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nALEIGII. N O. nURSDAr, 6, IC35
VI
A-
fii-A'TA ;t'roia Gaxetltf
i L.iWRKKCR & I.KMAY. ,
Assembly ' wltflif not sitduringthe to act in-inch esses--- If the Legtshv'i
ut:i i itie national . ljejrisiaiure; ne-iure were out in session, auuiuuuiu
,if1fTIJ'
tlitl uut think that the members of our
State Legislature ought to trouble
i themselves about the business of CouV
rri'i Tiipiiiiial sessions-of the I.e.
.L-'nL r.B.. icislature were thought by tome to con-
SuiHtrihn-t m ttrr aitttt nici wiin mat. secuou ui our uiu ui,
I . . ...;k:uuMialiHat 1 ' t' . I r! r.l . . . . .L . f 1'
11t.i b 1,"weM ,"Ir"M"' .7 , 7 -iyuruu wuipu, uetiares, ywm a 'ire
V)'i?,",-W4't'iir 'm iU a-, ciples is abso1atelr:-VffCesar7"ta
L i rf y ,' ii'e. .w,fv& the blessings Ol , libmy." - lie
arise from any defect in the Cen7titu-jV This Government, said he,
tion, but ia the mode of its aJiuUtra-' been in existence CO years, and
tion. The Jud;r! sa
.en minted with" the
the Legislature ever since IT5H "and " bounds of duty?
has
tiaa
it was wot till within the last 12 or 14
year that the sessions ever extended
beyond Christmas. At those period
there was much greater .' necessity for
lenrlhv session;' more public- bill
IV
V Wa f different -pinion, i li the As-
fouy(i' u I'lft-v""1 - 1 1 nt e vvoaivl be a lowed iu aacmai tu
luintljt law.jwbivu.hal
-. at a previous session. If any reat
V emergency required "an ixtra meetirig
lu( the Liiilature. the Governor had
i the power to calr it. v.,
t - On t!ie subject f Umitin? the se-
. - T..l. .1 ...Kt .irK.illiui iUit
. ; ... r ,r ! i siou., twine iui!i;' "
the? Legislature, and the period at
which its session should .close, might
e nutter
vent ion. -
(I.wein .r BIlANCU said, that the
nimf ition from our Coiistitution made
Sa '(v. Junr SO
Hie Convention having ie.lved it
i hi'
". ' . . . . - 4" - ) . . '
i.1 of uuntitil, mceuiigs unnc unit
Assemtily,
power, would have to be given to tlie
E ecutie a power that he- did not
wish to see increased. ;: j " v
; .Mr. E. reminded the committee of
am amendment which ia submitted to
the Convention, to provide a tribunal
whereby the Judges of the Superior
ml Kunronm Courts, and other oilicer
lur corruption ana inai-pracuces in oi tu, mo . ...w.. .
Cc(; but if charges should be made a- As to the expenstf, therefore, that wust
. . m late nnt thpvwiiuiii nusmessr ana is caoauie uiut ui
IP)LUIU. b IU Bi-Jt'- J " J " ----- I . I . .
have W continue in oiuce unnc snu
unworthy m they might be, for two
years lonzer," unlet the Governor,
might choose to call the Legibktore
together. - r" ' .
' But, it U said, that our Statute
BaoVTcio Wiled with two many laws.
aid, he had bA1U ever happened tliat.'tihe Judges or
proceedings of the Executive 1 have overstepped their
udge D.oiel moved the fo.loww.g fiseda Ha. threw jut th
,l5V"?-, 1 f . :'" 'hi- . 'L tlL lr consideration of the Conv.
ni KKwoi tbo tt.-iM.-nil AMtwUyc i I G.vern r BllAAtU saui.
