nnas, vii premise. that have never hiaae pol-
,;cs my etuiv that nv pursuits heretofore ha'c III
ouirc = different direction that The virginia icoph.' w "
uwhoL, , beinr highly ~enlightcd, US well as rfac'is'ni eHpe-
riaon.1 in rnaIieys If civil politv, neither the character OF
nrosnerIy Of The Commonwealth can suiier ; ions d MI
shoIl have a free and .fti voice IN IT'S Irplie eo osn
throunh their delegates or representatives. ina' " .o
.ious" Wv" wa limits would. 10 that extent, diminish
their admitted sovcreignty-tsai thrir capacity ~ I soa.
eminent is now no longer questioned, -n ~ - - I; ~ ~. n.y.
=, f,IInw that for the amendment oi all detects III 'hc pre-,
w. w. Cnns,iImtion Of the State, the people, in their collected
NEGLIGENCE. nrc entirely competent 70 c"rreei 'o"ses w
;n,rnyr tbc Constitution, having ample experience upon INC
subject. With these preliminary remarks, V1snuniis ill.,, ne. ~
+, be correctly the conclusion necessarily loDomsL "iu ~
submit 10 their Judgment ana snhhd uiscic'Hpa, Wy - 49,
an their pnhlic servants, with the exception len"a n,
r,d., world he "A submission, founded on g"od sense, JuS'
PRINCIPLES. and equal political rights. Every ei.,-en ~ NV.
tul age, and sound in body and hind, u 'u W. y hnmr
IN defend hs country, in the time OF nced, ~ me hoi
IS n. gl and puhli: danaer;-and the blood OF the
noorcs, is "a dear 10 him, his ianniy ana kinuren,
liz anr he has rs that Of the rictesf-fl so'u Huln, - y"
- NC g - TOR ii SHIN in battle, the rich always nave iricnus,
whilc the suffering poor, as 4 general REMARK, rave ""ne..-
The rich, therefore, can aford TO die-hnt 'e P"W muI. m"I
If they can 10 support Their poor. me lhrt ~ WI !
,,os ~ favor of the Governor aud judges being ciecteu ov
the Legislature; but observation derived from twc",s !eaia
exnericnre az Il practising lawyer, has sat!si'cu Nv, 'ti' 'hct
had better receive their appointments (ineihi's IN "uissJ
~ -, ,hs h,nds - The proplc. Excepting thcrcirom. the Judges
of The Court of Appeals, for reasons hereinafter Sl''e'l "'E :"
patriotism will c.er prompt ana WHO'S saI"'a.i 49," No Imen
I hsccrnmcnt will ever enable them Ia select the "l.esi' lhies'
and most learned, rs the dep0s;idrics Of tlclr cisi Fl@hts,
their liberties, and their security from injustice ana 'ppres,,
sion Of every kind. The time for which The Governor ana
,hn circui, Judges should he elected. ought, hunbly con-
crjyc. Ia be limited the last niinei not - exceed zen ycrs
the fret named not I" exceed i"nr ycats-l'nathing nom
- - INf mann mt D,rb.f1. q. 81 : ~. int Hhsss
previously filed-lcaving them, asa matter at night, To SEEK
other cmpIoymcnls if they slal 81 desire.
If the County Courts shall be abolished, [lnd coming
events east their shadows the circuit Judges should be re-
gained TO hold their courts quarterly instead 81 seni'innH1f-
IN. as they are now held; they should also be restricted ron,
holding their courts more than one year IN lier Iuuic''
Districts. and thereafter 10 interchange with the judges re-
siding in other districts most contiguous 10 each INC ny
his plain and very practicable arrangement, me judge
would be relieved iron the painful necessity oi stliiing tlos'
social feelings and strong personal affections, which, 10y M
turc. are implanted in the bosom OF every man, and ~nich
never cease 10 operate, more or 'eSs' upon ever! n ,n ~ Ines
whether Judges or Jurors-and II would seem 10 pc amos!
