Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-06-11
Coz. ARTHUR Smith.

a.. \
JAS. c. JORDoN.
COT. ARTHUR SMITH.
I,r ,r N,GuT (SEAR SMTmFIELp,) JrSs ) ls'0
C.n,l,n,n. | have received your note requesting my
,;..s m ,, impor,anl subject o The State keloIn Con-
y,ntion and indicating disp soh u 'N'i"s
Of ms services therein II has been my G''eia.Ih 70
h. y massive this OCCASION NY sithi'ioh anu 'if-
cuu.tauccs il; lie preclude the idea o my Icing candidate
ia LARGE district any thns bat CONCEIVE u 10 n' Tue
ani of the people, al such an important ciss 10 can mo
m, services citizens nor do suppose tliit
there is rn. Asn the limits Of HE commonwealth "i'
hou,red ith The call would hesitate 10 Use ms utmost aoi-
-, in ,nsw,riom il; and admit Ia the fullest extent The
rpt and proprictv o isceriaing The views ana principles
Of person be- voted for before he nc entrusted WIN me
Important power oi aiding In l'Fih i o' '''c
Commonwealth 1t has been my principle ana practice,
through life regard the representative rs i' mere organ y
the vii! of his constituents, bound 10 carry o, rce
from his station whenever however asce'a'id In my
humble ,ulnn, NJ however the best evidence which man
who has in public life oier OF his va az pm,
cips The in which lie has heretofore hhrscd
he duties which have been imposed on NM nave been
homo, l. viii: aycra public stations, and can nm pride
refer yn to the records 10 show trust LAT III al
t.nrion a; least have not been wanting nc'ei Mas vo-
UNFAIRLY absent, dun. Its sessions, from legislative as
senby which member IA period ol eleven teaIs1
day ur in my life Accident has caused IN. 10 be
absent three days believe, and sickness about as many
Bu in fA,nn. Constitution, questions viii asc, ana
il is proper you should know my views.
Your rutr does specify particular points oil en-
uiry snail therefore only advert Ia such changes IL III
present appears ought In b. made IN the eSlslns
Constitution Virginia, and such additions as ought "b
made th,!rto
Our Government being Representative Democracy,
an, Of opinion all the public tunctonare- ought 10 be-
directly indirectly responsible 10 he people tla' there
should be offices held ior lie: and that with The excei
lion ot members the General Assembly and Judge no
officers should be capable Of rcarpon,mcn after certain
term years District and county officers such as judges
shris justices oi The peace &C. ought 10 be elected ny
lc people. The experience o many oi our Sister States
sufficiently the safety of this principle The STATE
Officers o Governor, Judges III Court ~ Appeals, at
Treasurer Auditor Nc. prefer 10 be elected by Tho
General Assembly do not think that in Stale
extensive ours, il is practicable that these officers
should elected by The people. Though the Constitution
should order the election would in fact hc made by
nominating voluntary convention assembled iion every part
.. The State Now although satisfied that these vol
unary conventions are, IN system o government NJ
ces>iy and must be rcsorcd H. yet consider them ne
evil and that they ought be avoided much a
practicable And have hesitation in declaring, that
nave, in General confidence in members u. Assembly
lawful, elected, than i'll these conventions.
The Legislative Delar regard The principal one
in governments and opinion that the highest courts al
the Judiciary should bc uIicd Ia report we'll ~ the
ExccWtls,, AT the commencement Of its sessions The
points 3c considered III this department equality 81
cr scnt"n and the plin ciic which representation
shall bc based. Absolute equality al representation i not To
be obtained but is desirable approximate
~ practicable In both the Constitutions % VI ini what
may b. perhaps properly termed the Rotten borough Sys-
al England necessarily producing great qualify, has
been adopted. IL is true have had strong
that the cid farmer i'll England, where IL! owner u
:cld without house inhahitani, had the prircs. ~ send
in members the House of Commons; bu under
Goth OF Consultations, have had approximations To-
Ia'i"n Which may IRON 'ime 10 Time, he tiuaH'u ny NE
Legislature, under thu Constitution nj The lEcd States.