. ii i ... r. ....i. '..Mci.inii
mi', nmniii mmi-u in u iii-im uw.iu iiutiitiiion Mum uui-vvuuiv
iCbv J'aTntiJijj''" iut.IiiuuliTml.i by tnTgeotleTuaniin,
Wlii.'g 'I.Ieni.UiI. ; 5 "1' kulScintt;;oind for the motion made' fro
j ;rysft;;th:ajt;wa"f
it t tllR
liklature"
Aj to the last reason which had been
assigned by the gentleman; ' Irom l)r
aite, Smith,) that prove! too
much, to be consistent , with the form
attA-y-tttctpW"4f a" RepttblleattOuvf
lese are the acb of 1te people theiwTicrji menEZ JOhc , axgu men t is sou mi,
svlve Their representatives caa at jthu extension ot lectrnn ,.inusi u
anv timfe repeal theui,U they be not, ba correct wfthin any reasonable limit.
i'i'Klks ait it fuin vitBrd nuwpr . iiul u
a lirtlit tliftf !!. LHti (DTK 1 11 1I UCtlUIC wuuia nw it.
business? and ; 4 capable only of ' a Uture tie?iniflA. , 'wr
fetne'drarthrrpnn
,--.n..,.h. , ; .seem to fear from thetJeneral Govern-
ma- t .a I 1 1 ..I. .v H.u,liultclitnl
r lit noiuutx
Dr. S. was clearly of opinion that
this Convention ought to obey the will
of the people. They have seen their
Legislature meet annually, ut7 great
expense for CO years, and finding that
St;ralIyJiujU
derived the State, lioin these an
nual meetings,', have , liirecied . this
Convention to enquire iuto the ex-
..... .. ..
4ar ; I.cgis-
lOUR
ii ra te uucu' mui
Convention would not be hurried into excite their jealousy vf-V abuse, as
a decisionnn this' question. to nukeiu asTniucJi rtore ccum-
m the county iu winch tTie seat of j thereby a benefit wouIJ be oSKra
ang-pg utr;esion i iu
a. I roin , a tiiiual ta bie n niaT,
r i n a-reasoni sli ictf uccu.reu to.
the fuiidauieiital
ro put otr
xt tvi
m'ipU-s of Government."
eiimr'-.'annual! v.. to i1 once
In, shews aiMin .iitaiiou 10 jrecieci
V important duty f legisluiion for
nt of trciunl cans 10 in. cifriic
ttiis'dutv, the riht iiseiruiight in
as,' be Ldetr'0Tcd; fA)l the - powers
t -frraiiteiCiaAteiOeuera
but are h served to the State Govern;
-uts ami in the people; and as Con-
. .........IS.. t. If liai-u.u.l'U
ess nu'eis annuuiM. iij
l Lezi.latures l the States thould
r - " ... . ... .. i-, .
jiunrairjrjaK
fried rights, and see thai
I nofliivadelheiu. ; '
I On the score if economy, the Judge
auhtt-d whether inuah would be saved
tiiertnialHiessiohs.XineHmmbiirHi''
legislative ljodyiemgrcduceflvthe
hi cotJea
SeasioHSf
lunuaineJ)tatprwcipid flas oeen cu-u uueren :" ,VTf "? , ii.mu u.M,f.h riUf
upon for mole than-Jalf a century, feel', would i.ceasar. y gov.ern h
. . x i ..-;:-; .1 ::. . t .r... ..Ti iTn.t in niv:hir timneleocrto..uiouBeUieIi;.uetev
vexniuenu wno. Jiave uuue . sume.pruLsay iuu.i Lumui.uw--- r-. 1. - ? .. . -. .1.
. r r " . . . F ?T, ... .1 v Jntnr.' ami is one sten-in the match,
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 .11-1. 1 irf Btc iu.ii.1 iuii 1 - 1
est
th
1 ,n
creased, us to give them theprotUaot lr;lou : rears dcioib our .-u.
v-tr fltonii time, instead of be - Charles th 2d, wa prevailed upoii,
iiient. he li:ul no uch aiprf
He had 110 desire to: see -to
ltur t intermeddle with Federal to
lit'.rs. llis fears repecling the Gen
eral. Government are, that it will be
come 7tonTin-icldy--to--bc77iattBgel.:
He anineheiKled 00 danjer from its
cHCrouchmepton State rigvU'.., The
ivtule 01 tins . State lorm a quiei anu
oideilv coiumunitr, but wdr always
be ready to defend tUemse Ives- on all
iroper : occasion h. IK Uwi&u( wnen
aeutUiuen Ualki; d,:abnu 1 1 watching the
ineilt. the v - ineduUd . wilkt busiuess
criiss in the adoption of liberal princi
pleJ.Cnte piesefvaiion ot uoerty, ne
said, depended on a due preservation
of a system of checks and balances. .
