Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-01-04

the squadron OF gun boats, which sailed
short time since from this place, passed
and exchanged salute with the fort.
Great military preparations we're going on
In Florida, from which our informant sup
posed sume enterprise of consequence was
in contemplation"
The following Speech has reached us in
a hand bill issued from the office of the
Weekly Chronicle, printed at Natches.
We have also received an address from
the same person TO the inhabitants OF 50 the
state of West Florida," breathing he same
sentiments as now published, except that
it contains no intimxtion respecting a con-
nection with the United States.
SPEECH
OF Governor FULwAR SKIPwIrH to the
- Senate aud House of Representative of
the state Of West Florida, at s.. Fran.
eisviie, on the 29th of Nov. 1910.
Gennfenen Of ihe Senate,
and IF tie HOusc of Representatives.,
Called, by your join, and unanimous suf.
fraBes, 10 fiji the Office of chief magistrate,
rsder the constitution adopted by the peo-
pie ct this commonwealth, repair with a
fu'I sense of my own imperfect quaiiiicati.
ons to that critical and honorable post, be-
lieying it to be the duty of every citizen
81 this moment implicitly to ooey the Cal!
OF bis ccustry.
Placed like you, but as to day, to carry
Ihioti'sct new system Of government,
Little more, it is presumed, might be ex.
pecied from me- at the moment Of my en-.
tering into Office, than the ordinary ;sro.
LESSONS of a Governor, addressing Tie i'm.
mediate representatives. of the people yer
ny so!icituGe, during these first hours of
tr ,iei. Of
ipocces mr, on the preset cccaslnu, 20
ask something more OF your attention and
Indulgence.
he constitution. excluding the chiefcx-
ecutive ohicer from any voice IN the leyis.
tation OF the state, does nevertheless enioin
Gu hin the duty of recommending TO the
gsnfrai assembly such measures rs he shall
oeem essential 70 the security and prospe..
risv Of The public.
Tie arduous and intricate labors Of le.
gis'etiou devolving wholly on yea, gentle.
Infn OF the Senate ard House az Repvesea-
tatives, it is my,in.ent,on only on ihis all
imPor;an: su5ject, ia au,lc,patjcD doubtless
of ,our own views,ttp press espccia ~ and
promptly the esyab.isisneni e "a complete
ard applicable systeTspf ctinInai aud CT.
VII Jurisprudence; some more efficient nea-
s"Tes FOR organizing and discipiining the
militia, and other furcss necessary tc o.
fepsiye as well as neutrality-suspicious. a
ToIs just and equal appoltionment OF the
representation among the several districts
ci the sts,e; ard lastly, a more extensive
basis fer ievying and apporton.ns taxes
and other resources OF finance, required
for the support OF government ard the m:..
iitsry operations now on foot and a.
dequate also 20 meet other eHigeHres OF the
state, likely TO Intervene between the pre-.
sent add your Bext session.
The Judiciary sysie m devised by The la.e
convention, and sanctioned by the repre-.
-ssrtas!res CT the sovereign, 40 whom We
then held allegiance, dces honor to that
bn;ly, inasmuch as it secured a better adj.
TniaistTatinu OF justice than had been prac.
tised before, and laid the foundation for
{, more .horo' reforms but the Inhabitants
OF this state, at length emancipated from
deSpotsm, viii no longer have occasion go
compromise on the fundamental principles
of justice, and their rights. Its not doubt
ed, therefore, but that system Will uBdeT-
go a revision, and be reformed by you, es-
pecialiy with regard TO the powers and
attribntos OF the district courts, whose
Judgments by the existing ordinances are
Anal, both in civil * criminal cases, to We
ny cons: dCrabie amonBt. Judges ct the IN
=.
when vested with the power 10 give final
judgments, ought to be restricted 10 the ex..
allied and upn'ixt functions of interpreting
and applying the law. IL this maxim
should appear to you to be founded IN jus.
ticc, you will provide by law for the APP.
po.ntment of proper officers TO keep the
records and execute all the Judgments OF
these courts.
The constitution having provided in part
for the organizing the militia, some chan.
ges will be necessary, in the existing law
on that subject, snd it will readily occur to
yea that nothng should be omitted, which
caB give activity aud energy to that body,
on which we must chiefly depend for our
safety, in peace and in war.
tn support the station which we have
assumed rs IN independent people, so long
as we have enemies 90 that independence,
within our own territory, some eXtraordi-
pary sacrifices Will be necessary; and as
we have ALREADY Commenced preparations
for military enterprise, which if proper
ly supported will secure cuT success and
fuicre prosrcfity 1t is hoped that you will
find no difficulty in obtaining by taxes, o.
pera,ing equally on Ill classes of our fell
low crizens, the necessary funds for this
Bomcntous object.
Having been abandoned by sovereign,
whose system aud principles of colonIza-
donal grew upia the past ages Of bigotfy
and persecution our rights of seii-gOyefn
mspt will not he contested, wherever the
1argual and doctT res OF enlightened CT q.
vilisns aud writer's on the law of nations