Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-18

dc;e,a: coming IRON the several Counties eonpoaa
his district will represent. II then We WISH 10 orsaai1
;h;s department Oh true republican principles, and
COCO, .alce with the spirit in se< Of ON institution
We must introduce there some other check, 10 carr: o.
H.. design when the two h"sc- were intended to .!t
Til, .vs.cn q. cf.c,, and balances il leading and
.cutal feature in every republican government. and
he true di>tii gushing feature Of ocr own. where
nl these check. AMI how create them is q.cstic
witch has engaged he profound attention ri the
enlightened Statesmen II the country. And the rca-o
al these check. upon legislative power. Is because tina
i, the leaiin, AMI oyers!iow!ns department n ever
republican form Of government. and because there /
constant tendency III that department 10 ecroarh uno
the other department. for the legislative department
feel, a strong conf .cncc in IL own strength arising
from the fact that il i the most numerous and Is IN
Immediate representative Of the people. - icfch!i
was ir Madison impressed with the necessity 81 checs
upon this legislative department, that he SAID " II l.
against the cnterpr>ing ambition OF this department
That The people ought o indulge al their jealousy and
exhaust all ti,r precautions. This i the reason IL;
checks upon the legislative department in every repGb
lican government. Bat there additional and weigh
y REASONS peculiar 10 own. arn. FROM the organ!
:tton III the coordinate ranches of TIE Government
and from the necessity of projecting -cc:iona. Interest,";
The executive department organized bv the plan :"
the committee IS toe >st Of an executive w.tho; .
"ro lie will possess ri defend NJ liz dc part
meiit li;-: ccr.ocmcnts from tie legislative. and
IAN exert no other ,hau '- personal i.lucncc L.
lei nj hi department. against any such cncroaciacn,
- 18th the Judiciary department which is the ecb!e
in EYER : vcr::.c;l,. ana least CALCULATED To sc,,
croac;nci,-i, j particularly 80 by orr p'an: Tor
prouo>. t. appoin- highest judicial tribunal ~ The
legislature wch is Designed restrain ~ pscnounc
ing lis acts unconstitutional.
Now. this il: HENRY Department. may sympa;h.l" il
feeling or Interests will! the legislative body - Which II
il ofgii.! appointment: and even If This should
rot h. the ease know lha there al. numerous way
aud devices b: which legislative in.;enui; can craic
IT,, Restraints 81 iu:ical construction Seeing t.ca.
tina: The plan Proposed Tor ;hc organization al TIE ~"
.n,.-. TIE legislature and tha for the coordinate Il
iarimcat furnish, the -ii;r>, i! airy choc. 81 tie
over. a,owng plwe. II ,..e legislative department the
question then :.i-r- where those chech- - oc found
aud when !nu,!. where shall they placed a-w'r
tina; tli- nx" b.. plan furnishes the cecks ana pro
yi,cs tina! tle- ,l.lI h. placed ii tie organization u!
the legislative department itself. There i he 1aScr
and there ,hou!l he placed the safeguards u; o:1s'nG
representation uran lie .iyel ba-- .! population aa
taxation 81, introduce into t. legislative department;
multiplicity oi opposite rival. local conflicting !:la
conal Interests, AMI III this multiplicity ot i"ero-t-
consists the sccar;,r a Zach; For il j. only when IL
mai, riiv j. Unit J.. interest t.,t III rs!.'s
u tic minority insecure. Take legislative o"i:
thus constituted and tler. !, no one interest - over
,I. lowing AMI Utilised through the state t" co9-
nand !: naoii'@ y. that body. Nor VIII there be ANY
dancer on lh, other la:ld from combination :" Those
Interests, :,r each Will cr that IL own s,cIi:;
consists he preservation 81 every other interest ai
each ~i,l ici !t ii il combines 10 ",iroy any one
interest, !ik" combination ma: bc formed AID rcs':!t
in IL obstruction. \ representation. then, 81 these
local conflicting. sectional AMI rival in:,re T. will serve
IL notify CHECK. and partial control each oA'r. 'i
IL" action .! legislature thus com,;ilntcd whist Il
will prevent ne influence beng cxcrted by any
one interest viii furnish ample security to nj Interests
Upon this subject b.; leave g,otv again ra.",t
n., tr Madison Speaking Of the protection a!!".."