: Gov. diff.-red in opinion from the
pentleman from Oranjre, when he said
. r. 1... rf
we had notliinj iojear; irom o uc
neral Government.:?; lie thought nwe
had ever? thins to dread from Federal
teiTatlonr" AVe see" tharsome'orilie
State have nrned in favor of the jw.
era , that be. And U is apprehended
that others ma v tread id theic steps.
St-ite stepped aside to support tlie
Alin and Sedition Laws., And that
(ew of the States wre found tuT op
niiRK these laws u ntil Vireima passed
subject;
r 1. ....,1,; 1, .11 1 nmi , ict iiv(! iic'e i
rii-iii-eniiosins ui-suosi"."""'." vj wMn....wr . . .
iennialr instead ol annual meetings L erai , into - uespov -
a Lesislaturej for, t:l : believe tne rauiameiHa a . wu f
). f ih .sins will be bo in- poopie ma momer
ousht to be frequently recurred to,
wouiu not, in n;s upmiuu, uc i . ,u
fringed by biennial sessions. The de- v
claratton did not say how Irequcnt the
recurrences were to be made, the
tennis a relative one, and would be
satisfied whether the Legislature met
annually or biennially. - -
Mr, a. said he sliould not follow
gentlemen into the history of other
countries.' lie was satisfied, that in
Jmaking ffiepTopos re-" "
publican principle would be lost sight
of, and "that the change would be at-
1 be present Constitution nas been our - -rule
tor upwards of CO years, and this
is me W time the people nave rscur
red to fundamental principles. 1 hey
have now done- so, and instructed this
Convention to eoquire Into the neces- .
sity of changing annual sessions 'of the
Legislature to Lknniul. lledid uot.;
think it ivas iiewsryiaTauTiual ses-..
sions should be held, in order to send
instructions to- our members of Con
gress,: If suth instructions were
deemed necessary they Ought go frorti -,
the people'.- themselves and not from
their ltepreseutatives irt the General
Assembly.' '": iV-? ':.,..': ".
Iv44oelledysay in g that
Ihough he.was fiiondly tv the proposed.
Which was iUrusted to others;:-ftnd cnange, nor wcci-se u wi.i oc. h.w
Willi WUIHI liiJ wii,iiuv"l,(i sy w'-1 . a . . 1 - i'i 11 1 k
r' m: 'KING was'uf oiinionatitttollJ1lUalxia
Tu-ire1e'clToni great feuds! not, on ' this account, W ptac. d a-
; . , ' 1 1 ..!.. .... l!uinil h niijiiT!iifin! mentioned ht
anu Uisoroers wironuauinw; ouuc,jiiiu. i.ii,,............,.. '.2 : :
furnished ' too much busings for the ttie genueman irooi iiiiuax . (
Courts and Grand Juries.' Bo that the - Gov.' BIlANCU said, he certainly
cases occasioned by one election wet el did not utlendlo apply tne term ueinu
inK dividl into annual instalments. uqtiotig al ter tne Kesiorauoa,.;
But if their pecuniary losser were ; to ent Jle Pa9af eJ B B
OI 1 41 lliion III wnc .
i.i:rr.7n.aT,rtfn cimsiderable. tic- tne sunnr
US i 1 1 as 444 1 w a w v w - - - r T, . -
tree, vet that alone would not rcslram be .intermitted longer tnan mree jeais.
him frbm ailopting. the- proposed Forithough by the ancieni . oiatuas.
