Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-07-30
ElSTACE CONWAY
LETTER From JOIN NJ. Bolts, ESQ.

IEtlIl[ L. I.D.I Jofi.N ~. ~ -. i''Nf'
RIcHMo>p, July 18th, l-5U.
Gentlemen / have thi, day received your communication
cxnrc.sina d desire tia; would declare myself 4 candidate
ior the Convention, and give iar views IN rt9aEat 70 ihc van
ois l,e.hods of reform proposed"
should certainly esteem ~ distinguished honor 10 DC
s;,.,.i h.. ms l. N,w. ,iUl, II, 10 III 50 important a post ls
that Of u member al H." Convention io form a new consii-
tut.on for the state but do not feel that II would DC cx-
actly right 10 anncuace myself rs 4 candidate !or tbc POSI-
ION. There are CERTAIN Offices for which IN ind!yidral may
present himself. Is a candidate without IMPROPERLY ttt least
custom has sanctioned ihai cour>el bat there are Others Ola
hinicr grade, for which tlirE the people should be le' irre
IL select their own candidates; and without meaning Ia cast
thc SLIGHTEST reflection or Encouragement on those whose
Judgment or tastes may have led THEM 10 a different c"i.chi-
sion. must say. with all due reference, think IRIS Is olt
Il The latter. ! mus, therefore, be permitted 10 decline ne
suggestion of declaring mysel! candidate, though al me
SANE time | have no hesitation in aging, that my services
are entirely al the disposal Ut the people nj TINS district, II II
saJnla b. their pleasure Ia require them.
Nor ha9e | the least difficulty in stating my general views
On the more important subjects likely 10 BIZ brcusi; 10 the
consideration Of the Conventions; -. course ! do mol mean
ms / IN. sure Won 10 not desire that ! shouid) IL 20 into the
m:nr;ir and details Of all the questions that have been OF
iaav be hereafter brought III ipr siscussion.
In the first l.acc, then, am clearly III favor 81 eAiefdins
tie light Of suffrage, 50 as T. rlahs as neatly universal rs
MAY IL practical! and clI edi,ut. My observation and cEpe-
ri, nee irs long since satisfied me, that there l. no intcfine,
iillr grpura Id be occupied between freehold ana universal
suffrage. tor very many reasons, not necessary mere 10 chlcT
into.
S,couiiv. in regard 10 the election oil public officers: am
srronai. inclined Ia the opinion, ~ 4 general principle, that
every o.iir,. charged with doing the peoples WORT, should
be clccieL by the people, aac b. held directly Responsible 70
tne;a Tor the manner in Which ihelr Work Is performed. we
near Il great deal from ali quarters about the Importance u
IN 'iua,pendeGt j4icary.h To my mind II Is a great TAI
l.cy. One Of Tie chief objections tha; ! entertain - oar
present Judiciary system j. that i, Is too independent. y
,iath.uI, inactive or incompetent Judge may now neglect or
a,,u~, his office or his power; NJ may c>hlolt tho most strik-
iar prejudice ~ Partially; he iaay manifest ~ every WAY
M! IN every iay, his utter un.tncsS and lnc0npc'"ncy ir
Gi. position, vi ne j. - entirely independent that he cannot
BE- reached &, those mo-: interested, and who are ihe COIN
mon suH.rcrs.
In The mother country, from which oar institutions arc
chiefly derived. in independent judiciary, lthat Is a judiciary
inicpcnlcat of III: CROWN i Indispensable Ia the pTeser'i-
t!on OF the rights oi the subject, especially IN reference I"
he punishment Of political offences. Eut have never
been able 10 ascertain why, in a government like ours: ~
s,oGd desire Il Judiciary independent Of ne people: on he
contrary, | desire 10 see the Judiciary elected b. the people,
anu depenGsa! On The people, by the integrity. ard ability, and
importantly with which they discharge their hi5h AMI So
!canu duties, h.. TIER continuance IN and reelection 10 dice.
