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

Min, unless he resides within certain district Here
then ore two restrictions the latter Of which IN regard
TO sectional restriction, might Immediately follow
tho other restriction and have doubt the gentle
man from Goochland would maintain that proposition
wonder that nothing has escaped his lips which Will
Justify me even in hoping that he would not sustain IT.
So much for the examples which have been introduced
here and the influence which has been claimed by those
examples.
have gone through. believe with all the argu-
ments that have occurred this time III favor of
this restriction aud after giving them careful and de-
iberate consideration ] believe that it il not only
wholly unnecessary, but wholly inexpedient and that
the arguments to give them the greatest force which
the most candid mind can insufficient and uconclu-
sivs The demonstration of the propriety OF this re-
striction rests exclusively the gentlemen who main
tain that propriety. They have failed to do So and |
light rest the argument with saying that they have not
satisfied nv mind; nor, ! trust. the minds OF this
committee in justifying this restriction But may go
further and think that the friends OF the people al
though that has become singular expression here may
here say that they remain fortified in their adherence
the propriety Of re-elgibility.
regard the principle involved here, whichever way
YOU may settle it. ms destined to exert powerful inu
ence on the incumbent of Office whether be be III the
executive any other department OF government.
consider this doctrine of eligibility Identical with
the doctrine OF responsibility. hold that to be the
true position that reclgbility and responsibility
Identical or If they not identical they nsspa-
rabe Now have had this doctrine Of responsibility
sanctioned in constitution for great while Re-
sponbility is always proclaimed essential element
! in republic You have due responsibility connected
with the executive and with the judiciary iunctom,res
of the State Bnt how is be exercisedi And how
is it rendered effcaciousl BIZ .lc power of mpeach-
ment according to the present order of things That
was always considered the great instrument of respon
shlity But appeal to the history of the whole ma
ton and to the history Of Virginia to say whether that
measure has produced responsibility and whether il has
Fharn al Od
OF securing responsibility ana that is, by referring the
officer regularly and frequently to the people for their
review. That is the practical and eiiicacous mode OF
ensuring this great principle the great deslder:tnn OF
responsibility in office. Well is experience IN olhce
matter of little consideration Is 1t matter oil no mo-
mcnt Sir every man knows, and especially those OF
greater experience than myself how Infinitely better
they are enabled to perform the duties OF office to their
constituents and discharge the great trusts conferred
on Them and promote the public welfare after GER
ta;n degree of experience. Can a man practice law
without experience! Can he make shoes or practice
the healing art or do any thing else III common life,
with a. great benefit those interested as he after
he has acquired Il certain degree of experience. We
know that this cannot bc done. Well. there is another
thing in the executive department especial --iauta-
bitv change ana instability in the executive depart
mcnt of the government more 10 be deprecated than
all the other departments of the government, except
perhaps the judiciary. How can you have stable and
permanent ucious administration OF the executive de-
partment unless you authorize the incumbent o the tie
rtment devise, to propose to advocate and enforce
hi. measures OF administration! suppose YOU unit the
executive term to two and render HIM ineligible
Can any executive do than write message and
deliver it to the Legislature ut biennial session
Now wha. could the executive do Will he he prepared
to advise Of great public conccrnment VIII
he be energetic in enforcing those measures the pub
liz consideration Certainly not. He will know that
he is forcdoomed that he will have the opportunity
of administering these and that lie must give
place to successor who, however friendly he may be
can never in the nature of things feel deep inter
eat in the execution Of these great measures the
man TO whom belongs their paternity. Every maj.
takes greater interest iii defending and enforcing the
measures of his recommendation than lac ,ncs in
defending and enforcing measures suggested by the very
best and most intimate Of friends. II is 81 in the nature
of things. Herr you have these tire" considerations
responsibility. experience perman-ncy, g, rather ta
bi!itv in the executive department: he advanced .r
promoted by re-eieiby, 10 b. impaired if not vir
ually destroyed bv ncligbiliiy. can appeal To the
III story of this great country 10 bear testimony to this
ruth that from the foundation Of republic to this
day. if consideration has concerned, the popular
mind than another it il that of providing ecaciou-
responsibility n the executive department. Before the
time of the adoption Of the federal constitution in all
Of the thirteen States which then composed thi. con
federacy there but two single executives. In all
tie eleven other States they had compound executive
that H. chief executive officer called Governor, and
l
ral executive instead OF single one and the conss
q,encc was that responsibility was divided expedition
| vas impaired, and energy WAS para wed The tw,
States which did have single executives wers New York
and New Jersey. Now come down to 1851. Aud how
many COMPOUND, executives dn yon find! Have they
not ALL or nearly ALL been repudis,edl Yet, to render
s,ll cfectua the principle OF responsibility, q
stability and experience, appeal to the history
Virginia to furnish memorable example Of her high up
probation of these qualities. That this idea Of resIon
sibtq was held in the hghest estimation b. the people
j. demonstrated b; The fact which have ALREADY sub
mi,tei to the consideration u the committee that il
the executive administration at the government under
the old constitution from al 10 1850, period
hty four wears there but single Governor. ac
curdup to ms re,Ollrctun vino filled s.hg term anc
No more There NAV have been two Others whc
filled 4 shorter term. by reason of death, Other
Provdeutal occurrences, Gu thirteen Of them Tiled til,
office for three years, "cntvely have already
mentioned. Why tl,ia donef Was it not done u
insure to the service Of the State their knowledge an,
their experience in the promotion nl such measures A.
they had advised and for the purpose OF securing par
ticularly this prncI pie of responsibility 70. It 'las
10, been supposed thar during that period OF tiff Tom
wears so many instances of election would have 90
cared had the ncunhens proved themselves wor
thy and lneritorioms Of reelection think ina, then
-aely assert that the history OF this country prove.
that in The public mind the idea VI rse!igil!ly ha.
made deep and abiding lodgmcnt, aud thai tina, idca
j. TO be carried ot and rendered and more s.r
viceaLle lneligibty on the other hand will certain;
Isprecate if il does not eventually destroy rcspo.si
bility.
have occupied much more time than intended
have said that the advoca of this restriction aknow
edge the obligation resting than to show its propr
ETY.. They have attempted 20 doit They did Ger
ainly with ability aud ingenuity; BE-, rs think Roe
unsati ,tactorly. have doubt tn" gentleman VIII,
concurs with them in The propriety of restriction o
some sort or other perceived that after several da.
Of isctlsson they oouldn" maintain .t position. IN.
then it was that the gentleman from Fauquer, mir
CxLrox slapped forward their coadjutor. But lie
clearly changed the posture OF toe question He con
tended that the obligation rested OH those who min
tanned unrestricted eligibility to vndcate its propricty
lie said that he had come here not for the purpose OF
reforming the constitution but for the purpose Of pre-
serving it As Jar as possible; AID that any innovation
attempted imposed upon its euors the burden Of proof
and argument In Gods name, why are We here! WHY
does this Convention herr assembled Isl; for the pur
pose of hearing and exciting the ingenuity Of gentlemen
of peculiar minds to suggest difficulties and to devise
possible ev that might be corrected Are
here to search out evils or to search The
reformation of this constitution foregone conclusion
and the verdict Of the people has fixed it inevitably
If the gentleman will continue the present constitution
he demonstrate its propriety for the people have
empatically rejected aud condemned it. Yes this po
stion very important when gentleman feed tha. they
cannot of yh,n