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

r,rfh oil n
ON here TO stamp Thorn by votes Oh s floor who are
an.na, belong to that party on IN, the meaning
ar,;noted radicals and If under tho ultraism Of
of the term, and think DO e''''
radicalisn. 49,: Committee for the PROPOSE
voted IN tue sarat;on offered IN TINS Convention
so'. NV .an.man from Henrco ANY sa.,a ~ nv,
~ .ie With pledge made 70 ''T hasara
district will not say argued ss1;on. Init pledged
the people tia, this in office in the Com
myself to go ioI rSs put that vote on the very
.sa. one Of the highest inducements you can hoia
ground tnat Que e. 70 be honest faithful, and indus
out to man .chsree OF the duties of his office, was
trious IN tue lection When this question was first
the: u s hody was patient listener to the DIS
agltateu ~ amtemen who have taken the ground OF OPP
os;ton to eligibility %aeu 70 nea. sum-
Posi'on nresented on that side OF the question
Die agunoos for few moments to examine the argu,
ana Iya been made against that proposition, and
nens u! f those arguments will justify this Conven-
- restrictng the powers Of the sovereign people
Among other things, II mas oeen cnasgeu mere a
ha cry outside of the walls of this house. and be-
near u member of this Convention, that IT IS rang
10Y Som The wise principles laid down IN the ola Consti-
s o !. reference to this question: and is one OF the
,nros innovations of the day. This cry OF lnnova-
t;nn Is no new one. In days gone by, when the man
hoa bprring eloquence reused continent 10 arms was
,;np the House of Burgcsses OF Virginia by his pas
appeals forinnovations in favor Of popular rights
there was heard from every quarter the cry OF
treason !" Patrick Henry was radical lie was 70
s the language of my friend from Accomac, an "lnhn
ia RADICAL have the honor in part to represent two
counties in this Convention, one OF which bears his
name and if nv humble efforts to defeat every propo-
ston intended to restrict the privileges and powers OF
the people, brandme as being such radical and innova
tor plead guilty to the charge ana iet MN VINO may
desire make the most OF 1t.
The main arguments upon which those VINO oppose
the proposition of the gentleman from Henrco depend
is that the Governor of Virginia II ne shall be re-eg
ble will become corrupt and that ne VIII use the pow
ers Of the gubernatora Office to secure his reelection
Now, il there is anything in this argument contend
that the whole doctrine of the capacity OF man Tor sell
government falls and this convention ought not 10 nave
been called If the corruption and abuses OF power by
the governor while in Office is to have amy erect upon
the people of this so as to secure ms re-
election against all opposition, then say the people OF
Virginia are incapable of self government and We should
stop here before trust them with more power than
they possess under the constitution as 49, but deh
that the people will be lnhuenced ny any sucn
he any such corrupt discharge of duty on the part oil the
governor or that he possibly secure his rccecoh
by resort to such when in office What are the
mighty powers OF the Governor of Virginia II ever
heard OF body that Were prepared 10 mt up sne'
hands and cry out holy horrer against the idea OF the
one man power think stand within that Dody now
II ever saw gentlemen bent on stripping office oil all
power and patronage think this convention mas al
ready developed its determination to strip TINS once o
governor of even the nconsderable patronage II mas uh
mug.trate a mere automaton understand this once
has attached to it but little Importance 50 lar a.
patronage and power are concerned and The determine
ton here seems he to bring down 90 low that !e
Governor Is even to be denied the right OF appointing
the AGENTS and representatives of the commonwealth IN
the banks of the State larger portion OF which 1t owns
and il directly interested in. Then what is to be the
power and patronage of the governor! lie VIII con-
duct the intercourse of Virginia with foreign states or
in other words he will appoint commissioners III foreign
States to take acknowledgements OF deeds tie VIII
bay. the appointment of agents To settle boundary
que ston- between Virg mia and other States and III"
Question of this sort likely ever to be raised hereafter
IL. will appoint perhaps commissioners to visit the
1n;versitv and the Deaf and Dumb and Lunatic Asy
m and the Virginia Military Institute, and, perhaps.
he NAV be allowed appoint the directors Tor the state
in the Penitentiary of the commonwealth and ne Is to
be the commander-n-chief with the ePauet upon ms
shoulder of the army of this State and of tie navy oil
Virginia This is all his patronage and power that
understand the Governor OF Virginia TO possess when
this constitution we propose to make shall have been
adopted by the convention and ratified by the people
ask the committee if it Is possible that that little p
,ronare will enable him to control public sentiment and
y corruption in office his reelection over The
hundreds aud thousands Of his opponentsl say thou
sands because Virginia boast more particularly {"
her politicians than she eau OF any thing else Ana
there will always be host OF politicians able talented
men who have rendered service III the ranks oil the po-
tca parties 10 which they belong seeking for and eX
Meeting that nomination at the hands Of wing and dem
I ocratic caucusses :, -.
Then there is nothing, in my humble opinion, in this
argument sufficient to Justify in restricting the pow
ora Of the people and preventing them from selecting rs
well rs clectng Governor II this principle IS to be
settled here that the Governor of Virginia On account
of his inparality i'll the administration oi MS executive
Office should be incompetent to are.eiectio !. must w
parity of reason be carried out III the Judiciary anti
/, the other important Offices OF this country.
If YOU say that the people ought not to re-eect man
to the office of Governor, clothed a. he Will DC win III
tie authority, and at the same tnle 'h' Iley may
reeec your Judges, who the highest ofcers IN The
commonwealth in what all inconsistent attitude do you
place this convention before the people Shall the peo
ne be denied the privilege oil re-eectng the governor
of the commonwealth when the Legislature oy report
of the committee on circuit courts and the judiciary are
10 elect for term Of fifteen years. and then to be re-
eligible the Judges of the court of appeals the highest
! power in the commonwealtlithe men who are to pre-
side the safety of your tortunes think the peo
pie will not and that they ought not, sustain such Po
sition If taken by this convention. came here to -
first for the election of all the officers OF this common
wealth. that are peculiarly Offices of the people, by the
people themselves and consequently to go for their re-
eligibility to office upon the principle thai when 'le
keep him there And they will do it. do not know
that the Governor of Virginia will be elected for
second term but do know if he man of capacity
and qualified to discharge the high office he Is elected TO-
and if his and views meet with the approoati0
of the people which evidence that he is pecular
fitted to fill the Office and BY his policy benefit the old
commonwealth it is but rg ht and proper that the peo
pie should have the power retain him in Office in pre-
ference all others if they choose to do So desire
re-egibty of the Governor because wish to have his
messages his recommendations to the Legislature and
bis views upon questions Of International policy, dis
cused and canvassed before the people of this common
wealth 1t is notorious fact that while the people OF
Virginia better posted up in federal politics than
perhaps those of any other State in the Union the great
body of them exceedingly ignorant of the true cond
ton of their own State What accounts for your
out and grown up plantations and ruined mansions in
the east What accounts for the sandst position of
Virginia for the last thirty years, while other States OF
this Union have been advancing to power and influence
in til, government! 1t is fact that Virginia has vast
cd her idle distractions and neglected the de
veopment Of her vast and the improvement of
the commonwealth. Let bring home to the people
these questions of domestic policy Let it be no longer
the case in Virginia that jack mule can be elected
office if he is only whg or democrat in any whg
man come down TO the people, to the masses that d.
recty interested in the prosperity Of the State and tell