Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-04-15
COMMUNICATIONS.
ITO the Voters or .Rugaysty.

|
Fsllo,v-C Citizens. Through the columns of
| the indicator, some OF you have this week,
propounded to the Candidates for the Legisla-
ture, several of the most important interrogato-
ries, to which | shall now proceed to respond
with great pleasure. For hold the doctrine in
its fullest extent, that you have right to know
the opinions of every man who aspres to repre-
sent you, on all political questions, whether
State or Federal. that may be influenced in any
way by his election. Hence it was, that at the
March Court, did not hesitate to declare in adj
vance, what were my deliberate opinions on the
great Reform question" of the day. But as d
small proportion only Of the voters of the Coun-
ty were then present, am glad this opportunity
is afforded me to respond 10 these questions s.
| am only sorry that the limits of a newspaper
article will not permit full discussion of these
topics.
1st am decidedly in favor of Convention,
| and shall vote for it on the day of election.
End | am for giving TO the people-n whom
all power is vested, and from whom alone it is
derived--the exercise of their undisputed right,
in electng directly, and not by their agents,
their Governor and other important Executive
or ministerial State offcers--al their Judges
from the Chief Justice Of the State down to tbs
Magistrate who tiles warrants, for fixed term,
and not for lie; and 10 take from the Cir
cult and County Courts their power Of appoint
10 hold to a direct responsibility, their Clerla
Sherifis and Connonwealth's Attorneys, | go
for their periodical election by the people, and
so with Constables and all other officers holding
lucrative places
g.. / am in favor Of Biennial Sessions of the
Legislature limited to say go or rs days except
in case of public danger from an enemy, either
internal OR foreign. We shall thereby save TO
the State from sS75, 900 to 100000 per annurl,
and besides have better le0islatiOn
4th am in favor of a iudicous system of In.
ternal improvements, and in order to secure that,
and give death-blow to the dsgracefu system
of og-rolling" that now prevails and will if
not checked, eventually bankrupt the Treasury
and destroy the credit of the State. ! am i'll
favor Of limitation on the power of the Legis-
tature, to borrow money OH the faith OF the State
simila, in principle to that embodied in the N.
York Constitution, and to which more than all
things else, believe that State is indebted for
its present sound financial condition, and ad-
vanced system of internal improvements al
lude to what was known in New York as the
"Peopes Resolution in the session of her
Legislature for several years, and which is now
incorporated in her Constitution as part of the
fundamental law, the object OF which is to pro-
tect the people from an unjust and onerous pub
lie debt The principle OF this limitation in N.
York, is that the Legislature shall not, in any
manner create any debt or liability of the State,
which shall sngy or i'll the aggregate in any
one session, exceed one million ofdolars, except
to repel invasion repress instruction, unless
the same shall be authorized by a law for some
single object or work, TO be distinctly specified
therein and such law shall provide for the pay
ment Of the debt within 10 years from its crea-
ton, and then be submitted TO the people for
their ratification. The Legislature have ono
million to operate upon, but beyond that sum,
TIE people have "a say'' in the matter, so that
such debts are very apt to be contracted only
for a necessary purpose and moreover the peo-
pie having voted directly upon them feel
stronger sense Of obligation than they otherwise
do so that it is better for beth debtor g. creditor
both are mere secure-the iorsaer from large
Improbable debt, and the latter from the dan
ger of its repudiaion. The same principle has
been adopted in Michigan and Iowa, and be-
lieve, in Kentucky. am in favor Of it, and :
will discuss it more at length when this
''stump,"
5th. l am opposed to I'll, present County
Court system for many reasons, too numerous !
and too lengthy for discussion here,
9Th. As regards the proprieiy Ct an amend
ment to the jury system, Whereby jurors shalt
be summoned long enough before the Court to
make necessary arrangements Ct their own BUSH
ness at home, SO that the discharge of this i'm
portant duty may not be al the sacrifice OF theif
private affairs, and that they should be paid for
| llle SaFVicS ti!GS TellteTel INC puD4lc, HaVS
never entertained a doubt. 1t is unjust in the
extreme to drag men from their fields, shops
and stores, in the very busiest seasons, as is
now often the case, and keep them from their
homes and business, and on expense besides, to
settle dispute between two litigants Of whom
perhaps they know nothing, and care IS little.
and that too without one cent of compensation.
How many Of you have been served in this man.
uer?
9TH go for the extension Of the right of sus-
frage to every free white man over 81 years OF
age, of sound mind and rot convicted of crime,
who is assessed with ard pays taxes
9Th. am Wing as is generally known l
presume. j. u. lAlBODEN.
April s. 1850.