Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-08-02
II y! IIIt F@HIHU
LETTER OF JOHN NJ. PATTON, ESQ.

l.
For the Enquirer.
4 LETTER OF JOHN NJ. PATTON, ESQ.
10 Iesars Benjamin Steppard NisioiIs Nils and osrS
Gs:rLEMES = saw on Sunday airhi, for the hrs, I'm,
your Litter OF the 10Th inst published in the Richmond
| Hhi., and addressed 10 myself and Others
had previously been informed that my name Ind been
mentioned in individual nominations vi persons L. b. vo.G
for in our district members OF the convcaon though
have seen none Ut them.
/ have done nothing and determined 10 do nothing, to-
wards putting myself forward candlair voluntarily
putting myself In position Of seeming to solicit p.ce in
i the convention III course would not decline the service
II elected lnrfber of il: but would clceily, with
sracation nj the personal compliment Implied in tie az
Ponlncn ana with deep Of its importance and d.
trust oi my capacity 10 be useful enter and cnccavur
faithfully 10 perform the duty
ln;ilnc: as the rcsa Of the labos Of the convention
will have submitted the pcJp. adopted o.
ected by them, il me il would Eav. been t@,;or
that the people should he left choose icr repre- sca;irc-
in convention, without being stimnile in their prc-
by the usual appliances OF popular canvass, and without
the consequent abscntc previous commitment oi M
bers who might be chosen, particular prJv:s be
Introduced in constitution, hostility 10, SUP
p! o., existing provisions oi or present fundamental 3w.
II j. especially important i'll tie framing resi-in tie
organic law ot S'ac that those who engaged n he
asn, Should Ia il, with caniI and dsIassora!r
temper, prepared Jr tie lnos careful, deliberate uatsaryr
and IS lar possible unbiased conference with .e,r TEL
'ws and ready 10 abandon previous impressions when hey
are snown 10 be unsouGd ard 10 reconcile CpniicII and
hostile opinions wercits found necessary. by reasonable
| concession and compromis"
4 Cnaor these Impressions desire far
cd chosen 10 b. member al tile convention tgG
un;Tammec by pledges the support o opposition
paicular provision OF the constitution any
which may be- suggested proper BE- introduced i'll III.
one 20 be io.r.ed.
IL sno Incompatible, however with this position tli;
should state the general principles which VII govern ms
course in ie convention. should the people al tie district
me The honor 10 choose ne onc Of lis representatives ant
my present impressions, as TO proposed ae}acns 81 t'
existing constiiaon - far as any may dc-ic to know II,
| views.
While an not Of the family Of tie good cnorgis.
50 as 10 be deferred from changing what exists nom nen'
rcad u! and prejudice arainst innovation az the se ,i
h,icve thar the most pregnant aud serious IN politics
arise from dsregardng that good old ldarc which lcatt
us "to Let vel! enough alone"
Whatever experience has shown 10 he useless l.schev
practice should tc abolished. ow Ncn.ra
bic the ay be- and what is detective should
ed whenever satisfied that the change Will he
proveaent My general disposition would b 10 .au agaG
fundamental material changes in the organic .w. Ever
where defects found exist in the practical working
m old SYSTEM would not exchange il for and n;r"
experiments unless convinced that equal evils would not b.
found 10 flow from them. Promising Statement of these
general principles, will proceed state my views hc
particular matters TO which you have requested
state them.
l. My impression is that should not favor any material
change OF the present apportonmen of the representation
in the State Legislature 1t seems be proper III
view Of all the appropriate and Legitimate objects vi govern
mcnt that respect should be had TO the interests both o per
and property in the distribution OF political power.