* 5oy.ranirr; has. upon ':;i.on ." latt'e-t', he
says:
In free government tie -ccpriy f'r civil right
.,,.-, ~ IA. sam" i!.at fr religious right II con
--,- i. the oe ease, i. IL" multiplicity II interest ;'d
il liz cher in tie multiplicity II seci- III. G'!f@s
Il ,cclrit IN bit. will depend N The ncnor %;
n.cr,ts AM >or.-.
.;ow il j, evident tha, this doc, H., 'aean i!"; III"
nc:. presence or H.. lerc existence Of these interest,";
in s.gi,y i. fun, that rcurt:, particu.ar: II yoa
take inicrc,; nu:lbcr ami co,he i vl;a tn
Whole powers of the government. legal and Ip.l;.t'
Il may ry.:t TIL, power destroy any "ae interest.
u tia; interest ,nraed with Ike power ;n,-t fall in
Ike coaici liz, the ~rIgritv which multiplicity OF
Interests ai!rd- consists III baslng the government ="
ALL giving ,oac! like power and influence, some !:
pruporiioncd IL il magnitude and extent, AMI teen 10
.!r interest will bc clothed with extraordinary power
10 crg~h the rest, Lu: each will possess means Il de-
fence commensurate the danger Of attack This
understand l.. the theory and practical working Q:
The mixed basis. From this very brief sketch. n
h&va cdeayored to present H. i must y" apparent '.;!'
this plan Of the mike, basis will furnish ample protec
.!nl IL ever: interest in the Commonwealth becaE-c Il
rs.i2;s tlc Legislative Gepai ~. NJ. not OF ore Interest.
II numbers b:t al ntrrr-;--io: or one species .;
properly but tic taxl'an on every species ~ prog
rr :: and these .uuc:cis Interest," clothed with IKE
>, ;er sill c.e,i y,-rn partially control aae modify
Gael, other AMI their joint action h.- modified VII! -
,,i.t in "A system OF governmental measures. whic! ri!
he oppressive interest, bat con!uciyc - u"
welfare oi each and a:ordins ample protection T. all
IL -, rtt. tlatsts
from Acco;Aac.
Nr WISE | ak the gentleman ii h" has ever
served in III. legislature Of Virginia. III Congress
Wien an appropriation bill ~ for consideration
wherein 4 had m interest which Is aud { objected
TO- AMI had IN interest which i and objected L.,
and had IN ntrrcs; which :ni objected t., bit
MI tree y. H. and 1. from similar motives. rni!c !:
pa>-u.: the I'LL I" the injury "i the pubic good t'.'
the t-c.cs. e.isndi,urc OF tie p:blic ia"ncy
Mr. MEREDITH. The powcr ha- been abused be
vcai al doubt IN, does tbs system compare It n.
with thc ii the rhitc basis winch proposes 70
take orc interest Numbers. and c!oihe WIN the
whole power of tic government: Ii il Is abused when
al a~c clothed with like power what in the name Of
God Ei- be tx abuse il all he power : placed ~ To
hands 81 Interested 70 abuse IL Why, there
would be no ,roa-,.Fy eft. Laughter.
| have cndcayorc! 10 sho" 10 TINS committee nat
all interests in every section Of this Comnon"ca!;h
viii lie protected alike. Thu, mixed basis does -;
propose 10 rcprcsc&. negroes merely Or the taxa.
lion on negroes. that OH any species 81 prep.
cr.v alone Gentlemen RON tie vest have argue!
,L: question as though We considered negroes he
o,l, i,crty in the state. Now. -. distinct: -.
warmly Il, ! I'll. attached To that "rrcst and 90
know, | am ihr las, inan III the co.smon' caih tn;
.,4 destroy H. vet wouid advocate t...s 3r!ac IL ]:
,i,erc yras not arero 20 bc found among ~. here
arc niuer Interests which :aay IL abused - i!> tam.
ao.er and lave cn.ca"orca 10 eHuiiciatc some =!
,l,m. tira.;c..ca b., Tie question. aid .inh see
.,. ,acc, Wiz i ..ci assure that intend 70 protect
10. mod ,at,. "a -tIpl. i,l