mendmentH " Mni Herc
make ""u isuTLXhe In
county onlv, but to make such amend- a wen attested Historical ww, ui m
uieuU l a "the, interests of the whole the preceding reigfl . there was an
.. .K II. nnrtlA the State intermission of 1 2 tears. : Upon the
i one familr; In which the interest of Uivolnttqn. which took place in 1088,
firthir seRs'
ii'i-atliVll
iortenfd, and would not probably x-
eeJ fouc weeks:, but if tlie sessions
tere to be bienuikir they": would re-
Convention isilirectd to adopt
reining so uiucu pu
I .TJe Convention is ti
t Ime niiide of prevetiti
H fafcjegislktion. He
knew ito way of
Lin? this but bv taxinz all' private
Wis, and thisa'ould jrot prevent tt-al-t
tlivrv7rtriera - aretTrequeiit . beca
.on vihii li render private legislation
lect-gsary,1 and tocoitpel persons ,to
ay s tax who have a right to apply to
I i Legislature uni
' U ifeemed hard. ".Thi Vight would be
i ictl often; and if soma ustles laws be
: hissed,
thtMost of passinir and print-
' f Ihetn will be ail the inconvenience
, ustained. ; :':- - ' ..
Ill Mr. HRUDUP thousht the ieentle-
I'naa fronv HftliTax was mistaken, when
L said the only 'ground on '. which, lii
; loaial sessious was supported .was, to
i Uve expense. Tt ia u'ged that by
oldme the sessions aonuiHy , a num-
ler of useless laws" are passed, and
iws are frenuetnly changed .before
ime lias been jrlven to ascenaia wne-
.Uet" thev are good or bad, . 'Another
rmnn in tivor if lieiinbressions, is,
h nennla would be careful to elect
uitable men as representatives, wheu
iiev had to cass mure f ermanent laws
the tassini of laws by way of exiH.-
iment. wouldrfce nrevenled.UwLtiiie
itiewanfroHitHaliaadeeoi
k esar f t ut the I .est si a ttt re- nou hi
Imeet annuall f to chi ck the doing of
jCongress. Jle could not understand
iwtaat influence our States Legislators
rould have on that b-nly. . Ve may
iiadeed pass resolutions. asserting our
llJliti1''fe.Km2ic.:iR
Uw is thev iudtft proper for the Ee-
ueral iiiterests-uf the 'Union. I'And if
i'f were necessarr fof thetJeneral As-
. . . : - . it-- ....
xeinoi to meet on anv unecrai uvm
won, tlM; Governor had. the power to
a.uie umif togetner. - - : -J)rSM
I'ni said, he was iff favor
"f the'amitnilment of the' centlman
from Tyrrell and if that were carri.-d
he should also be in favor of irifroduc
'ogAfuriher aniendtufnt that nu ses
S(ptt of the lA'ttislature should ait Jon
that fiftr da vs. " He could see no
oecetsitf foe anneal meetinas. . He
thuocUt tliat ft session of fifty days
"ace is two vear6. would be suGkient
uBiake'all the necessarv law for this
State, and this change would greatly
lessen the. expenses of the Goyein
'"ent. ; For the last ten years the
greater pai t of the. fevettue ot fhe ..gtate
nas been consumed by the sessions of
the General Assembly., An amount,
m the whole, of about 4 Op, 000 dollars.
And of the Statute Books he examin.
"'it will be found that few laws of
any value to the Etate have been pass
ed during that period, , He thought it
ae, therefore, to enquire whether we
had not too atuch lrcii,liition. .
. It had been said, that annual ses
atl : instance of a-more receni oaie,
seeii our Legislature rise in at l.ot a
dangerous concentrated Federal pow
er? We ceruinlyjiadj but jjelrusted
we" should see it checked as iu former
1T hlUvpil that annual sessions of
lie Letr'tslature were well, calculated
to keep in check Federal usurpations.
1 hi iMiweii il ins ueiieHi.uiii c u-
ment arei conslahtly7inrJifasingand
Americaa liberty depend on the pi e-
servation oF State rights anil state
powers. He was no disorganizieri hut
he was for, keeping a- constant 'watch
on 'Federal power. " -'-
The saving ot expense, uovt; u. saiu,
ought to be one of tlie last considera
tions which should lead us u cnange
our lesislative sessions from annual to
biennial. As hia' venerable1; Inend
fMr, Macqs) had saidlet the Civil
List alone the people will never be
uppf esse d byiCi It is as the dust in the
balantv,llt tnay answer the purpose
of ideinagogues to rut down the sala-ries'-of
officers, which ought? probably
to be increased j bu t it answers no good
purpose. - " . -
here to do justice to his constitoehts.
