Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-04-03
ComMUNIC ATOMS.
no tHE voTERs oE AUGUSTA.


TO THE VOTERS OF AUGUSTA!
Fello,v- Citizens Through the columns of The
Vindcator, some of you have this week, PROFOUND
ed TO The Candidates for the Legislature, several
most important inierogalories, TO which shall now
proceed to pond with great pleasure. Fortified
the ducirine in its fullest extent, That you have
RIGHT TO know the npnions Of every man who as
pres 10 represent 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 Courl, did moi hesitate to declare IN
advance, what were my deliberate opinions On The
great "RefUrm questions" of the day. But as
small proportion only of the voters Of the County
were then present, ] amglad this opportunity is
afforded me respond to these questions; and am
only sorry that the limits of newspaper article
will not permit full discussion of these topics.
LIST. am decidedly in favor Of Convention, and
shall vote for it on the day ofeectiOh.
2nd. | am for giving to the people-in whom all
mower is vested, and from whom alone it is derived
the exercise of their undisputed right, in elecng
directly and nut by their agents, their Governor
!, and other important Executive or ministerial State
oicers-all their Judges from The Chief Justice Of
the State, down TO the Magistrate who tries war
rants, for fixed fern, and nofor life; and to take
! from the Circuit and County Courts their power OF
appointment, and consequently their patronage, and
to hold 10 direct responsibility, their Clerks, oher-
IFS and Commonweallh's Attorneys, 60 for their
periodical election by the people, and SO with Con-
Stables and aolher officers holding lucrative places.
3rd | am in favor Of Biennial Sessions of the
Legislature. limited to say 60 or Is days except in
case of public danger from an enemy, either inter
nal or foreign We shall thereby save to The Slate
from $75, 900 to 100000 per annum, and besides
have better general legislation.
4th. am in favor Of judcious system of In
ternal improvements, and in order TO secure that,
and give dpath-bow III The dsgraceful system Of
clog rong'' that now prevails. and will II not
checked, eventually bankrupt the treasury and de-
slrov The credit Of the State. am IN favor OF linn
itatun on the power Of the Legislature, 10 borrow
money on Tire faith of the State, similar III principle
to that embodied in The n. York Constitution, ahd to
which, more than all things else, believe that
State is indebted for lis present sound financial CON-
diton, and advanced system Of Internal Improve
ment-I allude 10 what was known in New York
as the "Peope's Resolution" in the sessions of her
Legislature for several years, and which is now in
corporated in her Constitution as part Of the fun
damenial law, the object Of which is to protect the
people from an unjust and OnerUus public deb.-
The principle of this limitation in New York, is
that the Legislature shall not, in any manner, ere.
ate any debt ur liability Of the State, which shall
sngly or in ihe aggregate, in any une session. ex-
coed one million OF dollars, excep, 10 repel invasion
or repress Instruction, unless the same shall be au
thorizpd by law for some single object or work,
to he distinctly specified therein; and such law
shall provide for the payment of the debt within
wears from its creation, and then be submitted 10
the people for their ratification. The Legislature
have one million TO operate upon, but beyond that
sum. the people have "a say" in The matter, 50 that
such debts are very api 10 be contracted only for
necessary purposes and moreover the people having
voted directly upon them feel a slrunger sense OF
obligation than they would otherwise do. 50 that il
is better for both debtor and creditor both are more
secure-the former from large Improbable debt, |
and the latter from the danger of its repudaton.-
The same principle has oeen adopted III Michigan
and Iowa, and, believe, in Kentucky. am in
favor of it, and will discuss II more at length when
on the "stump."
+, 9Th. am opposed to the present County Court
system for many reasons, loo numerous and 100
lengthy for discussion here.
~ 9th As reglrds the propriety of an amendment
10 the jury system, whereby jurors shall be snm-
mened long enough before the Court 10 make the
necessary arrangement Of their own business at
home, SO that the discharge Of this important duty
NAV not be at the sacrifice Of their private affairs,
and that they should be paid for the service thus
rendered the public. have never entertained
doubt 1t is unjust in the extreme to drag men
from their fields, shops and stores in the very bu'
siest seasons, as is now often thu case, and keep
them from their homes and business, and on ex-
pense besides, to settle dispute between two lii
giants of whom perhaps they know nothing, and
care as little. and that too without one cent OF COM
pensa,ion. How many of you have been served in
this manner?
9TH. go for The extension ofthe right Of suffrage
to every free white man over 81 years of age, of
sound mind, and not convicted of crime, who is as
sessed with and pays taxes.
9Th. am Wing as is generally known pre-
sumo. j. d. IMBODEN.
April 8, le50.-Mess. and Wind. copy.