Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-19
GOVERNORS spEECH


GOVERNORS SPEECH
Albany, Jan. live invite the attention or o,r
readers, 10 the report OF the select committee on ,hc
proprieiy OF answering the speech, which will he
'nunu IN hnaiher part at ihis paper. From this il
appears that the governor, like many others, is more
ready To give, dian 10 take advice
Inc resolution al last session. mentioned i'm this
report, o's'pr,ovng oil the Governors delivering
speech, passed then without opposition all mt thai
Time appearing 10 concur in the propr,ety of nbo-
fishing this useless ceremony. The friends Of his Elk
ceuenry Then probably supposed that he would not
again communicate To them hv n spt cl Int thai he
would follow the siuinla and convenient mode
1oi sending n.es~iee The governor, however, WINS
200 strongly weitu TO the pngean;rv al a personal
eNhIhiiIon, TO torrgo the qualification He cnn when
occasion requires II, adopt The language of republ:-
cAnsm, lie can advise the representatives of Tho
people TO Giscontin& The idle practice of returning
q iormai answer to the speech ofthe executive ari
" "uopt u course more consistent with republican
smpiicny But II appears, that he is not disposed ,o
dispense w'tinny mnges, in the discharge of his of.
hcia onoes, which are 'co sise1i with the republi-
Gu" sihP"cstv, lie recommends TO others. 3rr2ss.
REPORT
VLe committee lie Tropriety of e.,.sreriao- me On
rerpOrS Speech.
hlr CiShoeier, from tue select committee 10
whom WE referred tie speec! of his Excelleucv Tho
Governor, made tn the Legislature nj the one,;ng
OF me present session, with instructions 10 repor, on
NE proprleiy OF answering the same
RESPECTFULLY REPORTS
That II seems To have been The nractice nj ,j. o.
lonh government, drawn from the usage of the ing
and parliament of Great Britain for the Governor
10 meet me assembly in person, and tn deliver a
SPeeeh, III lie opening o each session and for liie
hrIse 10 return an 'tRSscer thereto The members
OF Assembly marched procession to the governors
Quarters and attended at the delivery of the answer
winch was read by the speaker This ceremonv = N
pears to have been adopted bv The governors of owr
STATE AMI ny both houses of the legislature, since
Tue revolution, and has continued TO he followed un
il within Tie TWO last sessions
In the speech of Gov Clinton of 1871 he declares
% the legislature, that " dRSerS are NOT demanded
oy Tue consultation nor lay expedienry, and beside
Eruio"s'"g TIE scSsinn and frequently nterrupting
Us la, monv, they exhibit Formally and paoeanlry
not altogether well adapted 10 the smpl;ctv oc ar
republican nsIiinnas"
Co"cmrIns with these suggestions, the legislature
oi maj year omitted the usual answer to The speer
But M tie succeeding session il appears that his Ev
ceicncy the Governor delivered = speech TO ho,h
horses, thereby exhibiting Formally and pagrant,v
On ms pa't winch he wished 10 be dispensed with
on their part. The assembly, therefore apnou,ed n
committee TO consider upon the proprety of answer
''s u'e speech from whose report it appears that
,hefe IS no constitutional or other reason for the de-
i'cy on me speech, ~ person. 10y the governor and
tiat " The example, ofsnch long standing and ne
neral adoption. afforded by % tho author of The de-
otr'ion OF Independence" OF sending IA naess,ce in-
stead oil delivering SPEECH, ought 10 he considered
worthy elimination, eman,fng from so venerable
phfriot, and sodiS'incushcd 81 republican
" also appears, that on The 10Th Nov. 1920 in or
10 onVr''e an nimntion OF the governor. that
custom has prescribed persozai instead of n writ.
zen communication, perhaps being most respectful
TO The Representatives ofihe people" the house of
assembly dh resolve, That the custom Of deliver
,nS' speech ny the executive To the legislature nj
the opening Of The session and of RETURNING an an
swer to the same is remnant Of royalty not recon-
menled ny ANY considerations of public utility and
ought to be abolished"
Every reason which may have ex;stsd;n IN. mind
oi the governor, tO personally delivering n sneecb
was thus removed and il was most rr,lonb,cdIv cx
pecteu thRt ~ churshing spirit of forbearancc,
ana III cuiiIvating that respect we owe to each o.
ther ana ourselves, his excccncv nj the opPnnp of
the present session, would have complied with the
WISHES oil me representatives Of the propIe followed
the precedent Of the iliasfrons Jefferson and avoid
ga that pngeanry and formaIy So inconsistent with
me simplicity % our republican Institutions
on! these Just expectations have not been realized
ana ms exceiency has again followed the royaI Gus
tom OF delivering speech 10 both houses in ,vb;cI
speech the legislature is specially cautioned TO be for
bearing, concIhaiory, and respectful Yet there
WOMB seem 10 'e no spirit ot reciprocity in this eau
ton Tor the declared wishes of the assetnbIv tIot
me p"gcantry and Formally Of speech should he
discontinued, are not even noticed when they are
disFegarded Icy his excelency.
Under such circumstances ne rllaps the assemble
- called upon To exercise their equally valid right
OF personal communication with the executive ind
o. answering his speech And your committee would
nave recommended that course was H. NOR Cor a. q
circumstance mentioned by his exColencv that an
amended constitution * before the umblic which
varying essentially IN many of it, urOvs ions, from
the present frame of government" viii e,f,e,
0by,,te so macy difficulties
Nor are There any very important considerations
fo' answering TIE speech, IL tire assembly was
ufPseu 10 continue that practice until another cleo
hop The duty OF the Legislature TO consider the oro-
positions Of the executive will be G,hGy pertorn,
ed; and It's tine viii DC more u.cfnly en,pioycJ I'm
aiifndlnn 10 the public business than foln,yiuo ON
and fnruiAlity" 20 ''"S
", however, vour committee believed that there
was. want OF Information the part nf The rood
Pt"Foi ms state, respecting the new constitutions
wh'ch alluded 10 bv his excellcncy: or If ,hey be-,
heyed thai the honest advice Of ,I,;s log;.t,,,,r
"0ud, ~ my degree, confirm the favorable SEMI.
mieris Of ihc people, concerning t,ai Instrument
theJ would chcerfolly assume the responsib;ii,y o'
accompanying eg'slnine expression on the sulrect
~ the form Oi ~ answer To his exceileucy's sreecb
Shu your committee have hcsiiatcd considerable ON
hiu purt OF the speech, relating 10 the proceedings
81 Tic onyention, hecausc, Whatever may I've IL in,
hnence, II - liable 10 miscDnai nci;op aud ca,no, L
OF my advantage in respect TO the pend;ng election
nc question IN tc adoption nc the new const;t,,.
Hoh ~ O vial importance and the peorlc of Iris
s'a'e nave right 10 claim from their Representative.
OF 'ttf} character, wh0 sletk the subject friend
" 9Hfce, nn0 - irank and honest ayowa ut opinign
hcfc ADVICE tid opinions, honestly given and n
telWnrd' ne ni ali times dnsable Aud IL il I'D In
regretted t'Ai tie cNrcuive lid omit entirely any
'r,'ef 90 Csc proceedings of the convention or no.
ifrinr then, thfa he did not cxuress bis otis;ons
frankly ana canddiy upon ic subject For II IS ve,y
eS"cat if'.t doubts are entertained of the character
81 i- cssirncys remarks on The constitutions and
i'S"i those fcmgrks may he considered by somc as
IVA, '~Si'