And think there * much more reason TO aprrehend That a
lad officer will bc kept in when lie ought 30 b. turned out,
whic.l wil! Ent oiton happen, than that ! good o!iictr vii se
turned out when h. Dug,t ia be keptin. All men are lin
oc IL d. wrong; bot vince The people in mass 'r wrong. II
/. from Misrepresentation; and when they ascertain tiie!. er-
tor. they will avail themselves ot the first opportunity To
correct l.. Bu. il not un,requcnliy happens that the toliii-
clans 10 wrong from design. 10 aid some selfish purpose. and'
therefore, they are not likely afterwards Ia correct Il, II II
should better serve their purpose 10 continue II. Asi Tor The
Objection which has been urged, that tie people VIII DC Ie-
.l.a,el By their political feelings in the selection Of their
ridges, We have 10 reason to suppose that they are more
likely 10 tic governed by such considerations than those 10
whom that duty has heretofore been entrusted and, then, il
the people err in this respect, ii will BE- their own fault, and
they wiil he the sufferers, and they VII speedily correct it
/ think il .ettcr, too, Tint Il man should suner hy his own
wrong, than b. The wrong vi another.
Tnifil.-iG respect IL tho county court system: | am en-
tirely satisfied that il is 4 very defective system. an! needs
material modification, AMI | am not sure that II should not
be altogether abolished. am opposed 10 1t, ~ 4 seit-con'ii-
luted and sc!f.sls;aining body, falling, rs il has done in ma
ny counties in this State, into the hands 81 particular iami-
lies or c!iqacs. 10 the great annoyance ana detriiicnt ana dis
satisfaction Of the body of the people. What should De re-
commented in lis stead, am not altogether prepared now
Ia say. iron This, a upon ali other subjects connected with
the organic aw at the land, should make Il my business.
= 4 -l-tIl III. ,,Al O., Ill. a pt,r II MAKO rnpsslf IN
miiiar with the institutions, and the practical workings oi
those institutions in other States, before determined what
was best 20 he done. Rut am altogether satisfied that a
much more desirable and efficient substitute can be found Tor
our present unwieldy and imperfect system. Ii would be
strange, indeed, if our lorefathers had in the carly period Of
our history, struck. by accident, on absolute perfection IN THIS
matter, and in nothing else.
Lastly-In reference 10 the basis Of representation This,
a~n;rchcad. will constitute The chief difficulty with the Con-
y.nt.on in comihg To a harmonious and satisfactory concir-
sion. md most, n last, toa greater orless extent, be Il sn1loet
ot e nl !omlsr between what may he REGARDED u the conflict
irr intc-cs, oil tic Eastern and Western portions of the
STATE. The West will. undoubtedly, insist upon bas,ng tie
representation on the Waite population alone, throwing ott
vi view the colored " slave population, a NOT beng entitled,
on account Of is character a property, 10 be estimated IN
fang me basis.
Negroes pariatc Of a mixed fuaitv-thcy are both per-
sans AMI property. and probably a. much ci the one rs the
other, and it has occurre! to ne, that there could probably
be no more JUS, ground OF compromise adopted, than 10 re-
ard them in this light, IN the settlement Of this question
and whilst you exclude one-half rs property, 10 include the
other hall as persons. whirh would assimIlate il very much
10 The presoll, basis of representation in the Federal Govern
men,. by which ,isce-f(ths are included, ana two-ifihs ex-
c,llcd, ia. while tic West claim that the representation
snail be confined ID persons, they could not insist on the en-
hrs exclusion Of slaves on this ground.
lam not, however. 10 be regarded rs welded, or commit
ted 10 TINS plan. ! merely throw II out rs 4 suggestion that
has presented itself 10 NY mind, as a fair mode Of settling Il
very difficult question that is 10 give rise 10 q great deal, |
fear, Of acrimonious feeling, 10, only in the Convention, but
between the different sections Of the State. Upon this sub
,ect / should conform my action 10 what / might, at The time
regard as the wishes OF those / was representing.