Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-08-12
July 30, 1850.
For TINE INDICATOR.
Mr.. Editor

We desire, through your excellent paper, to
say word to our fellow-countrymen with re.
gard to reforming our State Constitution. Being
about to take back the large powers delegated
in it and to reorganize the whole system, it be-
hooves us to be cautious that we are not again
deceived by not thinking and acting for our
selves, and requiring our delegates to the Con-
vention to execute our expressed will. Under
the old constitution we suffered many grievan-
ces. A Convention was called, We sent dele
gates to that Convention of high-sound
ing names, without taking the precaution to as
certain what their opinions were as to the re-
forms then demanded. We intrusted them with
deciding upon the subject for u.s. and what has
been the result : The miserable system under
which we are now living. The question which
now addresses itself to us, is, whether we will
like enlightened freemen, think and act for our
selves, and make the new constitution the expo
nent and embodiment of our will, or whether
| the birthrght of freemen will again be yielded.
! Experience has proved that we have conferred
too much power upon the government; powers
which we ought 10 exercise ourselves. We re-.
lied, for the guidance OF our officers, too much
upon the patriots OF the revolution, and placed
| them at too great a distance from MS. They feel
no responsibility. Many of them hold their Of
fees for life, and can scarcely trace back their
connexion with the people. There are too many
sub-delegations-too many sales of the most i'm.
portant and delicate powers of the government
TO the lowest and worst bidder, TO be again re.
tailed to the cheapest hireings that can be
picked up. The restraints which were intend
ed to be imposed upon them have, in many in
stances, proved unavailing. Who has not been
rudely marched from his field, shop, store, OF
team, and hurried off to that nursery of laziness
until the lords ofthe government chose to ust
him, and then to have his feelings outraged BY
being compelled to wait for hours until some
lazy, fat officer made his appearance, after lout
and repeated calls upon him! Who is it tina
has not been treated with the most Indignant
scorn and contempt by some of the officers wher
they were requested to perform particular du
ty, unless he CHANGED to be one of those who
have the appointing power? Who is it that has
not sustained loss or disappointment from thei
gross carelessness and neglect; and still vol
dare not move against them lest You may be
oppressed by them, without remedy
The Executive Council has been funs,s IN
on that branch of the government, paralyzine
all its energies and destroying it's responsibility
The Legislature has been the great funnel of The
Treasury; meeting from year to year, and i'm
posing onerous taxation without producing cor
responding results, until the State is well Moi
J bankrupt. Our Judiciary,-a set of dotards
invalids, &c.,-with some honorable exceptions
have again disappointed us. In the formation
of the present Constitution it was thought tha
we would remedy the long-existing and much
complained-of abuses of these life-tenure gentry
by making the tenure to last during good beha