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

vnts sgans, tb;s great right which thu people ought to
Ave- sir the distinguished gentleman from AeconI"
promulgated the doctrine, III which iliy concur tH',
there ought to be officer among ~, "i'o .. "
not 10 come down into the dust o political STRIFE TO NIX
among the people heartily subscribe 10 'i.at doctrine
But the gentleman from the county OIL h'hris1 ." you
that he sorry to see that nocerihe % anu
leave the gurnatoria chair ana enter INTO Inc dusty
conhct-Shy he did not know but hr WoIa ''pFo'utey
elect him by the Legislature iha' s''"s i'I'
attachment to democratic prncpc- anu |" !i'e ish,s
of the people Inue h!er. lhis Governor "i .o"is 80
digntied and elevated abovr thr peops-nye' 1t would
not do for him Ia descend and mix among the people III
clcctionearing, That shows YOU gentlemen "'h' are
the principles of popular rights for win'h 'hs g'hl'ra
from Henrco Is conendlS st "'7n''
elevated officer above III, people and he is or placing
him in 4 situation bv ycui Constitution! where lie may
exercise his power still 10 elevate himself a'"'e
the people And he must have friends and agents TOO
to electioneer for him. He must not come III contact
with thcm lenst h. will get dusty by rubbing agaln-,
the harI.iistcd democracy Of The country. Laughter.
Now fellow ctizens ] am in favor 81 Your Governor
coming down from any elevated position which he may
occupy. am for his mixing in the arena "i l,oil'Vii
strife. would have him know something OF the ''
ings and sentiments of the people, To understand Hi'n
feelings to be their representative 10 the tNe'n,ve
branch of tn. government and to reflect their WILL 80
far as he can with proper regard 10 the constitution
| Mr. Bolts lhave nodspo-it!on toin,aFrupt The gen
titD1Du rs
ter b, will he allow me- 10 inquire Of Lin, whether ne
il il, favor of tn rcc ton Of judge ty the people
and if he il Il he expects the Judge that is TO be elect
ed ly the people To descend into tie dust II til" po
cal arena and ,lrctioneer for the Office
| Sir. WISE Certainly.
| Mr. LEAKE The gentleman from h'comar has an
swared the question. laughter
| Mr. BOTTS. did nt ask the question Of the gen
tleman from Accomac | desire ali anowsr from The
gentleman himself.
Mr.. LEAkE. When quertions Of TINS KIND come up b.
tween the gentleman from Acconiac anu the gentleman
from Hcnco having more confidence III III. democracy al
the gentleman from Accomnc shall bc very r to follow
his example i'll preference u that o the gentleman rom
Hrnrico Laugh,ci-.I will SAY. however. tha;, wist
aver mag be The praaplc upon which The Jnds'- IRE
10 act if they shall H. elected by III" pe"ps" there ar
stronger reason, WIN the Governor o thu people should
no, feel himself entirely above The people consider
himself rs occupying position in which hr rnn" feel
| it his duty Ia mi among them here - a dii'
ference bet we,n tie condition OF man who Is ca'i-
date ill til. oliite o Governor and the man who l.
candidate to i!l ALL office connected with your judiciary
because il j. the duty of the judicial officer 10 de,t'
upon abstract between parties nid II Is not - duty
to retiec, the public feeling and public wishes i.
his duty 10 execute the Jaw. Ii Is his duty 10 find
or: the the people q the State or district c
for din ANY legal question which may come before
him io his decision But il the dut. al the Governor
To rcticc; The wishes aud feelings III III, people VIII"
elected MIN Th. not Iural'"i. Bu: Am
willing t. cay that aI.y VII" = |" BE- elected by the
people ..uli. 10 10 iuid i.iS aI"ng tlr people.
