Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-22
Remarks Of lIr JACOB, in Committee Of ne " noe
Of, .IosGap March Il, 1851


r:.JACOB Mr.. Chairman, may remark truly anc
without aectaton, that dld not come 10 !'e nous
xnpctia to-day 70 take pant in the discussion OF tht
.rcat question under consideration Is true no"
ever and desire not to conceal Ii, that nave expect
cd 10 engage in this debate
The lax Mr. Chairman which brings us here, and IN
der the euac,nents Of which now asseutied, de-
car. ,bt IN. nur,.,-e II our cnn-cnin@: is to COIL
s,Jer ana discuss proposed amendments to the eS-
;,,n1 constitution OF Virginia. 1t is thus apparent
tat tIis instrument expected To be ;ieuei ahu
that discussion WAS unavailable. lEis 'cln% The case
was surprzed When We first II anb!cd I" near """a
oor md frequently out OF doors members declare
that debate was out OF place si'1 OF n" u-e-becae
their n,inds made UP AYE that they rtoo'!
rlee.d TO o certain cour-r Thus virtually ain!!tiin
that they -.,od here N tis question (" Use IA" ia-
,-,upc uf :one ~ packed jury cIE"t bat !c.Ie"c
Th,f when Gentlemen suffer themselves - h!"ke :uc
ouservutions that hcy Go il without due reflection,
hone that none of lis have come here iuteni To violate
aul defeat the very purpose OF tlie IL" c'stiS Us 80
rether AMI will say notwithstanding lic@: op5c'
va MS that ample discussion, ttnk' Is ihelaeu AM
a. Il .ush % be- perfec y free and lar, ana nope lis
an with hat freedom Of speech 50 neceSsar; to '"'
occas.ot. , 80, ;,
done when c,asder8:y this question: nave oeeii ot
G., " struck with what seemed 10 nc, III 'hs eo'.e
ion = remarkable fact. 1t ia, that Ill q constitution
mad ior free people, constitution processing I'd D:
lee u1on free principles and upo" the OH OF ilshIs
ia v c, We all profess concur, that TIE people shouf
bav, been KEY. SO far from the great departments OF
government ana from almost ri! participation III NE
ic,Icul working IF them. While tie present coiStiLl-
oa declares that the three Sfcs departments " 81
e9ancnt, the law-nakiag power, the iaw-sols'f''oe
pos. AMI the awcxecutng power she ud DC AePt sePe
ia and distinct that yet in fact, under tins ms!
uie rartm.a: includes them al at! this Is Tie e3is-
la,!y. .ra,tmeIt-tlat one in which the west Is uc-
&cii hare OF rover. With This one Il Is true the
vo,c7 We -omctLing = 10, bit directly they nave
rota g.. o 20 With any other department l!efe seems
10 lave especial care taken 70 Keep Tue az
acv BY the present constitution ana 10 Keep 'heni
Y" cc.a: n contact with the ordinary operations oi
government as irthere vas fer entertained. th;t GAN
ser V I'D re II, from TOO close contact with II Oh the
l4t t! he ;.oo. Some such idea, il seems to me,
lAi'' E!yo .sesscA he minds End perrafed the itel
'' md views q the gentleman sno frame" ,ii'' nv
%elt. III the participation that the people h''Er
. e"ct tie c.istrc aid til.t legislature hls had ID
ago! i.e: CT H.. executive and the Judicial cheers Vi
&c cate rxce,: IL. COUNT courts anu tel. uihceGS
vi! w: lcr appciu; ment. the people have nothing
o. d e2'y Indirectly They >eit-trcatc' ara sell
continuing aud not responsible, I'm the o:ai:i"t
ssse {" the t"rm) 20 the people lhs cs'ruSt u she
irrc. this wan. Of responsibility to them IS great
"a ~ ; pr :l1eut feature Of the present constitution
!" The amendment OF which We have assembled
have been pleased to find ud5 ins from what hear
ron EE brother members ard BY the reports OF the Vsr
"S e!Eis;tecs created FOR the purpose Q! considering
e"2eas, t:.at The probability. nay, the certainty -
at this Instrument: is designed DC altered BY this body
regard 10 this ve!y matter o power and OF TIE apportion-
insoi Ct representation We End general wiling
as 70 GLOW tie governor be elected b. the people in
ZEE! Of being appointed By the legislature sud also,
understand, to abolish the present county court 5rs
'sn. 1t true, adsos fscn the report Of the commit