He was in favor of biennial sessions.
If believed that by meelina; every
other year, the Legislature would be
able to pass all the laws that would be
wantednd all that could.bcneut the
..laFtHifriMisht-to prevail-over one ot the arst acu passeu was iiwj
,k- ;,r- - .tii . irarMin. -i fte-uyesift weworni-nt wttr- iii" "
itl 11 n Din." " -' I .
tion which is presenter in ine conw uecianu ioi iui irii s"y
dvrafwa f this proposition, appeared aim , amenwng an.i sireiiRuir;i.ng u.c
to him more identified with tlie liberty laws, Parliament. ght to be f-equent-of
the people; more closely Connected I v heldafter which, lor the fu st
Ktrtfcr, enforced
scarctly ant over, before' another took
place. He Imped, thereiore, thai ine
proposition for hleiiniaf i-lections woutd
bs adopteth ' lfah extra session of the
legislature became uecessary jt would
be called , by the Executivear.d lie
could ''ee'Tiogi)Odrfeao
he L.ej:islafure together, annuauy, 10
pass ulteen. or . jwenry puouo ac,
aud five times the uubvr f private
ojtcsxsl.
would bene tit no one in tne tiau', ex
cent . the citi.eoS -of llaleiah, forty
eealu Vere : this- larire amount 'f
money applied. to instructing the poor
ahdignoranti to the improvement d our
communication - from -one part of the
eountrv- to ni'uher-w wih h Teal
joiid would be thereby eflccted? -''..-
. ..... . . . .i .
In addition to the fr.rosition oi ne
gentlemaniJi'omitOraiigeito.limttJhe
lehgth t the sessions ot tne iihih-
caii
slu
I . I " I C.. - .. .1 ..
equally current, tnai me peopie, uun i; mcin tnum, . -
'h 'ihe' Vafcst .depositories' of this that the principles" upon which they
, are front meir ..numuers, men uiu iwimcu n, -
.r ;mf,...mt;,.rt .ml illr arnnain- "thev distinctly declared them in the
goue to any geatlcoian who preferred
biennial to annual sessions ot tne ue
nefat A-sem jly. ; It was a subject about -which
genfleiiien might honestly differ.
The-geiitfeiuan IVoni Chowan, when
speakmaif the'declaratioii of the Jlill .
oflfliTsTwlcTfttiarir fiequent : '
recu'rrenco to fundamental principle
is absolutely Jiecessirf ti preserve th
bJessinss of ; liUertv. " seems to thuiK.
lhate4,hajaUC0Hi'plied v. Uh,.
this Tequ(sitiou,.because they have, af
ter living under the present Conslitu
tutioii for sixty years, now called a Cpn
veution ;.to amend it. " ..'Is it possible
that lh' genttenian can be correct in
taking ihts view of. the subject? If
this was the maaning of this clause of
the B it of flights, he had greatly mis
understood it. He had supposed that
our Government beinsr- founded on
pur e princi pie of libe rty. tiu pe nor to
,peapl4 if the Statej
dare a great aaviaic eapeusew .-v
iilrrEUVVAUDS did not concur m
. . ..i t ... 1 .i . r..... k
opinion, witn ine genncumu w-
iiktc that tins is so wmpie u iiuesuun.
7.O."- . . . - . V i : i
He thought U.a question oi j,rrai iw
iuaititainiii-t themr . Ihe legislature,
said Mr. E. is the most important arm
of the Government-U i tlicrcforei
all-important that it should eet ari
nually. Suppose the Executive or Ju
diciary should be disposed impropeily
to extend their powers, what power
would -there be to control them in the
absence of the Legislature? And will
it be f expected that the ; Governor
would call u extra session in nun
caser Vour eubaltet n officers are di
rected to report annually. VV ould
ou tarn them over ta the Executive
- - . i . r .1... V .viJi.
wer in trie aosence i ie
po
i " Institutions, accor.dinsly- as we by. the Commons, who would not pass
ti .U1....M1.. .tiinn nv nthor amend- the mutinr act. an t the land tax, and
m,.nt uhi.h is submilted bv the act of m lit tax acts, for longer period than
Assembly. ' - ' 'one year; and the first being necessary
Ift modern times, it is ' universally to the GoverDment, and the . latter for
ailmitted in all Gomm nments jprofess-T the .subsistence"; 'of'" the; Army, ; the
f all PaIuwivnt ii uecesftitrily conrokeu
derived from the bv the Kmz every year.
