Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-07-15

~ years ana lnat they should be re-eligibln -
long as the people should choose to eonGde ~
| them. need not say how important il is. thai
the Judicial branch of the Government sbonIJ =
filled by able and yirtuous men. To secure tbesstt
independence, and at the same time 10 mal.
them feel their accountability, are the objects
be looked al, in fixing the period for which til
are 10 be elected. With this object in view a.,
after giving to the question most calm cons;dn
.ration ii seems to me- that that object can =.
better attained by fixing the period at 10 ve,r'
than any other period oftiine. tAs 1
Seven years is the period for which Clo,t.
fare now elected. am satisfied with that pcr; !
.od, and should be unwilling 10 see it cha,,,e5 1
No one can be good Clerk by intuition. ~,
.qulres training and education. And il the q. (
snure of office were shorter, there would ! &
'greatcr danger of having unskilled and ncon'o
tent Clerks. | would give TO the Court tbe 4
'power Of removing a Clerk, either for contn,aa
ICY or incapacity. Ii seems to me neccssor,, >, !
,clothe the Court with the power, in .ordcr -
5cnsure faithful and efficient administrators srS
'justice. The use of this power could be so cr,rd
led, to prevent its caplicous and arbitrary ev
lercise. | have not fixed in my own mind o,,
,certain period for which Magistrates should he.
,elccted. lsee no reason why it should be lon
ger than years. | am inclined to think short \
Ter period might be adopted. The Sheriff mioLtl
sbc elected every. two years. But, as Magis.
strates will have TO be paid as all who labor forf
the public ought to be, it may be found expcdien
in some form or other, to connect the Sheridaltyi
with the Magistracy, as to make the profits Of
the one, compensate for the duties and services
3of the other
am in favor of abolishng the Exccutiy Il
,Councll. | doubt the necessity or wisdom of
I such body; but if in this opinion am mista.
ken, would substitute in its stead the twot
Auditors, the Treasurer, and the Attorney Gen
seral, and with these four intelligent and we'll
informed officers | would constitute an advise
Try council, without the necessity and the cx-i
3pcnse of separate organization.
am in favor ofbiennial instead of annual ses-
ssions of the Legislature This change has II
think, much TO recommend it. II is with me y
] tayorte and cherished reform. We should at.
K nce avoid heavy burthen upon the Treasury
(which sum thus saved, might, if deemed ad.
svisable be applied to more benefcent purposes,
SUCH for instance, difusing more widelyE
1.-THE benefits and blessings of Educaton--great-l
Ter stability and fXedness would be given to the
/ laws, and much unnecessary, if not mischieyousl
Legislation avoided.
| should like to see cngrafted in the Consti i
tuition, some provision, limiting and restraining
legislative appropriations OF money. The eXpc-'
.rience and history of the past, should admonishj
sus OF the wisdom and prudence Of such limita-,
ston for the future. A public debt cannot be a,
spubllc blessing. Without some such provision'
without some restraining power, the State
smay and probably will become SO deeply nyoly-
aed in debt as topresent the only alternatives of
I rcpudiation, on excessive and burhcnsome tax
] alton. The honor, the faith and credit of the
/ State will have to be preserved, cost what it
smay; and, to do this, the necessity will arise
flor heavy and oppressive taxes. | confess | do
mot clearly sec how an adequate remedy can
sbc provided: it is nevertheless, worthy of ma
surc and anxious consideration. 1t is possible
sthat remedy might be found, by requiring that
! he Legislature making the appropriation, should
.atthc same time, make provision for the speedy,
H not immediate payment ofthc debt thus crea-
stcd. The consequences of such requirement
swould be, that there would not, and could not
l be a large accumulation Of State debt Anoth-
/ er effect would be, the Legislature would be
scautious and circumspect in making appropria
stions;for the burthcn and pressure of such APP
appropriations would be at once known and felt
sby the people, the representatives would be
smore certainly and speedily called 10 a rigid and
FscrutniZing account. | would throw no unne-
scessary restraints upon the Legislature. 1t re-
1presents the sovereign will. | would, there
slore, leave it full powers to do good, but
would take from il as far as possible the power
Ito do evil. #.,.=sH-
| am opposed TO abolishng the County Court
ssystem. 1t has proved its claims to confidence
rand respect, by its hcalthful and beneiicent
Operation for many years. No adequate sub
sstitute for it, has, as yet, been proposed. Il
swould alter the mode Of electing the Magisrat, 5,
las before indicated. This change will not i'm
fpair the value and usefulness Of the system, but
Twill, as | conceive, impart more life and vigorl
to it.
| have thus, in brief, but hope, intclgblel
language, laid before you, my opinions upon
Those leading and important propositions for re-
form, which now engage the public attes con,
land will form the subjects for consideration and
debate on the approaching Convention. have
mot undertaken to discuss the various PROPOSE
'tlonS | have laid down. | have thought it moreI
desirable that you should know my present.
views and opinions, than that you should know
the course of reasoning by which arrived att
them.
BY some, my opinions will be regarded ex-|
IRENE and radical. They are such however asl
Il really entertain; and candour requires that II
frankly ayow them. They are the deliberate
convictions ofmy mind formed not to day but forl
years. And it was because of those views which,
/ have avowed, that have been the earnest adj
vocate for call of the Convention. | havci
none of those fears which seem to possess thei
mind of some, at those innovations. wish to!
see the government in practice what it Is said toI
be in theory, government of the people.
wish to see them discharging those importantly
functions themselves which thew have hither-