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

northern and southern examples Now, l can talk
about this subject for if it is not known here, those
whom consider to be most particularly interested that
deer constituency do understand most distinctly that
am southern mau have felt its effects too clearly
not TO know that my constituents do understand that
TACT am evena chirdlry man Mt home. ] do not know
what shall be here will tell you what do think, and
VIII say 1t IN the same spirit in which spoke to the
gentleman from Richmond Just now.
90 say TINT see Virginia dwndling into insignia
cilee-that SEE her energies paralyzed and that see
hef greatly deficient IN nil that makes people proud,
ehriet and happy. | have seen Virginia scof many
good thing us think, because it was of northern origin
thinR all TINS to be wrong-to be little and unworthy
OF ourselves am as willing to accept good thing
from the north of Mason and Dxons lne as | am if it
came from the south Of that line Would to God that
we could cheat the North out of half the good things
winch they hare-not that would deprive them of it:
mean cheat them so is not to take il away from them.
Laughter would take good principle from any
quarter. would take principle from Iimbuctoo il
could get n good one And trust that while We
SEQ the practical effects and the operations at
the North shall shake off this stiesress. idle
ness, and inlse pride, and follow their example.
Why is it that we find the blush Of shame flushing to
our checks every time that turn to the North Fol
low their virtues and we shall have no further cause to
blush trust that shall here more of this decry-
ing principle merely because it may be of northern
origin.
There is another idea of which wish to snsak and
that is That the Of this kingy representative is
10 he preserved. And why! You have addedno power
to the governor. You have taken away from him his
position member OF the board Of public works and
you have raised his salary from 900 to So 600 and MI
suppose Tor the purpose of enhancing the dignity Of
what gentlemen wish to be the nonarchical feature Of
the government.
am tired OF this DID, aud should be out feeling
IN lrgnin There is false feeling and false notion as
] humby conceive, upon this subject of dignity Why
does Tits Idea oi dignity aud responsibility stand ever
-
Ia the House Of Delegates Why ever cling tothc mind
:" certain class OF politicians whenever those branches
OF government which are supposed 10 represent
chg or nrstocrocy are mcntoned Does il not from
-Gmlering md but half concealed, though perhaps
conscious feeling Of veneraton md awe for kin.v
powerl Are not at heart bowling in humble yassa
nge tn the forms and feelings of the past Else why
do they never speak OF giving dignity the House Of
Delcgacs-that body which they all propose tn bring
nearest the people the true sovereigusl Sir, confess
have II" vcleration no reverence. for such dignity
would not give executive power To single to repre-
sent kingy power, or impersonate royal dignity, but
because executive power is from its very nature unit
would not organise nenate to represent nristocracy
and the responsibility of artocracy for the purpose
Of checking the popular branch but rs n co-repre
sentative and co-deliberative body producing checks
not by the character but by the number deberatv-
bodies. That, while body Of representatives nav
be swayed ny ecquence, party leaders intrigue Tie
other shall have time TO deliberate and may the
errors ana impulses winch VIII creep into all deiioera
/ tive bodies. however formed. Sir would have every
department Of government the plain, substantial and
republican representation of plain. republican, and
honest people.
But this would not satisfy gentlemen. The dignity
OF Virginia, and the dignity of this type of royalty
be preserved Sir, Virginia has already stood upon her
dignity until she has nothing else to stand upon-unt
the weight and burden OF that dignity too great for
her ovcrtaskei powers is like press her the earth
It cngs to her like the old man of the to Sinbad
She PIRATES Of it till it has become mockery and Jest
Dignity, indeed Sir Virginia stands attitudcnzing-
living upon the memory of her great names. swelling
and blolting with false pride, while the vampires
arstocracy draining the very currents Of her life
What picture the eve Of the true patriot has this
false notion helped to make of Virginia already and vet
! they would still pandcr to the feeling You have here
toore given the governor mansion and $4,000 year
to sustain this load of idle pomp (for You might have
hired Justice of the peace to perform his abors for
S25 per year, This sum has proved sufficient for all
ordinary purposes of this ridiculous notion of pomn
( and Vet they must without adding to his u y, take
$4,000 year from the pockets of the people
I And why suppose for this great purpose of enhanc
ing his dignity, and TO enable him to pray more fervent
" Tor the Commonwealth, and to announce still more
soemnly year that it still continues to exist.
! Laughter.
Virginia should cheek this idea Of dignty-tis false
dignity Ii is relic of brbarism and of monarchy, and
springs from source which has been our ruin She NAV
swell with all the pride and dignity of Highland
chief or Spanish Don, but it will put money in her
pocket She stalk forth with the naughty tread of
Corrolianus-her form is not the ess withered like
Richard the Third
Sir repeat, am tired of seeing old Virginia like II
withered mummy dressed in all the robes and dignity
Of Roman senator. Let lis hear no more Of dignity
until We shall have something to be- dgnifed about
Gentlemen say, anoher argument for the retention
of th- restriction that this reform not desired de-.
manicd by the people. would ask them how they be-.
camO knowing on tho subject! How do gentlemen
know wha, | voted for in sustaining the call of this
Convention. or Win! my constituents demand in his
hail Is it because il has not been demanded in the
east II 80 how do they know that il has been de-
mandcd in the west and beyond the mountains Do
gentlemen mean set themselves up as the exclusive
Judges Of what the people demand And will they tell
ne that my people not demanding this reform and
that am not representing my constituents How do
gentlemen know this tmng viii refer To tina,
\ subject further
Gentlemen desire rotation in office and that is prin-
Il cipie which. democrat am in nyor OF. am in
favor of rotation in office, but want the people make
that rotation in office, and know perfectly well that
thew will do il. You will other subjects rcme up
before this Convention before it has concluded IL labors
and you will hear it said that the peope ;cke
and changeabc and ungraeiul as has always been
said of republics that they will not re elect and hold Ia
good officer That is the argument used for lie Office.
The conservative party heretofore. when they have
wished man To in Office for life have declared that
the people were tckle that they would not rcelect
good officer Now. to answer the same purpose III MI
other direction they tell that the people src
slant will tell gentlemen that they neither. II II
man suits the people, ,hey will re-ecct him. If not
they vii tell Tin. Ia stand ABIDE; he has been good
serraa; but they have another whom they wish to
honor There doubt TINT the people will understand
this thing most distinctly and go Tor rotation in Office
anI have no doubt when my time comes, tlic people
will route me out shall not grun,ble at ii st.r
Laughter
wish to say single word with regard to an idea
which, it me- has not been exactly answered by
ANY gentleman who has addressed this committee be-.
fore Gentlemen have labored s. long while in trying
show that the principle OF Ineigibity, although not
recognised the federal constitution, had ben
lisled go far the presidency concerned by the
example Of Washington, somebody else. Now. did it
never 20 gentlemen how beautifully the people had
regulated This a2 and without any restriction upou
| them either LODI ~ a at the various pr.si
Dental elections ard SEQ how little tho peonle have
been influenced by all this immense power and patron
age OF which gentlemen have talked much. Wash
ngton was elected for terms, and does auy body
object to thatf John Adams the federalist, was
elected for only term and believe the world has
not regretted that he not reelected Thomas lief
erson have slight idea was elected for two terms
and the people neither of the North South have
grumbled nj that. Madison and Monroe were both
elected for two terms and nobody, believe, otjecs