Lnrtt And hp mdioved the oniniort . AVhen the frumersof our Qonstitu-
i i i . . . .
was ;
thou;
power
fnnr with, the uinde of doiuabusiness. Bill of Rights, and which they,tnade
the least capable vf iertmg it by part ofihe Constitution. ; They went
,t.i i.-.j.iiM ' Timt (iv rn n atcft further than had been taken
obliged,', from these causes, to have m the British House of Commons,
r.-rouise to--Renreseiittttives, in " the Beina; about to construct a Govern-
f.,iftain. f ii-hcimir"th"ev ar'eevei V w'av'tnetit. in" which all power -was to re-
qualiliiX rthus- we .see, tliat inJhe side
regulation of th Police ' juf - a town exercise was to -.be delegated by . P
consisting of few.: inhabitants, tlie i-.pular suSVage, where the most infiu
pericnce'of ' ages1 has been" for the 'ential and aspiring men, -would pro
pSople to Vltfcrfepresentativesc guard against; tlie
i-m-L .riifiatLma i.f ilini rnresenta- aliuse of bower when dflecrated, they
tive are, cat) ha be trusted?; Ts hcjdecUred that elec-ions should be' fie
...,r.n.i ;n ,indretiimlinirAtMl who ciueut. and as si . eommeotary upon
can decide these oucstious better than jthe vyord -frequent," declared in the
...... ..... t a . . I. I a .. l!. .V - at. .. ti I 1 K .. ,iiHu!:r
tOUBUIUl,lUII BIIUUIU VJ
It may be, that annual tdectioo-s, slntl
consequently annual Asaeinblies,
costSiinrethingTnjTe " than biehtttal t
a .s
and r money have been and -may oe
wasted;but f what : are "they ; when
compared to the blessings of Our free
institutions? What .are they to.-, the
mischiefs that inanv grow out. "of this
fje'.r tcp?And,. ought ,. itt-, soiled
policy a" change to' lake Trfatefn'the
Constitution of a State, ;; where the
mischii-f ormconvenience is complete
ly within its present power, while it
liaves at the same time the new Gdv
ernmeut stilt subject to the same eyil?
1 regard , this - amendment as a direct
attack upon -tiberfy.'and shall, there
for vote aoainat it. ..v.'La.i -v'v
1 -.-1 . ...:u.;.t, l if mi if intonilerl - ttt
have said "any Vtbing : more oh this
subject. - The whole expenses of our
Governtnetit, he stated " to be about
70.000 dolUrs.' 45.000 of wliicti . went
to pay the expenses of the Ijegisla
ture annually, and what, he asked,- are
the benefits accruing to tho country
from this expenditure? " ''
' But if would appear, ' . from what
had fallen from centlemen in this
debate, because we propose biennial,
in the i!ace of annua! Sessions of the
Legislature, tliat we are about to
unturn the ' Government On the
contrary, the friends , of this change,
tafettrfifty da ys, h ahouldiie gtad to jthose of any; otlitfr; it-became necessa
see thcin meet on the nrst in January
ol der to preserve their purity,
nr
9 ; J
rather than at the present time. j . po have frequent recurrent . -v. .
Mr. WILSON, from; I'eiquimons. pvinciple i in t't'n5; uni,r.,t- '
was decidedly hi faVor of making t!teL yMr. SKlNNhRexpUtned his mean
meetinKs of the Legislature biehnial.ii.. In to have been, not. that this was the -teaaf
x J .., S 1. . ... 1 A . . B!.! U'UM
Coinmillee ' a' lalculavioh, Iff hltOW the , nan new recurrcq ..w ut - ---- : -
.. . . . ... 1?.. .! ..' .1. ..... ..I .. I...I H.liniihl .11
IOC lirst llllie Hie prujug.. imi u i,iii,. :
necessary to call for a revision of the
Constitution. . - ...