am ior encr7lng upon your Con,t!,uoi,n nrincipl"
which las BON su.1iov ~ the people "i Virginia
and which this time sanctioned BY majority .! tsIr
people Of th.-- United States am iur .ngraiting
upon your Constitution principle which has been
sane toned bv the conduct oi your Washington What
is the puY pose that is advocated by gentleman the
other side 1t !. this that your Governor Your chef
exccutv, officer. should he elected continually, term
after tei1n during his whole life. There u III" differ
.t,
ont Of office for term. at least before lac eligible
The re ntlel:,n is in favor Of that principle u which
he ma. be elected term aiter term, during his whois
ifr and h. called upon the oln"T day scr
soina proof thst the people IN layor ~ this
principle for which c"n!cndine. :i undertook
t. TIL that il sE.a lis origin among r politicians ri
tha Stste-that il va, not principle which s:inc
;oped b, the great majority oi tlr rcoricha, it
an nrnge,nrn; upon their rieh.-and tim, i, Was IN
violation 81 fundamental principles. Fox NY d!c !
could not find he ~ i.cc III the rntlrnana ,,sara.
ton. On the contrary thr history Of OR federal gov
@rnmem and state government. IL ronurcti";,
with ,hi- question shows That til" American prop"
have cmsecfacd tn" principle that after your chic! x
cc;v. ha- been in Office for time lc should retire
and not again occupy that position. Am procla:mng
principle that is adv"r-" /" the wishes and feeling ol
the pcoplct understand that ar" here in Conv"a-
tion representing the people Tor he pnrpo-" OF lmpr"
wing their fun amental law; and il j, H. be taken for
granted that every man is giving expression to me
wishes and feeling. and views "t the constituents h.
represents far IL knows them. ak sou it there
il any evidence that this principle which las been
toned by your State Government. which has been
sanctioned III the vo" Of the people and against
which complaint Las been raised is adverse
their feelings tler sentiments and hcr wishes upon
this subj cc: What arc tie provisions uf yonr Stat,
constitution, III reference Ia this reegihIity Ever,
solitary one Of tie slavehoidng States with the excsp
! tion Of Georgia. has this principle engra;cd upon IL
constitution. There now. including California. thir-
tv States i'll this Union Nineteen Of these States
sanction this principle for which contending.
Nearly twothrds Of them sanction ;t-and among them
every SOLITARY stat south Of Iaaon D.xon- line.
cepting mnl, Georgia. ! do noi know what the pro.is
ion is Ill the constitution o California i;t leaving her
out there nineteen constitutions which contain the
provision that your Chief cxecutiv. shall gn" III office
after h. has served term q" years. ,: where is the
opposite principle adop,edt II is III Your northern
States Ii is those States which have been in great
measure settled by foreign emigration. Owing the
peculiar institutions Of the south Of the foreign
emigration has settled i'll the -sav choldng States
And these settlers coming from the ,l-spotical gov
ernments of Europe, and knowing but Sttle Of demo
cratic principles becoming sudden cmncracy
like nv friend irG;h the county OF Henrico.havr AT
tempted to cngraf and have cngrafted principle upon
their constitutions allowing their Governor 10 hc
elected Ii il princ pie which ii the southern
States. with the exception Of Georgia-aol.owing the
example set thrin by those who hal ram-l nst,u
tions in the b"ginning,avr incorporated IN their in-i
tutions In the southern States made up OF people
been deeply mbued with lie spirit Of our republican
freedom with all their devotion 10 those priuc Plies,
the people unwilling 10 give rein to any wild I'M
governabe spirit, by which the majority 10 Control
without any limits any checks vhatrt-.ver; and the
consequence Is that now iar from the principle for
which We c"ntendng being principle orig
) mating among politicians, it is one which has been
consecrsed tv the patriots Of this and the great
joritv of the States And the opposition, think. I"
this prncp Pile ma, be traced to politicians the coea-
Grafton OF it certainly cnnot be- The gentleman NUT
pardon me, il when look at the facts. if when look
At the southern States. and find that Ill OF them with
the exception Of one, have retained the provision IN
their constitutions. and when look at the character
Of these States and the complexion If their population
and then look AT the character of those States which
have adopted opposite prncples,-when remember
tha fnacism RACES among this population, that you
there have every species Of fanacism which urges their
population 10 aggression upon the rights of other
portions of the countrywide gentleman from lenrlco
say. nrust pardon me il prefer 10 follow the example
lis 5y the patriots of Virginia and the great ma
ority % the southern State preference to following
HIM and 1h"s" northern States, in the attempt TO esla
sL NJ rect,