Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-12-11
MONDAY, DECEMBER III, 1895.
From the Richmond Compiler.
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

Fellow Citizens of the Senate
and of the House of Delegates:
beg leave TO be permitted to mingle my re-
gre,s with yours, at the loss, which this State
has recently sustained, in the death OF homas
Jefferson: one of the most distinguished and
beloved of her citizens; a loss, which is not on
" felt by Virginia, his native state, but will be
acknowledged by the civilized world. II may
well be questioned, whether there.eycr existed
a civilian who. governed throughout by the pu-
rest motives, had conferred greater or more
lasting benefits on his country or mankind -
This state has especial reason for generating
his memory; since he essentially contributed to
impress upon her institutions, the stamp OF
freedom which they bear, and SO 10 shape her
policy, as to wed her indissolubly TO republican
government. The Executive Department has
fulfilled its duty towards his memory, by de-
erecting such honors as fell within the limits of
its power It's omissions will be supplied by
Legislative interposition. The honors paid to
the illustrious dead are, for the most part, OF
itch desert, and tend to the preservation OF high
and honorable feeling. They form no idle pa
geant or heartless parade, but are decreed by
the wise in politics for the benefit OF posterity.
Whether you shall direct a Statue, as has here
tofore been done in the case of Gen. Washing
ton, and 10 stand by the side of each other, or
S0du OTuCT d llOES pIOu0 dIN fcity iiObuiiiShN
to be erected to the memory of each, will be
worthy Of your serious deliberation.
While lamenting the loss which we have sus-
tanned in the death Of that estimable citizen,
we shah find abundant cause for the expression
of our gratitude TO an overriding Providence
for the prosperity and happiness which has at
tended US as a nation. Amidst the trembling
apprehensions Of the friends Of human liberty,
and the gloomy predictions of the enemies of
free government, we have completed, under
circumstances highly suspicious, the hitieth
year Of our existence. Our growth In popula-
ton and wealth stands wholly unrivalled, while
the future unveils the most cheering prospects.
We have already verified The great truth, that
man is capable of self government, and are add
vancing, under Providence, with rapid steps to
the ful6lment OF a higher destiny than the an
mails of history have ever yet unfoldeG. Our
form Of government, can no longer be considered
an experiment in politics. Crowned with sue
cess, il stands forth an example TO the world,
and exhibits the p~roudest triumph Of reason
and philosophy. To perpetua,e the blessings
which we enjoy, SO that generations, in endless
succession, may possess the same high privi-
leges with ourselves, canno. be other than the
ardent wish of all-and it belongs, especially,
TO Legislators, by the adoption OF wholesome
and necessary laws, 10 throw around the public
liberty, Entertainments, over which the evil pro-
p~ensities aud passions OF mankind cannot
break. Much has been done by your predeces-
sors to accomplish this most desirable object
and as walchful guardians of the public good,
/ feel every assurance that you will labor asst
duously in the same holy cause.
Among those subjects possessed Of the most
manifest importance, in the accomplishment OF
this end, is the organization OF a system for
the diffusion of general Instruction among the
great mass of The people. If the mind be set
free from the bonds in which ignorance would
bind it, the body will sooner or later partake
Of its condition; and the most e~fiectual mode OF
enslaving the one is by berighting the other
This is sufficiently eyinced by the history OF
the world in all its stages. Not to go further,
in search Of an example, we might be content
to refer to that period of English History,
when under the early Kings, all the learning
was confined to the clergy; and it was denounc-
ed as an offence of high magnitude for any o.
Their than a Prizes, TO be found in possession E.
ven of Bible. This was the age OF slavery,
the offspring Of mental Ignorance aud supersti-
ton. That age was succeeded by one OF great
err light and greater liberty. And, IN all cour-
tries, the amelioration or debasement of mans
condition, has been the constant attendant on
the spread Of intelligence, or the extinguish-
ment OF the lights OF science. With US new
motives exist tor so enlarging the means OF in
slruction, as to embrace all the Community
The happiness or misery Of any individual, is
for the greater part, merely comparative, and
what is true as to the individual, is also true
in regard 10 a community. Hence the great
Importance in a government like ours, which
fears no comparison with any other that has
ever existed, but claims a proud pre-emlnence
above them, that the mass Of It's citizens should
be well informed. A government, emphaucal-
ly of the people, necessarily rests for its sup
port and durability on them, and their general
instruction becomes therefore a desideratum of
the first importance: Otherwise, they are APP, to
be made the ready instruments IN the hands Of
the designing, for the overthrow OF all that is
dear and valuable. These truths nave ever
more been acknowledged, and your predeces-
sors in the Legislative Hall, acting under their
influence, have not been unmindful of the So
Tenn duties which they imposed. The Univer-
sity at Charlottesville has commenced It's career
under circumstances the most fsttering; and