Mr. S1103EII. moved, in order to
afford a further opportunity of discuss-
Ill's IIIIS BUUirvw inn . "
nega
saving which ft ould be thus made to the
Stf.. i'-i;-,-' -v.V.-'i. ;. f'r 'rT:? -
Hut, 'said he, we are told that an
nual sessions i are liecisary for the
Durnnse of watchinff the movements: of
tin niii-l (invcriiment. The fieo-
ple of North-Caroliiia, he believed, . rise and report progress, ; '
thought favorably of the' measures of --This motion being pttt and
that Government, and ? the exptnse .tiveu,
could not be necessary-for that pur-
;' i-v7'. V;:'''"'T'. . ". . r. ..e u..:.t.n,r ,tia .oukiimi i,f nor
He thought that even. a teas time , u-
than fifr dnys the limit which the legislature biennially, rather than an
gentTemaTf.fV'Giange Seu
iHveto the extent W s a,ioiis of the Le-jtlemen who have spoken' on this occa
cis!ature would be sufficient ; td trans- sion, .that by making this change wa,
act1 all the real business which could .should depart from tne principle mi
hi neighbors? ' Tliey have lived it!i
him, had dealings with ltira, and; must
know u hethcr he is able to be useful
IT'thVHiTtid'"
lOmiTFTie ftrthteCe ppte f
form Government;-?.,- the practical
operations of w liich i they ; have' "no
hatid;, it js of the y!mist unpoi tarice,
a regards the security ol ttteir uoerty
portai.cef ' It was said, that bienniaHttuHhe periods f .r which this power
tefons wfreTecommetifled by consi-js,tlregated, ltld be - toe lwitht
Jera'tioiis of econoo.y. He could iiot within which llio business to be per-
sej this: for if two years were. 10 e- wnu-u can b vip- ,
i-.:. i.A.i -.! flRslon. oiii ses- however shocktoir to our senses it may
si,.n would cost a muh as4wo; for be.itisneveithelesslrue, , that in every.
they would sit nearly twice as lo1ig, subj-ct of legislation, where thepow-
tiV r nf th. Lesris ature is neither ueun-
test a question of -this vital nature on ed or limited, the rent
ihw n-flre of exnense otilvr
ri'ils of tha people - were at stake,
would'genttemen speak of the cost of
?nrpspntati?e has
I J Cll l,it,v.i, - -- .
Whew' the fbnthing ti)' control him but his own
I conscience. VJio can jrecal him,; or
him f tins newer. . out tne
Mr. .SllliBEIt said, he would ot.
fer a .few remarks , to the Committee,
Coma before it.
could
.. ? it u caul tne ixecutivu
at any time call an extra session of the
Legislature; but he. would rather the
Legislature should meet under the di
rection, of the Constitution, than on
the call of the Governor, i-onmciiuc
i
denrive
people at the polla? Zln what situation,
then, does everjr (reetnan place him-
6ctft-when -tiu almost . omnipotenv
power to legislate is delegated? For
the period ; delegated, they place
tlwneUeav.Vialbttd-'r:-whicli.,iio
treachery On ths part of the agent can
dissolve; ho expedient on the part of
the constituent bosen, till the next
election. -' ,-. , - '
'But what are the the. reasons as
siKned for the" thange? Amongst
otliers.are mentionedr economv, the
little occasion on the score of busi-
nn.an.l . astlf. .that when a consJi
dowu in our Bill of Uiirhts, wheie it is
. - ,1 j j I . " l A mnr tA kfk nOllllill'ir I fftfl lln t I f fft
t Mr. vv. nbserveii, mat tne penuf uiv iuv.v ...y....v -man
from Wake (Judge Seawell) had ,1-ecur to fundamental principles, and -gone
back to the time of one of the tUat we should thereby, iu some de-' ,4
CharlesVto tell the Convention'' what .gree weaken our powers, ai a check; . j
hail been done id Knglanit at that time; nu other branches of the' Government. -for
what purpose he could not tell. Gn the contrary, he thought the ihange ?
