Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-08-08
THE LYNCHBURG VIRGINIAN.
II " y " . n =. F'TUIITIVTUTN
LXNCssEUHsG. AUGUST y. 1850.
STATE REFORM-EXECUTIVE DE
PARTMENT.

ny examining the modc OF appointment ana The
Executive powers.
The State of Virginia is a large State, embra.
cling many counties so much so, that the inlabi-
tants Of one extreme are ignorant, totally ipno-
rant of those at the other. The mass of the
people of Washington county can by no posi-
biGty be acquainted with a man of prominence
in Accotnac, unless that man has performed
sotre great State service and so ofthc reverse.
Well, now suppose that IA man in the county OF
Accomac offers himselfa as a candidate for Gov
crnor, how are the people III Washington to
know the qualifications of this man To make
the case familiar-L. c. Finney is the Wing
representative from Accomac. Who but the
mere politician knows the merits of Mr.. Finncy ?
lfMr. linncy was now 10 perform some remar-
kablo service, tho enquiry would everywhere be,
who is l.. G. Finncyl Yet Mr.. Finncv is "A man
of respectable talents, and is no " entered APP
prentice in public life. But to come back To
the question, how shall the people be informed
of the merits of Mr.. Finncy. fix-members of
the Legislature, members ofthe Legislature, and
prominent politicians who are active partici-
pants IN making members olthe Legislature, Una
ny OF whom aspire To be members thereby are
the only classes of men who know Mr.. Fiuney.
All that the people learn ofhim must be learned
through Them. Whit sort of knowledge arc
they going to impart 7 Mr.. Ifinney has been in
- ~ ~ '0'c VI tH'ibi hlld titat ~ DltJu-
diced against him Mr.. linney has aided in the
advancement of some OF them, and nattcrcd by
his AID they make of him a fayorite. The infor-
nation winch they inpart then will be prcludic-
ed, onc-sldcd. The one win flattcr, the other
tradnCe the one will laud beyond degree, the
other condemn without limit. The consequence
is, that zeal will be aroused, and in the midst of
this zeal, facts will be manufactured, dciaccd,
and distorted. l~mpurity will manufacture, zeal
will deiacc, and excitement will distort. We
need look for no other result. The consequence
Is, that the people will have no accurate know
ledge. They will vote, not for IA man known to
he qualified, but for Il man who is represented
by ingenious and interested advocates, as snpc-
nor 10 those by whom he is opposed. The peo-
Pile want knowledge which cannot be obtained,
save through IA partial prcjudiccd, and often cor
rupt canvass.
This difficulty cannot be obviatcd by canvas
sing. No candidate can canvass the State OF
Virginia. The time required is very great
There arc l37 counties in the State. The
smallest task of the canvass is the delivery of
public addresses, and yet TO deliver even one adj
dress in each county, would require more than
foHr m'RfhS. Nor is this all, the State of Virginia
from the North West to the South East. from
Brooke To Princess Anne,) is, by a direct route
which IS not aitainablc, more than four hundred
miles, and that too over u mountainous REGION.
From the Ea>t to the West, the distance is moro
than three hundred miles, and yet if a canvass he
attempted, the candidates must visit Accomac
and fayettc, the extremes Of the State. This
distance lsto be traycrsed not rapidly, but slow
ly, II any attempt be made towards canvassino,
Now does any reasonable man suppose that Ibis
labor will be attempted? Ifattemptcd, could il
be performed : 1t will neither be attcmntcd
nor performed.
With t1n, ,.,41,,a., IL - ~,
The members of the Legislature are politicians;
the candidates for the Govcrnorship will be poll.
ticians, hence all move in the same circle and
must be known each To the other. There will
be no want of knowledge. They will under
stand what they do.
This being So, why is ii, that the Legislature
cannot continue to elect the Governor. We do
not doubt the competency of the people, but we
know that the members Of the Legislature have
acquired information of men in discharging the
duties demanded by the people. And ifthe peo-
pie have this information, they have received il
through The members of the Legislature, ormust
do SO. The Inference between electine the Go
vernon, as at present, and 10y the people. is very
slight. In the first case, the Legislature does It
directly, by their vote; in the second, it docs il
10y their influence operating upon the people.
The difference is very slight, consisting in that
difference between doing a thing Yourself and
influencing others to do il.
Contido it To the Legislature aud the voice ol
the people still elects the Governor. The Lee
gislature comes directly from the people, and
represents the popular will. 1t is the agent of
the people doing that which the people have
commissioned it to do. All its power. its
entire authority rests in the people, aud for the
use of tins power ii is responsible to the
people. 1t is the peoples body, and the people
constitute It's source and hold the power 10 cor
rect lis abuses.
We shall not dwell long upon the powers OF
the Executive. The proper idea of executive
power consists III the making of true distinc.
ton between AN efficient and strong executive
lie should have powers sufficient. but should mon
have those over-sutlicicnt And they should he
such rs arc strictly executive.
The Executive Council is an useless amen.
dago to our Government. Nor is it useless on
y, but 1t is costly. Therefore it should be abol.
lshed. 1t being abolished, the powers il has
might be conferred upon the Treasurer, Audi.
tors, &e, which powers should be invested in
them by virtue of their office and for the dis
charge of the duties of which they should receive
no additional compensation. The BREAKING mn
OF the Executive Council would render it reoui-
site To make some provisions for the election of
a Lieutenant Governor. The remarks which
we have made upon the election of Governor an
ply to the appointment of this officer.