Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-07-23

linn. We are undergoing no sucn process nov
E,,t nroceedirc under tie authority o. i,co!-
Itself, acting under a CciS!lfnton SaHC"V'su ~
rrrit1ity Qfths People Qhe State ;,
Is Can GUARANTEE be proVld'o aSahis' u'
equal taxation ard excessive apPE' P!ta'io"s
= ie al ,o,orryn principle of taxation. so lar as
t.'ra hefn enabled 10 lock into il, although not
,orLone objectionable, would not lghtcn lie
iur,hen cf taxation. relatively, IN favor ol Tie
set and lie Valiey-as slaves, Tor example, IN
der t,rrIr, wears would then be taxed ACCORDING
TO their value If rot, it would constitute no
check. moAtfsstly, upon apProprlauois 'y thc
west. | need not. here, examine Tue various
nrorositions or euarantee-aIl | may remark,
being substantial abandonment OF Tie very pNh-
CINE upon which the advocates cl The "hi'e
Basis sustain it. Some OF them oeheHc TO Ge
inroltic- others impractlcabIe. NCnc' lthii,h'
would be sufficient without some provision III liie
Constitution which would prevent It's annuimeht
by subsequent Convention, until such liihe as
tfe increased property Of the west should justify
~ such Convention could easily and would,
nrobahy. atno distant day, be called, II Ihe pow
er 10 do so were in a Body, FESTIVE under any
restraint on its power TO tax and appropriate.
II his he the correct CONCLUSION, then
i is most material to you, etfectua.y 70
Guard against the possibility of the adop'
ton Of the White Basis. if those qroy's-
ions shall no. be embodied in the Con-
stitutlon.
As 10 the other proposed changes, /
have briefly to remark, that presented a
naper to a Convention Meeting in the
County of Berkeley, some four or five
vcors aro in which the importance of the
establishment Of asnirerSaL suffrage is
assumed. ! thought, then, as now, that
the annoyances, frauds, perjurles and con
tested elections, arising under the pres
ent system, made it very objectionable
At the same time that it excluded a large
number of most worthy men. WhIle, II
! is true, the political effect of the change,
upon the selection of public officers and
the administration of public affairs, may
not be very marked, yet it is, as | con-
ceive, true policy TO adopt the system Oh
universal suffrage.
The Governor, / think, should be elect
ed by the People. Whether all other
or what other officers should be so elect
ed have not, as yet, formed final
opinion. Ii is new proposition with us,
comparatively, that of elecIing judges by
, the people. 1t was not, | may state sug-
gested in the specifications of Reform
| full and elabora ,c--set forth by the Con-
vention Meeting, referred to, III the Coun-
ty of Berkeley four years ago. | should
! not hesitate as 10 such election OF Judicial
Officers. were il not for the mode IN
which selections are made of Candidates
in Caucus, and for the apprehension that
mischief in the dispensation OF justice,
would grow out Of the emblttered person
al feelings, on the part of the successful
Candidate, engendcred in a Canvass
Under The denomination of Party we
should not, fear, vote our sentiments as
to the qualities so essential in a Judge, OF
capacity and integrity-as freely as I'M
| der the present mode OF election. | shall
reserve to myselfto determine hereafter,
upon fuller information as TO It's results
elsewhere, whether a change would be
polite, and what, particularly, the tenure
of the Judicial Office should be. Mr.,
Jefferson was, by no means, decided in
opinion as to the wisdom OF electlng
Judges by the People. He said, merely,
that " the people would not err ofiener'
perhaps" than is experienced under the
present system. do not regard il, |
may add as of rital importance, how
ever, TO adhere to the existing mode or
TO adopt that which is proposed.
Notifications of the County Court are
important lis power 10 impose taxes,
it would be expedicnt, as | think, and
certainly consonant to our theory OF gov
eminent, 10 vest in a Body elected by
the people. 1t would, perhaps, be adyl-
sable, too, 10 give parties the arbitrary
right, in all cases, OF removing any cause
involving any sum above a certain amount
10 the Superior Court. These and SINH
lar Reforms, however, are within the
scope of the Legislative authority.
Such are the more material topics to
which public attention has been drawn.
do not apprehend you propose to hold
any one presented as a Candidate before
vou to 3 statement Of his views as to the
| details of Constitutional amendments
They will evidently require, and | would
give to them. much and most careful DELHI
Grafton. EDMUND PENDLETON.
July lG, 1850.
Why AMERICANS Dislike ENGLAND
The London Standard Of Freedom con-
tains the following precious bit Of his'o-
Iry:
The English population ofrhc United
States was originally, for the most part,
convicted felons and as punishment is
not agreeable, however just, il produces
dislike to the infic,or, which in this in
stance. has been handed down to the pres