What ha principle shall be- is likely Ia be the great bone ol
contentious III The Commonwealth, ana may tear, pro-
iucc much dissatisfaction. Where the population 81 State
is o homogeneous nature there cn b. me- doubt what ttt
principle ought 10 hc merely ought the principle Of
population only Et where The the fact the w-
should take things The, arc and modify lis
theory sui, tnci aud condition. ny sell there
Tore i'll favor ii the federal number principle clrsrins the
with tho SLAVES and addin. ti!cr iti 10 the
white population TIE mixed principle "f popu ION and
taxation, in my judgment. very objectionable. ii IS i'm
possible - ascertain who pays Of the taxes which ar
collected. Tho people "i the cities Of Richmond, Norfolk
IN! other towns pay their license taxes than 10
the people Of \. York pay thirds of the oi :hc
United States dcri, cd from duties which collected there
III favor oil extending the right III suffrage 10 all
r. white male citizens oy rs cnty.onc years OF % who
assessed with tan ("licihcr STATE county town.
the commissioners books; and who shall have paid the
III tic year preceding the election II tn election bc
laiea- November in the year The purity 81 eac-
lions being o The most essential requisites r tnl pre-
crvaiion If the public liberty llnh caution should
used prevent the introduction o rowing spurious
into doubtful election district, tho miog-
election and for his purpose am dcsiron. OF having
written recor: or memorial from Which i, may be
sertancd who entitled IL VOTE every county city,
And voter should be allowed more than vote,
md Thai III HE county cit! or iown III which he resides
The existing constitution al Virginia by giving the Senate
the power Of amending all bills has virtually taken from the
House Ut Delegates the control money 5s, and there
~ transferred the porer Of Tie purse, from Iii. immc
date 10 tie more reo. representatives. 81 the people
deem the greatest Importance that this should be chang
3D. Thu xprriencc the t. States Senate ~ ~
shows how liable this power is 10 be abused would give
the Senate The power 10 amend money bills but tir final de-
cson their amendments should be given the popular
| branch vi the Legislature.
To prevent tine hasy excessive and unprovdcnt
legislation am in favor oi providing in the Constitution,
a in elections by the General Assembly either House a
certain number oi votes plurality shall That
all laws shall be passed by ayes and noes and hy majority
Of quorum but ri each House That no money shall
borrowed but iur the defence That pen
sion shall he allowed but by virtue a pre-essiing lax
anu that State claim after The lapse generations
twenty years, shall be allowed any prctense whatever
Ard The abuse improper privileges and encoactnenis Of
corporations should bc guarded against with Jealous yg-
lance. They the germs If aIstocracy country.
In the constitution oi the Executive Department 20 not
Tor the power and slendor OF the officer but good o.
the people am in favor Of council Of tour members 10
h. elected hy district or four years and be ineligible
| Tie end 81 the term. They may be elected by the
ncmbcs Of the Assembly Of the district from which
they The Governor should be bound by The ad-
oi council hui have casting Of eqri-
~. The power Of pardon has, my Iudmeat been much
abused am Tor qualifying it essentially. tn benefit
wealth and .! wealthy and respectable in
our tine and country 10 operate pretty much ~ pnet oi
clergy did formerly amongst English frclatlers The
very persons who have the least temptation 10 commit
crimes, and Sno are when guilty therefore tho cNcu-
sable, through their benet exempted from isInent
In ever: department 81 the Government am in favor III
carrying - some extent The representative principle The
highest ciy Court the Court ri Appeals would has
CONSIST :" Four lud@es, eee. ~ limited period by dis
;ticr III the councillors would require o The
highest court Of civil and ot criminal lusdcnn that l.s
should each report 10 the Legislature, annually synopsis
oi 'hir decisions would require the Judges Of the inf
couis, that They should all chang. urlts before
they r,ic the law aud the evidence n, in other states:
an would secure 10 urics tic right return general
lc uLing al Law and iacti all what and
II further security the freedom oi spech ana o the
press, w"ni provide that in als for libel and SANDER
under The plea {" the general issue guilty the defendant
,iall be allowed To give Tho ruth in evidence: would or
9lniIt tho county courts pretty much the principles
which hay" Der adopted in cities and corporate towns
where t people control by election the taxing power and
Their l"ica officers Hho elected for limited pcriads
An iu>tIi"u> ihanhropi>i l5cccafia, has remarked
remember right for depend altogether On memory that
there Is c'T, continually maxim. every human .oce-
~ Ia eNalt portion III il CHE few height III pa,yr
and a'ncnCo and to dcprcs> the other h, state
III poverty AMI spcndancc aud whoeNc has observed thu
course 81 the United STATES Government, nothing
TINT u! State, tor wears pas: IL giving houn-
cs granting pensions ALLOW I'M all State clims in
crcdsn in covert manner the III officers has seen the
truth that sentiment amply Illustrates and think il can
BE- strongly held in mind hy any one engaged in
forming Constitution and DESTROYS III checking lis opelt-
"n and Of preserving the rights and Guarding interests
. of people.
The above the views which, without any examination
into The SUBJECT much .sliccton occur IL ;ie AZ present
relative your request! and respectfully place them al;
your disposition. They would have been fni shed sooner
pu ha, been continually indisposed til" receipt oi
/ your aoie. ARTHUR SMITH.
Messrs. James NJ jordan, John T. Butter. II Dickson
Jesse Hodges \. !. Whitehead \. Atkinson ana James
] &. JORDAN.