Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-02-18
fcoss;,,u,d Stos Fourth psSe.l


nor,,y. VIVA, possible objection to reeligbihty does
s areanen. present to the proprety the mpropre-
Of ,he eligibility Of the executivei There was
Suar nexplictnees singular ambiguity and myste-
connected with the gentemans argument ON TINS suo
II which however Is not wholly inexpicable; for, ne
uspect.
"Of darsne visible so much he lent
As half to show half veil the deep intent"
Il think if can be allowed to predict. there may be
vert oblioue purpose to be accomplished in the event
4 successful effort restrict the eligibility OF the ex
atge. There may be interests to be promoted IN the
- option Of this principle OF restriction upon the rights
the people not otherwise attainable The gentleman
am Goohand not only maintained the improperly Of
acting the governor two successive terms because
,uld be preudcis to the great interests OF the mlio
IL b FOR another reason, to which will presently re-
;.r l.: considering another point IN these on)ec.ous
.e gentleman from Richmond city tNr MEEipi.H) VINO
i .tainly made vey fair argument IN tins cause pue ms
ecton, 10 ree!ighilitv upon the assumption that the
ecu,iy. independence would be deblsed and his integ
deprayel by the admission of immediate reeligblE-
These are grave apprehensions aud Certainly worthy
Z; consideration propoee to consider this objection
ia As mucl. brevity l can Dividing the argument,
$, fr.; branch as.er,s that the recigblty of the
tiye would put hin tie mercy Of the legislative de-
rt,ncut Oh Tho govsrnmen-thc natural tendency OF
.och yas 10 e,roa.h upon III other departments OF
yernmeni and :b,orbc their puSess know this idea
\ been imposing.y presented in certain distinguished
,h.ical work called tne Fcderalist' Mr.. Madison III
a, work elaborated the argument and employed 1t to
!, rno.s;rate the proprety of fortying the executive
q ii, power TO repel such aggressi'n and not 10 sho"
m;.ocy OF re-elgibilitv Ii the gentenans appre.
nion is correct that the executive department. Will
come s.rrle aud obsequious to the legislative depart
"a art consequence of the tendency OF the Legislature
Z elcroach upon that department. his arguments Will
yer uroye that ineigiby is expedlent TO oovlate
> a. evil If the legislative propensity to domlneer go
nidable to the other coordinate departments aud so
.chevo,- described, you must arm the executive 10
sist il. Suppose You make the executive Ineligible IN
!a. 10 accommodate the view OF the gentleman VIII IL
strain The natural tendency OF the Legislative depart
q IN. to encroach upon the other department. By no
cans On the contrary, it rather instgates-ii may
n speak-ths encroachment. For Il the executive ON
shall hold his office for four years and then be
OF his station and the independence Of his depart
Amt. What if he be enguphed in the legislative de-
;rtment will he loose ANYTHING by 1T lie must with
law III the expiration OF certain term and will not be
ely to the speasure OF the legislative depart
,n, nor en:bro himself in controversy with them,
. wing motive To doso Ii ne Is right he must loose
1; the expiration OF hir Term.
!. he be wrong, hs must lose aiso But with reel
e bts annexed his office he in self defence enter
~ L contest with the Legslature--their Judgment Is
T. / irreyersb!e and he submit to the people who
" tn, great power of ultimate judgment, and Obtain
.r final arbramcnt upon the question at issue Then
. department is defended and protected from the en-
- ,achments of the legislative department. but by rem
:: ring him Ineligible you deprive him of the motive to
Sent the pressure OF that power And unless you give
j. either veto or reeligbiiity, you make him power
resist so much for the threatened dependence of
80. executive department by reaton OF realgbility.
wv to the executive purity and integrity How dothe
nernen prove that in the event Of election, the
secuve officer is likely to become basely prostuted
the legislative department. IL he is to be reelected
i assumed that his nomination will DO made by the
- yisla.urs This is gratuitous assumption. and con-
! !. ny to reasonable probability.
