The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-12-10
TIE VIRGINIAN.
LYNcNBUNG, DEcEunER In. ls2
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

We confess we are surprised At tae character
OF this document We had expected 10 see
State affairs but little noticed by Gov Giles or.
if noticed al all treated in such manner as
would have induced every lover Of the common-
wealth 10 have wished he had passed them by
III silence. But, on the contrary, an unusually
large portion Of the Message is devoted to the
consideration OF subjects intimately connected
with the prosperity ofthe Commonwealth and
they are discussed IN a tone and temper NJ once
manly and candid. We the more readily Offer
this tribute ofjusticc, as Gov CHESS course has
seldom met with our appreciation, aud as ne
have not bcenvery sparmg in our censnr' s Of his
conduct; and more especially as we are still
opposed to his reelection.
His views of criminal jurisprudence, though
not novel, are nevertheless entitled 10 the seri.
Gus consideration of the Legislature. This sub.
jet has been too much neglected in Virginia,
aud ought speedily to nndergoa revision. The
sale and transportation ola free black or mu,
Iatto, for the commission ola class of offences
which would only deprive white man tempo
rarily of his liberty, is shocking TO our notions
of justice and ought not 10 be There are,
| we believe, cases now IN this town, of persons
belonging to this degraded and unfortunate
caste. who, are 10 UNDERGO a trial at our next
Court. charged with the commission of offences
which will subject them 10 this cruel punish
ment, if the law he not modified. We cannot,
tbarptara hut Ia, hat no 60
on this point will be cfecuna TO secure to il the
early attention of the Legislature.
We had believed, aud There were goodgrounds
for the belief. that Gov. Giles was opposed to
the diffusion Of knowledge Among the people
generally, by means Of schools at which the
children ofthe poor might be educated gratis
But, we should infer, from the tenor Of his ro-
marks, that this is not the case. and that he is
e1inestly desirous ofmaturing system which
will be more efccma than that bv which we
have hitherto been guided We concur with
him entirely in the proprieDy of0cting ON this
subject At once, aud endcavor to Substitute for
the present ill-digested plan, one which shall
not only ensure proper application olthe pub
lie money but also profitable return, in the in-
strucion Of the people ior its expenditure,
On the subirc, Of Internal Improvement. too
we had supposed the Governor 90 differ with MS ;
that he wished to arrest the march of those
great works which, commenced with so much
zeal, have been conducted with much mbecI-
lIiy o! Judgment and such waste OF money, but
which ifcompleted, would add to the popua.
ton, resources and character ofthe state to an
extent which the imagination can hardly con
ceve. Indeed when Mr.. Giles was nominated
last winterby his friend and colleague Nj Nash,
il was expressly stated that, il elected Cover
nor, he would exert all lbs influence to put stop
10 the schemes OF internal improvement which
had 50 long proved a useless tax on the coinmu,
nlty. Whether the Governors sentiments have
undergone a change, or whether Nh Nash had
mistaken them, is now a matter Of little mo.
ment II is of more consequencethat Mr., Giles
is now the advocate of State improvement, and
that he has examined the subject with closcness
Of attention which has enabled hjn to throw out
to the Legislature some valuable suggestions,
which, we hope, viii not be lost upon that body.
I We regret that here praise ceases, Nereeret
that the Governor should have thought il his du-
~ TO arge on the Legislature the necessity of a.
gain protesting against the Tariff not only as
unjust in its operation, but unconstitutional in
itself That surh is his opinion we have no rca
son 80 doubt bar why SO pertInaclou,ly and so
oh, IL,
tut mprr aud more convince, him thai hls de.
Innnciatinns are unhredrd aud desplsed Why
this useless consumption of time and cxpcndl-
turc OF money by the Legislative body in issuing
flaming Reports and Resolutions which are pos.
sibly read. bat. il read, laughed at Is II not
calculated rather TO bring Virginia into con
tempt, as a frclfuI and pcevish cld, who haF'
ing been u faVorite in her younger days, scolds
and raves because she is not still handled on the
knee and fed on the choicest dantlcs Really,
il appears to rs that the other States IN the con
tedrracy have right 10 opinions both on the
construction Of the constitution and on matters
of cxIrdiencv, aud that they have also a right
10 express those opinions though thrr repie-
sensatiyes. as well as our own: aud we third, II
aroucs but little in favor Of the good sense or
charitable feeling OF rgiuia, that not content
with arguing contested points IA spirit otcan.
dor she should assume the arrogance Of dlcta-
ton, and dogmaticay say To her equals ipe are
right and you are wrong. The Virginia Legs
latnrc IS not the body which has cognl2ancc of
the matter, in any shape IN form and II is RI