HeWdWefthowJt
qesthirtf '-ourTVesl
.annnslle or biennial vr ;----- - --4- v-
Mr. W.- said it itnsht suit the conf
siona ...r... . ... .ho mar ai isis between the ujer
feelings of.Coneress.: For, bis part, and State Govcrnuirnts, and "'estate
U sh-uld be ptad that our Oeneral Lssature out always f bmd
.'. . ,t k i - .1 o. - f k . a t Diiuinn' fla i invprri Ills 11 f
tuent knows tie u to; pan wim , '
lihertv for two years, instead of one, conduced on plain economical repn -he
will be mare circumspect in hisjlicati principles. Ve cannot ob
jection, by which the representation Served Dr. SJ see the ncces.ty of
Sill be improved. Judge :S. said, hav,ng annual meetings of the Gcner
uLA V. him. that each of these al Assembly for the purpose of watch-
ins: the '.conduct ot our judges, our
,.a .h w-; radically lallaclous. iln
the first place, the iong sessions u- Governor,
der-lhe xistlnj Constitution donot meaty-;
and the General Govern
venience of some ' gentlemen to attend
annua! sessions of the Legislature, but
this' could not be the case with ntem-
bet:9;geneally)lFeiMb0oy"
erpmeiitfrvfotjld " gtfitt wbetner up
Legislatnre met biennially or annually,
and he did iiot think it worth while to
meet annually lor the purpose of pass
in a' parcel of private acts,., and an
pointinga few new Justices, and Mili
tia officer
- Judge DANIEL, observed, that all
theold Goveinments, in addititm to
Ricnriitive Snlluence. had their Nbili-
lir l'..i-iiinir a krnHI'ute ordtrl Our
fj-ee Government ought to be carelul
m "- preserving her Republican princi
ples. The Executive and-Aiutocrat-!c
Powers of a Government generally
obtain political power from the people
by degrees." He referred to the time
when the Alien "and'. Sedition ' Jaws
wpre fiassed. Uut for tlie Spirit with
which Virginia' voted, in relation to
those obnoxious statutes,' they might
tinea hiii mill iA visleiice. He hoped
we should not t;art with our annual
sessions.- '. ' " " ,'
Mr. SK1NNRII observed,' that the
present was a question of expediency
merely, whether the General Assem
bly should meet annually or bienuially.
We have met lure, said Mr. M. to car
ry into effect the compromise made by
the people, who have plainly said
what they wish to do. -f . ' .
The declaration of the Bill of Rights,
which saya that fundamental principle
the loesi-ut svstem? It- u. tiut we
have too mtt:h legislation. -Aud, if
we can by ant means correct the evil, ,n.
we ouUt to dl sc." It is b luved that
the proposed thange will in a great de. ;
gree. cure the evil." Why do our Le.-
latere- pass- sa lew p'loi ic ac i inu t -
. i ! I.. '.,
so many, private onesr t
became they have little public bnst- -
ness before . them, ami to nu up niHir i
time, private "business is"-introduced.
But when the General Assembly meets ,
b it once in two "years, the tae, htf
presumed, will be different.
With respect to checks and bal
an'ces, he ; admitted' that these were
highly necessary , and ous;ht be .
jt-escmul. 'i. The Leg!fetative body
ought to be a supervisory power nver
the Executive and-Ju4ieW- biaochee
of the GoveriiineiiU Bui this supe r."" "7
visory power will W cxercisi-d with'
aainuch effect by a .biennial as by au , ...
aunuitl meeting' ."of tha Legislature, r
Some Ii:iiultis might incur l
making-'.the' change; but he could,
not anticipate ,any. . It ha never yet,
happened r-'thatruf;' Governor was
found so corrupt tliat he i oold not bo -
trn.-.ti-'l witb-powerfor a limited time;
and it h wanted .lvir.e mianyoc-- .
caston, he' c-'iuld csll hN Council to
gether, ' For hi pari,' he sUo'ild have
no" objection to rHtui-t him with air
necessary power. . ' ' ",,
Mr. S. was nut certain that it would
be proper to limit biennial sessions of ,
the General 1 Assembly, if we had the;
power buu be had doubts.- If the'
sesKor,s continued te'bc annual, t
ISA:.