Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-07-01
TO THE VOTERS OF HIGHLAND, AU-
CUSTA AND ROCKBRlDGE,

The people of the Commonwealth, by their
representatives about to assemble in Conven-
ton to agree upon the principles by which they
| will be governed and to appoint such agencies as
will best carry into effect the principles in which
they may concur. The people are to establish a
government for themselves-for their own wei
fare--for their own security. That government,
then, shonld be the emanaton Of the popular will
and in accordance with the wishes of those who
are to feel its burdens and to enjoy its blessings.
Hence, it will be my duty, if a;n elected, to re-
fleet your opinions by my votes, and 10 urge
your views by my arguments and should ii
$, happen, which do not anticipate that owing
to change of opinion Oh my part, cannot con
scentousy represent your ascertained views and
opinions it will be my duty to resign my seat, in
order that you may select some one who will act
for you as you may desire. Such is my opinion
Of a representatives. duty, and think it entirely
proper to say, in advance, that if elected | will
| perform that duty.
Que fihe Fundamental principles Of our insti
tulions is that 'all power is vested in and conse
quently derived from the people; that Magistrates
are their trustees and servants and at all times a.
menable to them" would give efficiency, as
far as practicable, to this theory, in the practice
of The government, by imposing direct respousi
bty to the people upon their public servants,
|. As cardinal artieiei would declare that
the Legislative, Executive. aad Judiciary depart
mehts shall be separate aud distinct, that nei-
Their shall exercise the powers properly belonging
to either Of the others; and that the members Of
each department shall be appointed by and be a
menable to the people
/ 2. Suffrage should he uniform and as nearly as
practicable, universal. Every free while male
person, Of sound Mind and not convicted ofcrime,
who has been citizen of the State for twelve
months aud resident Of tho county in which he
utiets 10 vote for six months, and who pays taxes,
bears arms or works Oh the highways, should be
entitled 10 the rig Of suffrage. No man should
vote III moro than one county ct The same cleo
| tion.
3, Representation should be equal and based
upon the number OF the free white population. Ii
were mockery 10 extend the right OF suffrage IN
less gwen number of voters in one portion Of the
State be entitled to the same representative power
with an equal number elsewhere. My opinions
! on this subject well known, and will not be
surrendered upon the challenge Of our opponents.
And yet am not to be considered as advocating
70 dlr'ston ct The State in case fail to accomplish
what DESIRE mean only to say that will not
20 into the battle with nay flag lowered in token
that am ready to surrender. If the West will
stand firm aud united in no attitude of faction or
revolution, but as men who know their rights and
knowing dare maintain them, believe liberal
ana Just principle of representation will be secur-
ed.
L. The Governor should he elected by the PEG
ple He should be ineligible to any other office
during the term for which he may be elected.
would not entrust him with the veto power. The
| Council OF State should be abolished.
s. The Sessions Of the General Assembly
should be limited to prescribed period and be
held oace in two years-the number of members
might be reduced The power Of appointment
should be withdraw, as far practicable, from
the Legislature, aud given to the people. There
should be no property qualifica lion for delegates to
the General Assembly.
=. The Governor, Judges, Justices of the
Peace. Clerks, Sheriffs, Constables and other
ministerial officers should be elected directly by
the people and for limited TERMS
Z. The County Court system should he abol
ished or gfea,ly modified. Each county should
be divided into townships or districts, in each of
which the people should elect Constable and a
prescribed number of Justices A Probate
Court should be established having Jurisdiction of
| matters 0! fJucary character, such as the pro-
bat OF wills, granting letters Of administration and
the settlement Of the accounts of Executors, Ad-
mlnistrators, Guardians, Trustees, SC.
g. The General Assembly should be required
TO provide tor the education Ut the people.
THE JUDICIARY.
9. have said that the Judges should be elect
ed by the people fer limited terms--they
should also be re-eligible The term of office
should ba sufficiently long 10 give stability to the
Judiciary and yet short enough to bring the Judg
es periodically under the quie, and correcting in
fluence of the ballot box, and thus to create a
! practical and an efficient responsibility.
( The tenure Of the Judiciary is the great issue
IN this contest; aud upon this subject desire to
give few reasons for my opinions IT is strik-
ing Iac' That III each or the twenty one States Of
the Union which have, during the last twenty
years, remodelled their Consultations, the life or
good behaviour tenure, now So earnestly contend
ed Tor by some In Virginia, has. by common con
sent, been abandoned. The starting point in
these States was the concession that the Judges
should hold their offices only for limited term
Oh years, and that the life or good behaviour ten
lre is an obsolete idea in republican govern
/ ment. Such was the position Of the eloquent
e1arret DAVIS, the distinguished opponent Of Re-
form in the Kentucky Convention He contended
that the term should be limited but that the reo-
pie should not trust themselves to make the cleo
'lons-that they should delegate that power a
way from themselves to their agens--a majority
OF 10000 of the people OF Kentucky thought 9th
erwiso and retained the power. Elsewhere, as |
have SAID, The contest has been not concerning the
tenure of office, which all conceded should be for
a Term oi years, but in regard to the mode of APP
polntment, some advocatinga by the
Legislature, others by The Governor, others
by The Governor and Senate and the great
ef number by the people, In this district,
however, it is known that the good behaviour
tenure, rejected elsewhere. is by some insisted ON;
and the appointment by the people, resisted else.
where, is adopted and approved
1t would seem, upon principle, that those who
concede that tile people, whose interests are di-