Whether by combination Of population and TAXATION or bY
distribution tho federal basis, or by a!htraEr a1r
onmeni the interests of persons and property should he
alike protected In the arrangement representation. III
proprietary interests oi every part ui the State were homo
gcneons representation arranged according To white popu
non alone would be the natural and would be- unuh
cc,iuna5le because il would be safe for ALL Though
such il is easy that il would b. unreasonable in
many 10 give representation regulated By white Po
puation aoncas. for example, in the case oi city like
Ner York PhtaItp pd-or 10 give the city o Rici
nond representation three four times rs large TIM,
nrico-out OF The cityf that be the disfropoiion be-
! tween them.
Blu, so happens that the proprietary interests of cvr.
|
in the State amounting in value TO not less probably, ta
fifteen hundred millions Of dollars, located very grea
extent in the eastern part o. the Stae-and found scarcely
at ALL comparatively in that part o the State West .
iHeghdny. That interest requires protection; and il y
councils He must be deaf TO the voice of experience an
blind to the lessons written in the history OF the past wc
does not know that that peculiar interest is never safe wncn
placed under lc dominion Of those who have no sufficient
motive for It's protection and preservation Whether sa:c:
regarded rs persons property there seems 10 hc
good why those who hen should nave thci-
rights in respect 10 them protected and assured in The on?
way in which they can be efcctnal!y guarded. While il
would be unreasonable in the East 10 claim That representa-
ton shonu be aPpotoncd according TO population cyc!u-
svey, and therefore claim power for itself p"porinned ID
black welas white populaon-t would To be fully
unreasonable that the slave should he treated property
only, and therefore that no respect should be paid to them III
arranging the representation OF Tic State in the Legislature
am the less disposed 10 favor any material change in
the present basis OF representation The practical working
oi the existing arrangement has been sIe do IN
justice in fact to that portion Of the State which complains
VI it. mere theoretical inequality producing acu"
d
tai change in the orsanzatioE of tho government.
| . Another subject which you request my views j.,
the mode in which the governor and the Judges should be
elected am strongly n.rassed with the conviction :'iaf
il would DC unwlsc 10 increase the political owcr and pat
ronasc If the o!cc of governor. Unless they should bl
very considerably increi cd il Inc there is no sr
cient motive for asa'ng the State every three years with
party contest upon tho result Of which little Of political
importance depends. The functions of The office OF Cover
nor present. though numerous diversified and requiring
constant attention. are not of such character require
that he should be chosen directly by the people, instead oi
the immediate representatives. of the people.
Besides il would net be very easy 10 reconcile the support
of the scheme of the governors election directly by the o"
pie, accompanied with considerable enlargement G. his
powers and patronage 10 the opinion have alscady nt-
mated in respect 10 the basis of Representations nsem
unnecessary say more on this topic
am still more ldsposed alter the nrcsent constitution
the mo &c ot choosing the JUDGES either u tie Court %
Appeals or of the Circuit, Courts.
In Tic nature Of things, tic election Of ludre is matter
very nnsitlhic 10 be submitted the direct auira9c g: the
people, either OF the whoic State Uf district. lie pcu
pie themselves would and feel the embarrassment
of performing such function II is morally impossible ma
the body OF Tic people! either Of State of district can
have The means ol Judging for themselves of the relative nj
and qualifications Of those who may be proposed
as, or become candidates for vacant lgdrcshir. !. t
Constitution were to prescribe that the people should !
The Judges II svcry certain that in point Of fact the people
would not ssie Them Either those who desired The office
would become candidates and engage popular canvass
for election q state of things which would Of itself go ia
prove the folly of The plan md demonstrate the utnes'
of every such candidate be ugc or those be y"te1
for would have TO be designated from the Of the law
ycs in the State OF district, by party caucus, or cacn
of lawyers some other sort of caucus Thus willie II
form and nomnay, the people would elect the judges th
great body OF them would have nothing 10 do with II but
atfy the ioegone conclusion and arranged plan o te"
active friends OF the asp.an;s, tho nomination o party
convention.
I confess have not heen able yet perceive how to-
power of the people Is 10 be increased and their prize 70 D.
atered by taking away The selection of the Judges rom In
Immediate direct and representatives. o hr eo
Dle and comforting substantially uppn irresponsible an