Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-02-21

8
of the people there but he would have had two or hree
hours to participate private citizen. among inc
amusemcnts of the people. Or he might have gone -
the theatre and mingled with the people there but ms
would be the fullest extent to wic. nc could have MN
gled with them. How them are you to carr oa' 'n.
rights OF the people declared IN their Fe'' ' ~
would require him TO lay down hi" ari-i "c:aes i'a
not only for the moment. but for -ole niue ua - '
he may 90 and mix with the people ana .'h 'r' -
be of them Let him forget those
ines vb. come ,non NIL men in high ofce-or 1t does
come upon them sooner " utcr-which leafs thea 70
think that they are of the people ana - nesVe
that they are superior to their ieow'ne'l me ni VI
Rights requires that they shall uhue'So Iou,fe "
toacbin which will dvest them of the ideSs which they
have TINS acquired in office. know that member Of
the LEGISLATURE nav be reelected as often as his cons
tuen;s choose to re-ccct HIM but nus case is ereat
from that of the Governor lie serves Tor two OF three
months only and whether ne uelos's Ut 'ise's .Ne
n., dury those days. is immateria rs he soon goe>
NOM, ~ on- of the people He participates IL nil the
dtes Of citizenship learns all about the people thcil
wants their interests and their grievances becs''se he
mng!es with them and is in effect of them. lie ma.
be elected according TO TIE spirit Of the Bill Of Rights
But with the Governor the is very different. lie l.
every day acting Governor whether he Is here cl
elsewhere Members Of the House Of Delegates ara not
members when they go home There IS no such ""iy
the House of Delegates of the Senate in existence we
they adjourn and so home. They ere OF the people
and mingle with them. Not with your Governor
He is Governor every day, every night every moment
You cannot brin. him down to the people from whom liz
sprung required by this article III the Bill OF might
unless YOU make him lay aside his robes of Office Ihen
saw that this principle of eligibility OF thc Governor
is which the Bill Of Rights does not assert but leaves
to be regulated according the circumstances .! IN.
case by law. 1t is principle al ALL bat mere mat
ter of exped;ency. The principle involving tn flSa'"
the people contained in that article l.. that these iels
atiyc and executive officers, md especially The cxecu
tive should bercstrancd from oppression by feeling end
par. cpating in the burhens of the people by being nj
xedperiods reduced private station, aud returning
to that body from which they were originally tascn
That is the right OF the people OF Virginia as declared III
their Bill Of Rgts Gentlemen forget this right Wien
thew contend that re.egibity is the only rriace in
volye.! For myself l prefer to stand By tho Bill o.
Rights rather than to act upon the opinions of those gen
tlelnea supposed when heard of this doctrine Of
tho restriction of the rights of the people, thu: W.
should have presented to Is i'll various other forms
Tic gentleman from Montgomery Cir HoGE) goes against
v.riou; restrictions which the gentleman from Acccna,
,lr WlsEl deems to hc proper. The gentleman from
Acc.nac think: admits the right to protec; The pco-
pie from the election Of an unwise Governor. lie syo
cafe; The greatest Lcrt, pf he people and yet he s
little ,on. apparently, in the capacity of the PEG
pie to Judge, that lie is willing 70 restrict them from The
election OF aliens or luna:c..
Mr.. HOGE l expressly said that would impose nc
such restriction
Mr. WISE The gentleman is speaking in refercacc to
me- but have nothing to sav When !:entlcl:
II, for explanation, and il is denied him. he ,us: tax,
some other opportunity to carry cat his purpose.
Mr. BoCock. You asked an oppor u,i;y 10 give ae
he reascus Why Yen thought Sheriff o hi not 20 IL
elected, and 70 give the special reasons, therefor
tell YOU that cannot yield the oor Tor such purpose
a. this time nor will l. You Will have ample opnoru
nifty TO do when that question shall come up J:
make any aliuion to Your argument lii relation 10 the
Governor whc is wrong, you shall be well wcic'at =
explain because think can SCI forth TIE proposition
make, after YOU have explained.
