Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-07-26
F0R TIE ESorIRER.

f0R TIE ENQUIRER.
To The JOters of The District composed of Counties Of Mad
ison Greene, Cuipeper, and Orange.
FrtLow-c DEMONSTRATING Just ascertained that il is TN
purpose OF the other candidates vi this district for a seat il
The State convention 10 address the voters of the distric
through the press. il would seem 10 he right and proper tina
|. as one oi the candidates in this district Tor the same honor
should do likewise, for have no secret u keep relative Il
ms notions OF reform that should be made 10 the prescn
State constitution.
The other candidates, together with myself have alrcad,
| addressed The good citizens Of The district al srndry places
ard il is well know 70 the people Of The district that the can
diiales. by AGREEMENT, have made appointments TO accres.
them al various other riaccs through the district, %inciudin:
every dav Of this week and several days Of the succeeding
week; consequently, | do not think that ii IL III al called
tnr on ms part, nor indeed have | now the time, 10 extend
this address by assigning the various reasons or argument,
in favor of the different REFORMS that should BE- incorporated
into the constitution IL be made.
have sufficient confidence in the intelligence and virtue
a; the citizens .! this renowned Old Commonwealth Of Viz
sillia. 70 believe that they are capable ri scli-,overnmcnt,
and that there is no necessity To place too much OF the sove-
reign powers Of The people into the hands Of their agents
therefore,. at this Onward and enlightened age, ami for placing
back into The hands Of the people those sovereign powers
which ri.httuily belong IL them, 10 BE- exercised b. tl,ir
agents under titir supervision, ma tianacr ~ be lait down
in 4 well constructed State constitution.
Permit Inc nJw Ia consider important alterations which
occUr to me should b. made - the present imperfect Stat"
constitution, which The intelligence and spirit Of the aye
seem 81 inpcratycy IL demand. would, however, first
,av that white population, as the basis ot representation,
should b. uncomprouisinely opposed, and the MIXED basis
slrcnuou-ly cuntendod for Tor understand the object oil
las 10 BE- IL protect bo,h persons and property.
-. Biennial sessions III The Legislature shoul! be- substi-
,urcd in lieu ut annual. and 10 commence after Christmas
HOLIDAYS are over, an! only Ia continuc. ir 4 short period.
~. am in favor of cxtCndin, The rght al suffrage 10
every free white male citizen ~ The commonwealth twenty
one wears old ana upwards. who has been 4 resident OF the
county, town or borough III which he offers 10 Vote twelve
months next preceding tie day oi election, excepting such
as ne now excepted under the prc*cn, constitution rs per-
sons Of unsound mind, &c. Voting in different counties
should hc stopped. have No fears on the score Of this cx-
tension of the right of suffrage under our form of govern
,nent. 1t is Just and equitable, and conforms 10 our Bill Of
Rights.
Iii. The governor should be elected BY the people. The
tenure Of office may be Is now, that is, 10 be elected BY the
people 70. three years, and 10 be ineligible for the next three
years.
9Th. Tie ludges should be elected BY the people for 4 term
of years, and 10 be rc-eigible, saw between iirc and ten
years, the one the minimum and the other the maximum
limit. The State should b. laid oil into as many districts as
there should be Judges 10 form the Court OF Appeals, and each
district should elect one Judge for said court; and the circuit
Ildacs should be elected by the voters of their own circuit.
Counties should be laid oil into wards or districts, and each
ward should have two or three justices; and they should be
elected BY the people, but the present number should be
greatly curtaied. They should be elected for a term of
abou, two years md be r~c-eigible, and be paid for their ser
vices. Jurors should also BE- paid for their services.
6th. Clerks, >hcriils, constablcS, DC, should also be elected
b. the people, tor a reasonable term OF Years, and be rc-eli-
gItlc.
7th. Constitutional provision should be made 10 stay the
heretofore wanton and unguarded disposition TO squander
;he public funds; and also a proper provision should br
made hy the Legislature 10 meet in a suitable manner the
>ta,c debts and liabilities. The pecunisry affairs Of a State
should be managed like a frugal and economical man would
manage his own money matters.
9Th. The property of individual stockholders in companies
incorporated for the purpose Of money making, should be
bound for TIL debts and liabilities of said companies respect
lively.
Having thus briefly advertcd 10 the ~chicfimportan, altcra-
lions that should be made in the present State convention.
should be honor,d with a seat in the said convention. |
pledge mys,li 70 Use all honorable efforts 10 carry out ana
establish The reforms above Indicated, 10 The best OF my sbi-
liIv; and will ever cherish feelings Of ncver-dying gratitude
tr the honor 'hu< bestowed by he go9i people Of my M.
tive district. WILLIAM l.. EARLY.
CrirErER C. H.. Jrly i. 1850.