Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-02-11

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the wills above be done but would fam die dry DEAN
But il is too late. So when corruption ami deSraaa
ton prevail among the people BY the operation o. !YI
government or by the principles incorporated M" ,ai
government If when that day shall come--W hle 'ou
| in his mercy forbid shall ever approach This heio'ea
land Of olrs-,hen when Marius or Calane rises
Up 10 give force efficacy 10 Tins e'n spirit 'hoie
exis, among them patriot one Cato Oh ''e aus e
NAV well excalm. lei me die The DEAN oi heei'e
rather Than submit to state OF things Ike uis cah
non gentlemen in view Of the moneio's consequence
that are 10 result from work IN we VI ~" ''is
responsibility under which we are 10 'ne ~
BODY TO ponder we'll over the WORK We "ie a"o's ~
make and caution gentlemen IN ms, ue very iHsl
sbm;t,e6 n the consideration OF tins reform
Conyen moi 10 make false step warn leh MOI |"
disregard prinple and there every reason III ms Gay
of intelligence and OF freedom, Why we SHOULD acefe r.
ydy 10 sound principle without stopping 10 calculate The
nn:annences u hich will result from their interpretations
MO r fundamental law Blu, IN the course OF the re-
marks which propose 10 submit VIII rtach inns cues
ton in il more appropriate place and VIII proceed
now directly 10 the questions submitted 10 lhe pou Gu
dcas orIng, II cam 10 piiS oaeh 'ts ao" " 'e
single question before rs.
If understand il, the committee on the executive
department have reported plan os which the Governor
or Virginia 10 be elected for four years and after the
expiration Of the four years. shall be- forever there
after ineligible 10 the Office Of governor. To this pro-
position of the committee, the gentlemen from fhlsyi-
vana (Mr. TREpwAy) submits competing ProPosi'ioh'
aud that Is that IN lieu Of the plan proposed ~ me com
1
=, the end Of his term shall be ineligible ior The next
succeeding term of four wears. The gentleman from
Henrico Mr. Borrsl offers substitute Tor Inc ProPe-
sition OF the gentleman from Plitsy Sips 'a'
YOU ,han nut in your Constitution the provision MAJ
your governor shall be elected Tor Tour years, 'ec'
| re- election a, the will OF The people
| Mr. Bolts That is not the proposition made
said nothing about four years and prefer Two a.
The duration Of the governor term OF once Ny pro
oon merely 10 strike out all that relates 10 nell
gbility. ,...,...,
I Mr.. HOPKINS. know that that Is The individual
opjnjon of the gentleman, hut viewing The proposition
a. II now stands before The committee presented IL III
il, ,,r,ner atnde One i offered a an amendment e
~ cher and there no proposition pending before
,h committee now that the officer shall hold for two
wear. instead OF four. Now, II II were nol Tor Inc man
~, IN which this question has been treated-wth en-
-. f,;rness as admit, on the part Of those 10 whose
; am onnosed-ifil were mol for the course Of
nart nursued BY gentlemen. this question would pre-
sen, much less terror 10 the minds OF gentlemen anc
excite n c less alarm III the country than u cacu
lated 10 do. The worthy gentleman from R'chmonc
Mr. DAys) three or four days ago in mos; able anc
diruifed speech delivered that occasion. ceranl,
ms,ook the proposition before the House. !, being one
OF reeligby for four years al the will Of The people
and not Of the election Of governor for life know '
did mol design IL make impression, either III the Con
vention or in the country, that this proposition II
elect the governor directly for life, but such is the de-
caration gone forth to the country To peopogeaiou
Of everything that even squints al monarchy. NJ,
friend from Goochland. Mr. LEAEE,) in the same sp'
ril designing L. present the question with equal fair
ness admit INDUCED in similar remarks, calculated
10 produce the same effect.
| Mr LEAkE had no such intention.
| Mr. HOPKINS. only speaking o the erec
arising from the manner which The question was ar
Cued here. wnou, for one moment suspectng o! mean
nr 10 nsnuaie that any gentleman designed 10 produc,
such an iupre Then. besides this, Yesterday m
worthy gentleman from Richmond Mr.. DAVIS added
much darker coorng 10 this picture. understood hl
y ~ TIM. an u+lI
be 70 make the governor ever. inch king Wei
now when these remarks 20 forth 10 The country!
