Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-07-30
LETTER FROM ErsTACE CONWAY. ESQ.

- As 49,
TO SAMUEL G.. DASIEI, ESD, Secretary, nc.
Dear Sir l have this cay received y"uts. COMMUNICATING
my nomination 'by Iii. Convention which assembled al
Bn,,! linz Green. on The 9Th inst, n onc III the five delegates
II represent the district composed Of til counties at KING
" irialn. Hanover. Caroline aui S1oiayivanlt IN IN" \ r4i-
nia Convention and rrqnesiin" !nN acc"rian'c t''cTcoi. :
v i'm The most grateful sense ~ the lh,i compliment pad
ac by The Convention, and a SINGER" disifnst oi nv "wn nj
| ness for The yc.y resi- 'nsi1le GGtt - "t;c' ! nay, been thi'
called, arccpt the nomination, ami VIII Proceed, n hflcht
as practicable. 10 set before The pccp!t 81 the district, nv
Jews with roapcct 10 tio-c subjects, wtich, IN my judgment,
should cnga". the consideration "i III" Convention. II i
proper, however, that | sEp"!d say IN ;'!vanc', that cannon
venture 10 cypress confi,Ri opinions ~ relation u mater"
OF dcta... wiI! not disguise, that while the general sablcct
Of Constitutional reform las Tor some TINE past occupied
nv thoughts, and a IL sour mlttcrS have maze ~ :: scr!
decided opinion, there IRE others upon which have not been
able io b, stow Sufficient consideration 10 enabic Inc 10 90
more Il, this time than give Ia present IMPRESSIONS. W.
do | suppose the people desire any candidate 10 DO more than
this. They can readily understand, that upon matters o.
such crave moment, as the alteration oi Il fundamental Jaw
time. labor, investigation ana lCiieciion are requisite, ani TIE
wiscsi and best informed mas; move with cautious steps
Ii would be worse than folly IN Ic TO rush IN where angr'S
fear 10 tread" | propose, therefore, NJ" 10 do no mere than
announce The present inclinaiions NJ my mind upon TIE
questions of reform which occur To me.
lst. rs 10 the basis OF representation. The question .!
what is he true basis Of representation. almost exclusively
cngrosscd the time and talents Of the great men WHO con-
poscd the las. Convention. Ii will, | trds:, occupy very NJ
lie Of either in the next. am well satisfied. that The paS!:
agreed upon in the act under which the present Constitution
is called. will bc preserved. The basis there i population
and taxation combined. ~ i member al The last L"glsli-
ture. | cXcrtcd what li,le influence possessed 10 secure The
passage Of tia, act. voted ior i n the polls. II IT be
nroposel To disturb that basis, shall most earnestly oppose
it,. believe il to BE- 4 sound basis Of representation, anl !
NAV add that il certainly j. the Only basis that Eastern II
ninia can consent To, If she have respect IA the snictg OF her
property. II seems 10 me also, that il car to demonstrated
To- be just per SC. 1t affords equal and adequate protection
to all the diSsimilar and peculiar interests OF Tie state. Ii
iccomplshes The great end Of al good government. by Sc
curing protection TO persons and property.
,. As Ia appropriations Of public money BY the General
Assembly. The wasteiul expenditure Of public money ur
IN works of internal Improvement, ana other purposes, III
the last few years, has awakened general anxiety II The pub
lie mind. The system (of log rollirg) by which il has been
! produced, is one OF III. most serious and alarming evils incl
dent 10 the existing government. Public treasure, has, m,
der its operation, been appropriated BY millions To schemes
which dependent upon their separate merit, could not Fave
commanded the support Of one third OF either branch ol the
assembly. Nor is the prodigal expenditure of none? III
chief objection To the system. There are other aspects IL
which il il lar more Objectionable.
lis ;he POTENT lever which controls and regulates all Tie
orIina., legislation ci the country. Elections OF Juccc:
and other officers. are determined not viii! respect 10 theN
qualifications but their approval or disapDroval Of some
mammoth scheme Of improvement.
Having for some years past observed the dangerous ant
corru2ting tendency OF thu evil, il has become a 'avo.itt
idea with NJ, 10 restrict il some way the legislative con..o
over public money beyond Iii" o.cinaiy expenses Of the 90
vernment. What, precisely, that restriction shall be. mus
he Left 10 the combined wisdom Of the Convention. Va
rious modes have suggested themselves 10 NY mind, waici
| will simply enumerate, without discussing their compare
tive merit. !. BY limiting the amount Of the state debt
,. By requiring 4 two-thiris votc 81 the Legislature. 3. By
making il the dlty Of the Legislature Ia increase the taNe:
10 an amcrn; sufficient 10 nee; The intercs; upon each nca
appropriation; and, It'll. 10y submitting each appropriation
bill TO 4 direct vote OF the people. The end / have distinctly
in view. 50 it is attained ! ain comparatively inii.icrcn
about the rnsaaS.
8. As To elections by the people, believe fully in IN
truth Of the second article Of our Bill of Rights, shat al
power is invested in and derived irom the people; that ma
eis,rc.ts are Aeir trustees and servants, and a, all time:
amenabe 10 them" Nor do | regard this rs 4 mere ab
straci theory, bu, 4 practical truth. am, therefore, in favo
Of giving TO the people The appointment, BY direct vote. Q