Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-02-13

office of Attorney General and that OF Secretary oil the
Commonwealth filled with members OF the Whlgrar,
~ though il was an admitted that Virginia was, and
always had democratic State few winters ago
the democrats OF The esa tnr aroused By portion Of the
newspaper prcs. Stale proper Of the lnJus-
this exclusive of things determined TO do iher
Marty some Justice and they turned out Heath
For this ACT the Democracy roundly oeraed BY The
friends of those gentlemen, and The most terrible rclbuon
threatened Il told that none but the dccaplia.
ted Heath and Lawson could discharge the duties OF their
respective Offices and that refuse 10 reflect them would
everything fall into The most nexticaoie confusion
These things however were all disegaTded by the demo
Gratis and the result has beea that everything III lnose
branches government well better Than
they did heretofore and that the change ITSELF 80 Tar from
bringing d.crcd upon the democracy warmly sanction
ed by the peope The murdered Heath fell dead the
ground that he failed under the cry OF persecution
get the nomination of his own party and friends Tor scat
| in the Legislature from The city of Richmond
Attorney General Baxter and SJuant General Richard
son. though richly deserving the fate Of Heath and Lawson
were eracousy spared through mistaken policy by the
Democrats of the Legislature The tate ol the toru'er now
sealed by that officer being made elective by
the people, Though the decapaiion OF Baxter By the Legs
laure had been loudly acclaimed against by his friends
In the Charlottesville Wing State Convention he
being thrown overheard by the very party which had
been loud in their professions OF friendship He was
nominated however only Ia BE- repudaed and expelled from
the office he had long held, by overwhelming majority
OF the sovereign people similar fate would have betallen
Richardson and Second Auditor Brown, had their Claims
been submitted t" the crucibe of public opinion Is not
time that they should give way to others OF equal and su
rior merit with themselves Is II consistent win mo repuo
can character OF institutions that should hold OF
fee for e2 1t ;hs arsocatic feature OF the county
court that the people acclaimed against Indignantly
in the Conventional election and it is equally censurabe
10 the Executive Department in the State Government.
The idea prurssed TO be entertained by come, that men
should be permitted to hold office long they do not do
thing absolutely cen.urabe is alacy fatal 10 repub
lican system government. 1t would apply wei! 10 thr
Governor I'll Virginia, the President, of the United
States and his Cabinet officers The Constitution Of Viz
gina Governor ineligible after the first term
Gen. Washington the example, and every succeeding
President has followed it, Of serving but two Presdeniia
TERMS and when Gen Taylor died. and was succeeded oy
Mr. Fillmore, the latter dismissed the services OF his prede.
cessor's Cabinet, and chose Of his own liking Was
this prescription The part OF Mr. Fillmore Rotation IN
office is sound principle and should never be departed
from in Virginia II keeps the political atmosphere pure
and healthy and teaches officers themselves that they have
not q perpetual lien upon the bountes of the public.
Equally falacous the argument frequently urged
port OF The retention Of men in office that they have the ad
vantage OF experience in the duties apperanng thereto
This too would apply with equal force TO the Governor of
the State the President and his Cabinet officers. They.
having years experience should be elected according 10
this argument the second ierm and then having eight
years experience the argument in favor OF their reelection
third term would be irresistible. The wings however,
respect either this, any other argument,
which they in the habit OF urging in behalf OF their
friends in Office when they apply 10 democrats for was no
longer than the other day. thu, the members OF that party In
legislature proposed ard sustained proposition 10 de-
feat the reelection Of Mr. Richie to tho Office OF public
Printer, by adopting the contract system