The CHAIR. Il is not in order for the gcntci'aH =
address others than The Chair
Mr. WISE. only wish to remark that my own rae
where refer gentlemen in debate i! do think ii Ia"
ccssary to refer to them Is always to give them tie o
portunity to explain.
The CHAIR The Chair would take this occasion 10
remind gentlemen Ct the improperly of addressing
themselves to particular members
Mr. BOCOCk aware that was out Of order
in that particular; and ask the pardon of the Convcn-
ton am willing, if state the proposition -; an,
gentleman improperly in t., matter of discussion IN
which am g. ,aged that ~ shall correct lor | IL
int ii ,.esrc t. ..,represent ans one. The ge'-
;emau froi Accc.n;c lMr. WisE) had stated IA .e'a;e
that for special reasons lie woalG make the o!ct oi
sheriff Ineligible referred 20 thu. fact ana 81 that
alone to show that he regarded special uppl;
cable to each case. He desired give way in orci
to state the special which applicable 20 the
case OF sheriff did no, think it proper to give wa
for him any other man. to say what special reascs he
refuse to give place to that gentleman or any o!..
correct me in regard TO any matter connected with tli'
discussion Tha; is the distinction make. and thns
the gentleman from Acccmac (My. WlsEl will himsci:
sec that it is right and proper
The CHAIR There can b. personal difference 5c-
tween the gentlemen
Mr.. BOCOCK am aware Of that--at ieeet iho2o
I'm. repeat that gentlemen should not concnj >:
eligibility right guaranteed in the bill of right be
cause il Is there laid down right of the people
II 20 tier h!
regulated one way the other BY law. But the RICH:
If the people to have their eXecutivcana legislative Of
icers again returned to them, to be among them; is
right laid down. And maintain that Us to the exec
utye officer the only way IN which You can enforce that
right is By making him ineligible occasionally, hc i; the
long the short termfor be is reelected to tie
ccodny term he never does return to the people all
Let US consider the mere question Of expcli,ncy
and set aside this matter Of right. As question OF e1
pcdencv .koc.i lie Governo. re-cigiblc iorcrc- 10
eligible for tcrml Gentlemen tell US tina. in this iscua
sion the burhen Of proof lies US, and my friend
the way (Mr. NEEsoN) very clearly stated that unless
we can show either that evil is to be avoided
.orle good obtained BY restriction we could MOI
claim that there was necessity for 1t: That IN
lerstood 70 be the proposition OF the gentleman Now
differ from the gentleman altogether III this respect.
hnk that the burthen of proof lies upon gentlemen wiz
eek to make this change. do not say that 1t does;
10 not ceny that gentlemen who because they End thi.
in the oil constitution think it ought to be otherwise IL
1
burhen Of proof does not rest upon them They believe
hat the people have condemned everything il the old
constitution and of that they have condemned
;his thing aud if it is desired to retain it, under their
view, those who express that DESIRE must show arma
lively that it ought to lie retained. Now do think
| So We come here To make constitution for the PEG
pie and in making that constitution what ought to be
our Course Not to change everything for the sake OF
change not to put in different clause because GER
tain clause is IN tho constitution but to change it in
such particulars and i'll such instances as the people have
indicated to us they desired changes to be made lam
not infinite radical am not conservative stand
IN that middle position of being n reormcr and nv de-
ire and object is to make those changes in the Govern
nent of the State which the people have indicated It
desirable to be made. will give to them the election
Of the Governor and of the Judges and Of every oer
officer that they may desire to elect Now rs to This
clause in the present constitution that the
shall be ineligible, desire to know what membr ..er
heard the first of his constituents complain of that nro
vision Who can tell us Tat the people are d;ss5,;s
lied with it. should like to hear Ineyer heard ,oar
among my constituents say int he desired that prny;s
ion to be changed have not yet Leard the first rriey
.nce that has grcwn out Of it, or the frs. objection n,
as been made to it. 1t established in tn. consti
sution of '76 it was retained in the constitution Of 30
and so and 80 sr rs know it is approved by the pro