Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-02-18

standing of mankind by such restriction And such is
my feeling with regard to the whole of them. Then gen
tenen say that we arc willing to restrict tie selection
to native Virginian. will do no such thing Will
hold TO principle that Is right till doon,s day There is
no necessity frt The people Of Virginia will never elect
an aen never eject nau that is from on, o The STATE
except he ought to hr elected and there times when
he ought to be elected There thousand INSTANCES
and can cite them at General Scott We Know,
was born in the State But suppose he had been born IN
New fork-wth all the aures around his brow which
he has gathered during the last thirty years. h'ld with
all tue love and admiration his ellowcltizens entertain
Tor hlm-and suppose he had been resident III virginia
Tor two or three years and circumstances had maze IL
cxpedient to elevate him To the gubermt"ral char.
would any gentleman think that any harm wrong had
been done to the people who had elected hint con
TESS that general proposition born ont OF the
commonwealth who has resided in it but short time
ought not to be elected Neither ought an IDIOT
lunatic or infant under twenty-"ne years to
be elected But where man should not be elected the
people never will elect him. The people never VIII
elect man who would be subject 10 the restrictions
which gentlemen propose unless there should be triuln
plant reasons why they should elect him. That 10 The
ground take; and will insult my constituents and the
people OF Virginia by such restriction. The ladies
are brought into this argument. And yet, have look
ed over the report and have restriction on Inc
women at al-none Ill the world. II may be that gen
emen know that there is already the ladies' that Is
higher than any restriction that they can make an,
power. We told that We make restriction OH the
people by limiting them to election every four YEAR,
have not heard the idea answered ut ALL although
it was put forth with great boness that il was rstric
ton on the rights OF the people such con
tending against say that they should elect ony every
two or four years That will do TO throw in rs stmb
ling block when you in hurry and very hard pushed
But there Is no who will look ut the thing but will
ut once the necessity for it. and that does not iii
reality thwar The peoples rights i'll the least degree
AN individual and Il unit may appoint agen: today
and il he find that he is dschargipg his duties improp
erly he may discharge him tomorrow. The people"
however. are not unit, but infinite number OF units,
ana they cannot act in concert and express the general
views OF ALL except ut stated period- Then there Is "A
Necessity for periodical elections in principle. but
from the necessity which exists from the nature OF the
business itself Therefore, there is nothing III that idea
There was another point which introduced by the
gentleman from Buckingham, (Mr HILL and that was
that We we're willing to impose restriction upon minis
ter. of the gospel That is subject to the consideration
OF which come with great paia because nm compelled
tn acknowledge that all true republican ideas forbid Gs
to exclude this class Of from fall participation in
the rights which belong to every other class The fact
that in the early part of history. the world had
recently rid itself of pre-tcra and ecclesiastical
tyranny, that this restriction thought by our fore.
fathers be necessary. There is principle i'll repu
csnism that will forbid minister Of the gospel from
the enjoyment of right which any other citizen
claim I know not how shall vote when come to the
consideration of that subject. But depend upon it, if
vote to exclude these men. will acknowledge rank
that violate republican principles. and that | haze
done Injustice class Of INV fellow citizens, either
through my reiudices or in representing Others
preiuiic.- say that now though do not pledge IN
self to vote either way But will not shrink from tho
| position have assumed.
| believe have gone through with the most of the
reasons which urged why VIC estopped from de-
nying these restrictions popular rights. And come
now to the last proposition which gentlemen on the 9th
er side have urged and that is, that policy demands this
restriction. might al once leave the subject by say
ing that do not believe that policy demands any re-
stricion; hut propose very briefly 10 examine the
reasons which alone can nc and have been urged for
| the policy oil this restriction. They tell that, IL
render him re-egible would be 10 hold induce
ment, TO give facilities 10 the governor to abuse the
power of his office, TO secure 4 reelection. Now
appeal all the members of this committee, if that
has not been the sole ground upon which the policy OF
this restriction has been urged here What does this
pre- suppose: lpresupposes first that the governor OF
this commonwealth will be corrupt, trucking ard
dwelling politician. 1t prcsupposes. in the second
place, ihat this Office Of governor, propose
canse it, will possess dangerous powers, in this partc
uar IN the third place il announces to the good poo
pie OF Virginia that they either cannot see will
heed that they either incompetent for sefgovcra
ment, too dishonest To heed the trckery Of canl
dates stating the proposition in strong language
but nevertheless is the exact truth of il, when rcd
ccd the simple. contend that the governor of fir-
snia although lac may he politician, il is hardly pro-
able will be n who will be guilty of the low dis
gushing knavery that gentlemen suppose he will he. And
was amused by some part Of the argument by oil
nv friends, who when he told that YOU would lose
the responsibility Of the officer by making these restric
tons upon him. said you would have that responsibility
in the honesty and integrity Of the incumbent Now
that same gentleman had, but three minutes before
been arguing most perenaciously the corruption ci II
politicians will not stop to talk about that, for
am willing to admit that men elevated 10 power by the
people, and politicians generally who are, to some ex
tent personally interested like all other men, are liable
to be led into But will say that the politician.
have received drubbng in this house. to which
think they not exactly entitled, particularly in this
place The members Of this Convention are, perhaps a
respectable and influential body ofpoliticans you car
bic and eminent men among them-ndecd, trust tina
all of them of the class who would scorn 10 stool
to the patry degradation which they suppose that
a governor Of Virginia will be willing to- will lea sc
| that alone. am not advocate for AN advocate o.
the honesty and capacity of single individuals. an
for checking and guarding units. and 80 for the homes
~ aud capacity Of the great aggregate Of men;
not Of the single person, But confess unable I;
SEE the dangerous power which this governor is 10 pos
sess We are told that he will have the power Of ap
| pointing visitors 10 the old college Of William and Mary
where there some twenty five students, under
saud TO the military institute, and to the university il
the town Of Charlottesville, director two in III.
banks, and il may he that he will appoint gagcr fol
the city of Richmond, Inspector of oysters or pos
.bly dog mueller. do not what else he will hay
10 do For seems TO he agreed here, believe, whor
solitary exception that shall throw the appointment
of all The officers of government, from the governor dowr
to the ovcrseer of roads, into the hands Of the people
There is the judiciary report, exception which,
God sname trust the Convention viii not agree To &C
and thsis the judges fthe court ofappeals.
see nothing, therefore. of this tremendous power, thu
abuse Of which, ii is supposed, to be apprehendsd b,
those who maintain this restriction And ask gentlemen
what power over the mass of the people Of Virgins
| The governor can have through the exercise of An,
power which it is proposed in this Convention he shai
have II is even believe, proposed to take away IRON
him the power Of acting as member of the board
pubic works Then understand all the dnties Of The
governor hereafter to be- that he shall announce
the commencement of each session Of the legislature
The startling fact that through the Providence of God
Virginia still continues to exists then to iab5le littr,
iu politics. and then again TO say, al the end Of ali
that he trusts in God that Virginia will still continue tt
| exist for year longer, which event, in all human
probability, will happen, fthe governor had not said so
This understand, will be the chief duty of the gov
ernor of Virginia hereafter During the residue Of tn.
year he may button up his coat and walk stately
the streets Of Richmond. We never know who the
| governor is, unless some of us are obliged to scnt
| to Richmond to get man pardoned out of prison
And then we go to the who has received the las
| commission in the militia and ask his name. Laugh