Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-03-09
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
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Secretary OF the Commonwealth nd Private Sec- in
of @ 81,


MONDAY MORNING. MARCH &, 1882.
Secretary Of the Commonwealth and Private Sec
retary OF tho Governor.
Under the Constitution Of l716 the Governor was up
pointed annually by the Legislature; and prvy council
eight members appointed by the same body, t~o
whom were removed by joint vote at the end OF ever!
three years. This Council appointed their clerk. Th
Council rather consisted OF eight Gore-nors because tn
nominal Gorernor could do nothing without the advice
that Board Their President was Lieutenant Governor AM
lin tho absence Of the Governor from tho seat ol Govern
ment he acted as Governor II is manifest therefore, ha
the Chief Executive power welded by Inc Council and
il was altogether proper that their Clerk should in his per
son. fill the office usually called in other G,vornmens Sec
eluy of State Hc accordingly had his under Secretaries
OF deputies, called assistant Clerks, &c.
By the Constitution of 1880, tho Chief Executive power
was vested in the Governor elected by the Legislature and
an advisory Council of three with the authority to appoint
Clerk The consequence was that the clerkship with lis
deputies continued as heore until the workings Of The sys
tenn began 10 be developed.
II was soon found that this advisory Council held through
he Clerk the Executive archives Of the State and tina,
the chief responsible Executive officer, (the Governor,)
welding whole department OF the Government, had no
Clerk Secretary whatever, and was dependant upon
Clerk appointed BY and responsible to- this advisory
Counci-a kind of hfh wheel ,eGgon Of Stas And
is proper remark here that is intended 10
the gentlemen who filled that Office as will presently be
seem But the theory Of such system could not harmon.
ze with The crudes notions OF regua. governments and be-
fore workings had time to canser the department. the LIE
rislaure removed the cause of danger.
By an passed al the second session OF the Legislature
under the Constitution of 1890 provided THAT there
shall be Secretary OF the Commonwealth, or Clerk OF the
Executive Department who shall be appointed BY the Gov
Tna uroylcd that aduitiun tho other
OF Office he should toke oath keep such mat
ers he shall be required by The Govcrno! conceal He
shall be keeper of the seal of the Commonwealh shall
keep regular record Of all Executive acts; shall faithfully
keep all the records and carefully arrange file and preserve
all the papers belonging The Executive Department. and
charged with all the clerical duties Of that departments he
shall render The Governor in the despatch of the exccu
business such services he may equrehe shall also
be Librarian OF the State,' &C.
The s,me law allowed him assistant and his salary
and that of his assistant fixed tho allowed to
the clerk Of the Council and his assisan and, moreover
gave him authority "emPloy copyist.'' when in the
opinion Of the Governor, it might be necessary The oct
then proceeds x the salary of the clerk of the Council
five hundd dollars and epea much Of the &C. of the
5h of Feb 1884, he compensation Of the clerks OF
the council of Stale" The Constitution Of the State gave
the Council the right appoint their own clerk; and con-
sesueny this ac, left the cid machinery Of Clekshps the
discretion Of the Governor.
He appointed the old clerk Of the Council to the Of
fce of Secretary of the Commonwealth; and with him went
his assistants; great seaand Executive archives OF the
State fitted up for their accommodation,
and the Council left in their old chamber They appointed
clerk and thus the harmony Of the Executive branch
Of the Governmen, was preserved.
But an passed the 9th Of February 1884, (as remark
able for brcvty any the Statute booS swept from the
biu nd n
the Capitol and pick clerical services bes, he could
|, reads "s enacted by Tie General Assembly, that the
Secretary of the Commonwealth shall hereafter be elected
by the join, Of the Senate and House of Delegacs-
While there much prcpriety In having an officer res
ponsbc directly TO the great arm Of Government US cuso
dian Of the public archives yet this would seem to i'm
ply ds,rus, OF the Governor which has existed to-
wards the head OF ordinary bureou in other govern
Governor left without clerk to protect his pr-
correspondence that of his family = II can hardly
be presumed that this last we'll considered II any
great policy OF State dictated it, the expensive machinery OF
the Council must been pleaded TO justify leaving the
Governor without private Secretary. That plea does not
now exist.
The salaries of the members of The Council and their clerk
amounted to So 500 without including dookeeper, oonn-
gencies &c. making in all upwards of OOO The Council
and all its attendant have been abolished and can
not be pleaded against doing that justice the Governor
which, all must admit s more necessary than formerly
The new Constitution provides that ga Secretary OF the
Commonwealth" shall be appointed BY the General Assem-
by for the term of years. who shall kcep record Of
the official acts OF The Governor which shall be signed by
the Governor and nttcsed by the Secretary &c, and he
shall perform such other duties may be prescribed by
lawn is very clear that il the intention Of the Con-
yenon that this officer should keep faithful record OF the
executive acts and be the custodian of the archives OF hat
depar,men To secure the faithful execution Of this duty,
he is made the officer of the legislative departments and the
Governor upon whom the whole power OF the executive IS
devoved only require OF The Secretary 10 record MS
acts preserve the papers upon which they are founded
The Secretary cannot enter the consideration adv ."
men Judgment Of the executive acts Ills duties are
those OF public clerk and his Office should be as open and
free to tho nveevae enemy of the Governor as 10 his
best friend should his feelings be enlisted for or
against the Governor or the Legislature He /, appointed
bv the latter to record the acts only of the former and faith.
fully TO preserve and give them to the world Ho has no
rigb, 10 know the reasons of those acts to attempt I"
amper with or swerve the Governor from duty nor TO con
cea from the public any recorded act he should have no
motive either promote strife against the Governor or to
discourage any investigation which it may be lawful Tor any
citizen make in the executive archives II H. therefore
improper ha, this officer should be the confidential sece
tary carry the correspondence Of the Governor or "
procure the opinions Of heads of department. settle
.ingent accounts arrange and prepare the ousinesa
assist In making up the executive orders TO he recorded
The Secretary of the Commonwealth has always had oF
much 10 do a. he aud clerks could possibly per-
form; and not always without complaint for want Of de
patch.
Those who ysi, the Governor cannot be mistaken IN Inc
necessity existing for one who can attend TO the cor
rsspondence and arrangement of papers, business &C., al
eyerv hour instead an officer the Capitol whose oce
il omen only from A. NJ. to 3 P NJ. As we'll might the
Clerks of the County and Circuit Court DO made Comms
sones to scto and adjust all matters Of account fact ana
law for the Judgment and action Of their Courts as TO ex'
meet the Secretary Of the Commonwealth TO perform this
du,v for the Gov True they might often be well qua
fed und other duties did require their services, they
might do it, The Secretary the Governor ought to be
gentleman not lu any inferior In point OF ability
dignity and honor to any officer about the government ne
should be at the right hand of the Governor In sickness and
IN hs,h In sadness and joy and should feel sympa,hse,
and labor with, him for the common good ard glory Of the
country.