Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-07-20

proportion of that body would be reasonable Sc
curity against the removal being by party vote,
or because of decision honestly made in opposition TO
some opinion of the Legislature.
| Should such notifications as | have referred TO be
adopted it would perhaps be unnecessary to fix any
orbrary age at which Judges should go out OF office:
vet | am not opposed to such age being fixed would
rather though it should not be under, or materially uu
der three and ten; seeing that several ofhe best
and most efficient Judges of the General Court and
Special Court of Appeals now about 70. The age,
at all events should be sufficiently advanced to make
it improbable that the retiring Judge would look to
political Office he should be under temptation in the
latter years Of his Judgeship to be considering
effect of his decisions upon influential men than up
on the Justice of the case.
| 4th Surprising the people to devolve on their re-
representatives. the duty of eectng Judges well Of
eectng the Governors, some further asttuona pro-
visions may be proper secure the performance of this
duty in way that will be fof the good Of the
State than of the members themselves. | am inc1ed
to think it would not be going too far to provide htno
member OF the Legislature shall during the period for
which he shall have been elected, be appointed any
office, the appointment to which made by the Legs
lature. If too, measure can be devised which WV
nave saa sse. J e o@k e his and
Jess the question for whom he voted President OF
the United States, such would be of great
value Far better will it be, think to try such mea-
su,es than to have the degrade ion incident to cleo
toneerng before the people for Judicial Offices; having
Judge perhaps deciding cause between parties who
have voted expected to vote upon his elecrion
| If'he duty OF eectng Governor and Judges be de-
volved by the people on their represen taves with pro-
visions faithful performance of that duty) it
will not be just say that the capacity of the
people for government is thereby called in question,
than it would be to say that their capacity for govern
ment is questioned when they devove on the Cover
nor the duty OF executing, and the Judges the duy
of deciding arising under the laws The question
to the mode OF eecting these and other officers
one OF expedency, and should be determined as true
wisdom best dictates. The right Of the people elect
all their officers they please to be ques-
toned than the right OF man engaged in many suits
II. h,ta, .,tb Las
wisest for the man to employ counsel to argue his
suits, so in the former it may be wises also foy pso-
pie, who have great many officers, to employ repre-
sentatvesto elect them
Besides if by the constitution the election of all Off
| GERS devolved on the people, IL would, in most
cases. be but nominal election by them after a
had made the selection. No doubt that if the
Governor, Judges of the Court OF Appeals and other
State officers, made eligible by the people of the
State the persons elected under such system would
very uniformly be those nominated by the caucus of the
dominant party; the selection would, in effect be trans
ferred from the majority OF the Legislature to still
smaller body-he majority of the caucus; this majority
of the caucus might even be smaller body than the
minority of the Legislature.
And in regard to the local offices, if they were filled
by the people at the time OF filling important State Of
fees or at the ofelectng Their representatives in the
Legislature in Congress- the fate OF all on a ticket
would generally be determined by the preference OF the
voters 10 the candidates for of the highest Of
fees and generally be determined too. with reference
merely to the opinions of those candidates matters
connected with the Presidential eecton-without regard
to qualifications tor the particular offices to be filled
II all the offices should not be filled at the same time,
then should be annoyed by multiplicity of cleo
tions; present peace and quiet would be exchanged
for everlasting agitation and turmoil and strife and
OF the best OF the voters those who ought to have
most weight, would get in the habit of attending the
elections less and less. "A system Of elections by the
people, 10 the extent now proposed in Virginia, by
many OF the candidates in other districts, should con-
slider great nuisance which should not be in
cted on any people, unless they deserve heavy pun
ishment.
|
willing to have some change in the mode OF appointing
such Justices may be added hereafter to the commits
sion of the Peace, though, present, there is with
4 in my Knowledge any practical evil calling for change
| in this matter. The county courts should think Be
preserved; leaving to the Legislature the power which
now has of regulating their jurisdiction well the
jurisdiction of other courts 1t has, by the Code,
given to the circuit courts Jurisdiction with
the county courts in actions at law, well in
| chancery.
9th. AS TO the right of suffrage it is very desirable
that the rules should be certan, simple, easy to
derstand, and convenient in practice" 1t is with great
reason objected to the existing rules that they
SO. And think the attempt should be made to sim
pity them. In doing this it is more probable that the
right of suffrage will be extended, than that it will be
contracted; at least in cases generally. ln the parcu
lar case of persons having lands in different counties
some restriction may be proper My impression in re-
spect to such persons is, that should be provided that
they, like other voters shall vote only in the county
town in which they live.
AS zone of the people" have examined with some
care, many of the questions TO come before the Con-
vention; and under that title have, through the public
prints endeavored to my counrymen against the
mschief to be apprehended from of the measures
now proposed. ] desire to the constitution amend
ed; not destroyed. II what have done shall avail
aught to stay the destructive hand of radcalisni-to
preserve any of the valuable features of our institutions
shall be than compensated for the tine that
have given to the subject. l desire 10 better reward
There is much to prevent me from wishing seat i'll
the Convention My persooaI preference is for private
rather than public ieto pursue my profession rsher
than take Office Yet will not deny that the nantes
taton OF desire the part of considerable portion
Of the people of this district, that should be OF
their representatives in the Convention is, because of
that desire, source qualification 1t is high honor
Tor the people, without solicitation to elect any
member of the Convention 1t, in this district, it shall
he the pleasure of the people elect me- shall deem
proper 10 to the best ofmy ability. lcaunot hope
to see such course adopted in the Convention as
would consider to be wises end best l must therefore
to myself the liberty to act in spirit ocon
ella ion and compromise as may, in my Judgment be
for the good OF the commonwealth.
X, Respectfully. your fellow citizen.
| CONWAY ROBINSON.
/ Richmond. July Is, 1850.