ais the capitol in central accessible portion of the
ate Is it not in some respects remote and naccess
- And according to my superstition when the candl
les for office nominated by their respective par
it will be found that the place OF meeting for the
cus will be nearer the of the State than Henri
/; county. And you will lind this Convention for the
.rpose OF nominating candidates. composed OF ndivid-
Is fresh from the body o the people. and not OF in
i;;nbents of Office think therefore it is gratuitous,
NJ contrary the probabilities that he will receive
~ nomination from Legislative caucuses But still
onger reasons dSproye the assumption. How often
=. II the Legislature assemble hereafter assume that
ouat sessions will be succeeded by biennial
we have biennial sessions the members of the leg isla
% will assemble but once in two years. and the exec
q incumbent will hold his office either two four
,.ars he holds it for two years. suppose it ia not
bted that the tern of the officer will expire
ring the session Of the Legislature. Now let that be
..nted and it follows that legislative
S@mnate candidate because he must be elected by
: fore that time The members iii the preceding Gene
Assembly Will not nominate Il cAnuluatc, because
IN the Incumbent has just beeu indicted into Office.
y there 10 no vacancy to be filled The
4snt will also apply If the term of the execu
,e should continue for four years instead of 1t
appears at least to MUD that the Legislature
7er can from the necessity OF the case, nominate
,didate for Governor and the Jealous Of the people
i not permit it.
i But there histoi Gai view Of this subject OF
ug the executive Cndar the uil Constitution of this
Stte, existed as Commonwealth nifty four years.
N l11o To 1880 Daring all tina, period Of fifty -four
re- the executive held his office tor a,
agible EXCESSIVELY TO second and third term and
iordiny 10 recollection afterwards ineligible
=. period Of perhaps three years 1t will be
I'd that slthough the executive held his office for
) year and re-eligibs during trienniai period
receiYed HE office from the Legislature and -
liz from the people Now. il YOU will make q calcu-
aoD il will be found that during the fifty -four years
NJ Ter the old Constitution-when this regulation pro-
,isc--there but eighteen triennial periods YOU
find fun ther on research that thirteen executive in,
g ab.,.ts under the old Constitution were not only
- ted hy tie Legisaturc-the first but for the second
s third terms, thus occupying thirteen OF the entire
: h,een trienlal periods from l.76 10 1880 Indeed
go one Governor ever left the station the expiration
= he trst term Now al upon gentlemen who
ngly appfehen-ive thss .e-egibity will produce de-
vatiou Ia tho u designate single instance
these thirteen-vour mere declaration assertion
- not prove ANYTHING OF corru?tioawhereby they Sc
led their reelection Ifthey will do So then will ad-
that there may b. Tor apprehensica bur
i nj then mere demonstration OF feeling and sentiment
d :his foo. will influence against the expert
Of some fifty four years Not only did the Legislature
i Il the executive for oae, mi three years under
oil constitution but Of these thirteen Governors
a. = served full period Of three FEARS two afte.
II lapse of the required period OF uegbilty rcelect
: s;b. the same Legislature. One OF them Patrick
sary for two years. whea. he retired in consequence
said OF the embarrassed condition Of his domestic
Es, re- another James Monroe, who served after
, one year, and. not elected from Office but was
3 . asferrsd to more exalted statou-to the Office OF
N retarv Of State Of the United States think that
ga examplc Of james Murroe Will be sufficient reply
the argument just submitted to his Convention
shs tue gentleman from Buckingham. Mr.. FuQuA
sssi.ed upon MS authority. 1t said that ne was
= posed re-egibility aud that he declared it to be
sElnwi.. aud dangerous principle. Tho same James
as nroe consented two and three conseeu-
!. terms in the executive department OF this Common
.,h and when he again re-eligibe, after pc
I. Of neligbility, be consented again to one
doubtless intended to serveiw three terms had
u the more attractive Office been presented to his &C.
Il tspce Mr. Jsitersons opinion was also cited, yet
Jefferson served consecutive both in the ex-
tive Of Virginia and the executive Ct the u States.
sections speak louder than Words let thcm be au M
Is II n. oninnnS nj he mon WI al