shall be all surprised if The timd and Cautious
the land should feel that are trtading on aacit'
, ground and that We are indeed attempting to DO some
ding IN TN, reform Convention tending 10 carr, rs 'aci
10 the monarchy from which trust We arc forever -,
evcG. Let meet this question III The !ofn ~ W'ici
i, presented 10 usIet meet a question Of pop
MAR power What i il; Bv the very t.eors and prin
cipie Of our government all power belongs 10. and re
side. with the people. and only be derived iron
the people We their representatives.. are calico
here consider elementary principles OF government
10 reconstruct the government which has existed upoi
such principle, may conduce 10 The welfare and II
,eresi- OF society WeHwho are called 10 do th'
work find all power existing IN the people Of The
Commonwealth for in that view We are onhged 10 con
slider H. 50 far q, our action here i concerned W.
look a, the old frame work OF The government for II i
trle that the old Constitution j. still ~ existence
but called together here 10 amend that Consi
tuition. In making government tor the people al
4
mus, regard al this moment all the political power Of
The country - resting and abiding with The people now
engaged IN framing government Tor themselves and
pcserty II, then. The power 70 select governor be
an unlimited power and without Constitutions resric
ton il rests and aoides with the people Of the State
until that restriction. the people have been depri'
ed OF il Will the gentleman then, regard TINS a, nc
restriction Oh popular right--as no limitation Of IA.
powers OF the people How they reach >uc! con
| rluson - that, Wiihou; your limitation, the people
| would have the broad limits oi the CommoGm eaiti
from which 10 MAX. their selection Of cri magistrate
There wl pt other disability than thai which arse
from homage or mbecilry or iunacy, OF >one ,aci
limitation a. that found all constitutions 81 govern
nent Nv principle l. 10 limit The right. Of >e.cto;
il The peopie Jus, az little po.ibe-to give the peo
pie power select their agents from whatever quar't
Of the Commonwealth they will. and utterly "ltio't
any restraint the person, other than those aiii
ded To- Til. i my principle. and i ths principle
popular rights. How do gentlemen stand On tie Other
side They assume 10 say that The people shall not d,
ihi- thing and that their rights of selection and .lec
ton shall be limited Pray tell me what = IN. reaSo'
for IN, Are gentlemen sure that the people capa
bj, Of sef--oycrnment Do they believe thar ~. PEG
ple viii exercise TIL, power wisely and discfctii.
i j. riyen 10 them If they do. why pu, restriction
upon i In the very nature Of the proposition there
fore the objection 10 giving the people 'hs right Of re
electing their public functonary and chei magistrate
10 ofict is Limitation upon their vii AMI power
And why j. il sought 10 be put IN the Constitution, u
i, no, founded the idea ncautiously nslnualed D.
n.
canse If they are exercise i wisel. and discreety
il that he the operation Of the system, the every cleo
thor Of the Governor made by The people. ~ht!hei ma
election be immediate ee'tc,ion. VII he wise!,
aud di>creetly made There can be no Limitation o
restriction desired hy those who believe IN the capact
of ~, people 70: Selfgovernmen, and that they VII
w,is and Discreet, exercise Their powers ~ The Sc
y 'ectio, 81 d public functonar. ! confess am one VIII
entertain that opinion, and before proceed further.
eg smii, 10 read three or four words from Mr.
4 Jefferson taking parts Of Ms letter 10 Mr. kercheyal
IN l-lG a constituting The platform upon which stan
e in this Convention In subject Mr.. Jefferson says
d =. am not among those who fear The people " So sa
i !. Again Nj. Jefferson says Only lay down tru
J. principles and adhere 10 them iniexhly : Nov whs
: IS my platform These Two three lincs from tn
! writings Of that Immortal patriot constitute the YER
platform Oh which stand here, fear not The PEOPLE
have apprehension tina; i'es win abuse Their pow
i ers believe them 10 b. entirely capable Of eSerc,,in
i, according to their sovereign viii and pleasure
and in the hes, way 10 promote heii interests ! !.
r eve that the RICH, principle in tins matter
= strict .be people the exercise oi their choice TIL
i principle right that the people should elect their pub
il lie i,nctionary, and that without any limitation as L