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

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preston OF the principles by which he intends be
guided in his public action And was very much graf
flied to learn from my friend rom Accomac. that in all
bis 'anvasses in his district ,cstin .a ma
jo!lty OF fourteen hundred eypaine, b, HIM
sell OF sixteen hundred again him. thai; ele. erlg
IN the right way-appeaing IL the public mind ana AZ
pcains to the public heart. the mean. If hs IA.
cess, and th- too without II help of a dram That
was saI for The honur # the rople-hey need perhaps
TO such aid They compe; ent enough with or witt.
ont the dram.
For these reasons sustain this limtation-w!ch j,
not 20 limit the rights of the people And my democ-
rAcy the democracy Of tie patent order has at all
times taught this that t. secure prudent exercise
OF power, proper system Of balances and check.
absolutely Necessary 1t is the undue exercise Of power
against which desire 10 guard No man has been more
digent TO that end than my friend from Acconac. MOI
only upon the hastings has h. inyeghed against the
rupt exercise OF power but in much more elevated
position he t, opened his breast the and resist
e.! il CALAMITY And is for the express pupos.
oi preventing The undue exercise of power clothed in
official robes that would limit the power of the Gov
by limiting hi, term OF service and thus bring him
back to the people whence he sprung And AT th,.
same time by rendering him Ineligible guard him against
any tendency Ia corruption in office TO his
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT And i'll this also ! would shield
him even against lmputaton "f such abuse Of
power
have thus mperfectly exhibited 10 the Convention
my views and the winch will govern ~ the
action sla take. desired that my opinion. might
he known my constituents and that hy might know
The position occupy this question. that they might
approve or condemn il n to them seemed wise.
Mr.. HoGE. rise simply Ia explain, to
misrepresentation 81 my friend from Caroline He rep
resented saving that the people in creating agents
transmit their power with Tia. agents thought my
position directly the opposite of that position.
attempted to Sustain the position that representation
10 the Necessity aud when that agen'>
came ill., the people had transmitted I" their agents what
not
l. nay position, and not that Il was a transfer al the
powers of the people. And l." illustrate that position
II my friend from Caroline was to constitute ne h>
ascnt to perform sny duty, within period Of one tive
or i've Years he could restric the performance
those duc, acting for him. would be- competent Tor
him Ia restrict Bur | ask my friend il il would IL
comp, tent for him dive>t himself OF the ow.r Of T.,
tanning NJ tic termination oI that period
! Mr. SCOTT al Caroline. nn gratiiicd with the *
pala;i"n aud receive will great kindness Icertaiuly
lid not intend m-rrprcseni the gentleman and arm
gratiiied with the reiterarion OF his position L:
seems that tie gentleman has not exactl, understood
NV argument understood him say that i'll the na
turc OF thing I'll power belonged Ia the people and
that they could divcst themselves ol that power
That was the broad proposition which he laid down.
said that ihi very argument introduced by the gentle
man himself lor the purpose "f proving that propc.
s,on suicidal To the theory which H. advanced
ani that when he conceded that the people had the
power OF dc"gat'.g power 10 agent he Welded tLr
first propo-;.ou because the ii'S was that tn,
could not delegate power
Mr.. CONWAY. have no intention of proraciing
this discussion and rise Tor the SIMPLE purpose of ea
plat INK the vote which feel constrained Ia give upor
the question before the committee. | feel ca!le,i
upon do 50 because my convictions lend con
cusou while ;or the views taken by gentlemen in srs-
tanning that conclusion ! cannot bc responsible and
then were shall be com; cled to vote TO.
the amendment offered by the gentleman from Henrico
without making any explanation, position would be-
wholly misunderstood confess when this question
was first presented the consideration of the commit
tee regarded tt ole of very little importance and
really cared very little about the which should give
upon it, But il las assumed al importance, thu aspect
which is now given to il, which, my Judgment doe-
not inrinscav belong IT, It, Regard 1t, not que-
ton of right but mere question al cxpedienoy.
the discussion in which gentlemen have separated them
selves. and taken sides in the discussion Of great prn
ciples of government ! wish therefore, 10 DO under
stood in the which shall give regarding
rs question OF expedieLcy, and that alone.
| In nv view the question winch is propounded
10 the committee is this sit and expedent to in
sert this limitation in constitution not | think
il is unwise and inexpedent to impose such Limitation
! And why In my view that question Well Ri
swered in the illustration which furnished by the
gentleman from Powlatan, DIR. HorKNs.l and as
conceive wholly nsnterpr.tei by my friend from Car
cline (Mr. ScorT) The end III view all will admit, l.
integrity and diligence. The means Of accomplishing
that end is the question to be considered By us Ia my
view that end best be accomplished by having the
governor re- eligible To second term wall assume
first that the Governor "i tirginiaand trust such
will be the case--should be AZ honest man. eir
waited above such paltry considerations have been
ferrcd 10 here influencing n official conduct. II
So then cay, by permitting hn To be re-rigibe TO
q second term OF office, you present to him the
strongest possible inducements diligence and 10 the
faithful and pure discharge OF the functions OF has office
A. gentlemen have said III reelection, or III the sec
oud canvass, he has prospect oi having h- conduct
examined before the people, and reviewed By them, II
his official conduct has been subjected Improperly 10
impututoll h. has iair opportunity N exposing that
conduct and of having thu Judgment OF his people upon
/ it, IT, on the other hand, the Governor Of Virgins
should happen tn be- man oi different stamp ani
should be controlled by the unworthy considerations
which have been nd, erted 10 here III my Indignant H.
eligibility would impose upon him the very strongest
conceivable restraint asan-. the prostitution Of thr
powers Of his office for the promotion of hs selfish
ends While the other hand 10 such man the
same temptation viii b. presented by hi. party Ia The
prostitution If his official duties, the fact that liz
NAV thereby promote his reelection In my judgment
therefore looking 10 the ri II BAL man bad
officer you have m eifectual restraint imposed upon
hin by the prospect "f reelection and review ..
his official conduct. And on the otler hand you ID
no, at all lessen the temptation 10 the prostitution Of HI,
influence by removing him from the prospect of
election because they will be presented IN the party
appliances that will be used upon the officer elected BY
party if he il amrnablc tosuch influences ay thu
| is my view without nIarging upon it.
! have thus explained nay views. and | think they
we're well illustrated bv the case If Mr. Van Buren, j-t
mentioned Let us .xliniue hat case " find the,
even here bad man restrained FROM the pro,t,.
ton of his Office during his term according the
OF the gentleman from Caroline, ~ the prospect 81
recollection Ia Office while. when that prospect
moved he appeared in his naked deformity Here.
then, this power Of the people this prospect OF
coming before the people Of this country whrrehis con
duct should be carefully eanvased. controlling the Off
cial conduct of admitted bad man. and securing n
| the view Of the gentleman from Caroline c:cial pro.
priety and truth 10 the constitution IT, then that r.
strant be worth anything it is worth this that
expect if should be unfortunate 10 elect bal
nan 10 the office ii governor. The prospect of el-
ton will secure to the people OF this State official pro
pricty during his term Of Office. But what prn
cpaly 10 say was thai could not concur in the views
taken by most OF the advocate. for re-eligibility.
stranger, upon Witnessing the debates in this hall
upon reading these debates would really suppose that
a conspiracy formed b. tine delegates this floor
against the rights of tho good people oi this Common
wealth, and that my friend from .iccomuc Mr. WisI
the gentleman from Henrco, Mr. Borrsl and my friend
from the county Of Montgomery, lIr. Hoe were here
for the purp, Of defending these assaed rights
against this assault beg lcav. saw these gent.