as jiffc,li cntirely, To resist their inSeHSible effects Us II
would he to bind the sweet influences oil the Ilciides, or
Ioosc the bands Of Orion" But while the people, rom tileir
avn u,rSouai anoriedge, could scarcely tail discrcciy 10
elect their Circuit Judges, they no doubt would leel some
deuIcc of embarrassment, in clccting the Judges ol tie Colrt
Of Appcals. whose jurisdiction is co-cxtensive with The
whole State. and with whose high qualifications they could
hay, no posiiirs personal hnorkGgc-nor would they have
an opportunity oi consulting with ench other, as they would
ina district election for Judges. On the contrary, they
would have to rely principally upon the views ana opinions
of a rom parqtire fer, whereas. by the present mode, The in
,cuigcncc. personal knowledge and patriotism OF the whole
Ieuislatiye body of the State, is brought into requislfion;
and i, is Il fair inference, that the members of the Leeisla-
tire, coming As they do from erery part OF the State, are bet
tar acquainted with the able lurists Of the Commonwealth,
than the people can possibly be, where the range for secc-
tiou is 81 ro>1y extensive. as that Of the whole State. The
Judges OF the Court OF Appeals, unlike the Circuit Judges,
can have no local ~prcjRdces, or persona! feelings, being gen
eraAy ignorant of the suffers before them. They should
be eminent for their great learning and eNpcriencc-stern
OF virtue, intexible in their sense of right, because our civil!
rights are placed exclusively in their hands, and from whose
judgements no appeal lies, They are final, and forever con-
elusive upon the parties, and such a court should he above
The sliehtst possible sRSpici0n; for upon the public confidence
in lis purity and great ability rests, 10 a vast extent. the
quiet and good order OF society. To The election OF the
Governor hy liz ;eop!c, there can be no reasonable obIcc-
ton, because his qualifications. and those Of the Judges Of
The Court of Appeals, nIay be very disslmilar; and yet both.
in their different stations, may help 10 fill the measure Of
their couniry's glory" The official acts of the Governor
live but Il short period, while those OF the Judges of the
Court of Appeals, ondurelh forever, with possibly very
slight changes; hence il would seem 10 justify the election
Of The first by the people Al large, and tie latter by the l.e-
The Eirh. Of s%uilage. /, should be extended to every
citizen Of lawful az. oi sound mind, and not Il fclon. wlo
has resided III the State iar twelve months previously. re-
gardess Of the non possession Of a 80 c!ock. or a p~inct-bGck
ratch. But he should not vote out OF The county in which
HI resides.
am in favor of annual sessions Of the Legislature, com
mencina On the first Monday in December. and not 10 con
tinuc longer than 90 days, and no law should he made 10 take
effect before the lst day OF July next ensuing, OF a genera
character. There may be Important reasons why the State
! Legislature should meet annually and not hiennillly-so
that nur Senators may have an opportunity of advising and
consulting The Legislature upon great national subjects,
siould they deem il ~cypedicnt to do 80.
| can perceive no cogrnt objection 10 the mixed basis Of
representation II, is in every respect both Just ana equal.
ard equality is equity. The past and present patronage oi
the Governor has, | believe, with very few cXccptions( been
entirely satisfactory sh +" ,hs sd rf lalE 't aI,li%"s sap sIIis4ied ,b by the he
danger can possibly be apprchcndcd by the people OF impro-
per patronage an tho part ri the Executive when elected
directly by themselves. He would be the Governor OF the
whole people, and will guard all their rights, fearless Of the
threats or pcrsuasons Of Interested or selfish dcmagogucs.
am opposed 10 the discontinuancc o: the Executive
Council because ii has almost immciiO.ial usage for its
authority, and safety and convenience for its object. With
rs, its usefulness has been fully tested BY time; and practical
experience is the only sure and proper test OF all matters in
iic-addcd to which, its members are gentlemen of exalted
standing, large and liberal views, with acknowledged talents.
And in the necessary absence oi the Governor, the EyecI-
tive Council supplies his place furthermore, il is sclemnlv
declared, that in a 'inultitudc of council there is safety"
No doubt important changes will be made as regards the
county conIts, bat how, and IL what extent, will be Il tit
subject for the deliberate consideration If the Convention
when il shall meet. IL would therefore b. an idle waste OF
time. On my part, even were capable, Ia enter into details
upon ;hi- particular branc!l ri the subject.
In conclusion, | have never declared myself Il candidate
Jcci, and greatly dstrust my abilities upon a matter SO vastly
one mind. and one heart, should lay aside all mere personal
strive To elect 10 the Convention the most enlightened. cy.
rerirnocd, yirtuaus and patriotic citizens Of the timc-hoaor-
I'd Commonwealth. Such are the honest and hnin5lc views
If your fellow citizen, CHRISTOPHER NEALE,
July g, lS5V. OF Alexandra, Va.