Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-11-12

| fin Stith. Esq. was appointed 10 supply
The vacancy Occasioned by the resignation
OF Judge Sempie.
Finding 1t Impossible TO procure season.
ed Timber To make gun-carrlages, mca-
s'lres have been taken To obtain such tam
Der as IS proper Tor that use, To be laid
up unili II IS thoroughly seasoned, 10 he
USED rs occasion NAV require. ] trust
weha,e ever, reason 10 look forward toa
long peace, bG, experience proves that the
only guarantee for peace is "a state of pre-
parahOu for WAY
he state oKthe Jails merits the most
serious attention of the Legislature. In
many cases the accommodation afforded
Is such, as TO be unfit for "A convicted fell
on: certainly not suited To /; inau who
may be confined for debt, or upon suspi-
cion OF having committed an offence
The humanity of a nation and the cliarac-
ter OF the Government may perhaps be
| justly estimated by The treatment of those
who are in the custody ofthe law nor is
our national character only involved =
| the cost of guarding persons Ill coniine
lncnt amounts to Il very large sum annual
, ~ the accumulation of this expense for
few years would build the necessary Jails,
and even where il is incurred, there are
instances of the most atrocious offenders
escaping. In the course OF the present
year very considerable sum has been
paid for guarding and experimenting per-
soIs charged with crimes who have esca-
ped from Jail, Notwithstanding which Sc
yeral have bailled every effort TO retake
them.
The change Of our Judicial sy ster from
the District to the Circuit Courts having
been made chiefly to accommodate the
people OF every County, nothing can be
more reasonable than, that the Counties
should be subject 10 tie expense of pro-
| viding Jails, adapted 10 the health, tie
comfort, and the safe-keeping ofpersons
| III the custody fthe law
! The iilustrious and patriotic citizens
who planned and accomplished ON revo-
luton, can never be riyalled in the afiec-
! tons OF their cOuntrymen. Next TO them
| III the estimation Of future generations,
will rank those who shall contribute most
| TO the establishment of a system of Pub
lie Education which may give to the
| Commonwealth the greatest command of
men OF talents, and TO our citizens the best
prospect of individual happiness. No
system will do this, unless provision is
| made for the education of those whose
parents are unable to defray the expense
| of 1t. Genius is not the offspring of wealth
III
est man in the Commonwealth, let il be
cuitiyatedat the puDlic expense: make il
anational property, that il may be a ma
tional benefit.
Next Ill Importance to this first &, great
object, is the execution of the design of the
last Assembly for the internal improve
| ment of Virginia: A subject which com
bines theinterest, the feelings and the love
Of country OF every man IN every part of
the State. The last Assembly gained, and
deservedly, great applause by their atten-
ton to those all-important subjects. 1t
could notbe expected that systems so new
and comprehensive, could be perfected at
once; much remains to be done Won,
gentlemen, and your successors, NAV
have an Opportunityofpartic in the
high qualification, of aiding in giving to
your country the great advantages to be
derived from the completion of designs
! which promise such solid and incalcula-
BILE benefits.
laval myself of his opportunity to
| make my acknowledgements to nv fellow
citizens, for the confidence they have so
frequently reposed in me, d to announce
my intention to retire from the Office of
Chief Magistrate at the expiration of the
year for which | was ei cted | trust,
this will not be considered a dcreiction of
duty, as there are SO many of my fellow
citizens much better qualified to serve the
Commonwealth This consideration, &,
the necessity am under, CATER having
devoted the greater part of the last thirty
three years 20 the public service,) to en-
ploy more ofmy time iii the care OF
numerous family than is permitted by the
duties of my present office, will, | hope.
be sutticientapology for this determine
ton.
Before | take my leave 81 YOU, permit
me to observe, that all who are or NAV be
employed in the General or State Govern
ments, are IN situation of great respon-
slbility. BY the divine permission, and
the vaior OF our ancestors, the letters
prepared for them were broken, and cur
Independence achieved. With boldness
and sagacity, that will Immortalze the
Patriots, who framed our government
they built the holy fabric upon the basis
OF equal rights, and real responsibility.
The eyes OF allmanlSind are upon us; the
whole human race is interested in the re-
suit. Since the downfall of the ancient
republics, an opinion has been inculcated
with solicitude, that government, ema
mating from, and responsible to, the peO-
| pie, was not practicable. Not satisfied
with deprlving the people of their politi-
cal rights, the manner i'll which they
should serve their maker, has been pre-
| scribed to them i'll most countries. To
the American people, belongs the glory
OF restoring TO man his inestiniable
and natural rights. Forty years expert