The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-12-11
THr GovEasoR's MESSAGE.

THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
we promisef. in our last. to of q fev re-
marks on this dscumeat mud we proceed 10 do
so. we trust, in = spi =, Of perfect eandor sod
fairness. Admiring snJne of Gov Lil"s's con-
duct, In the early days Of the Republican party
when il had TO combat fore,g" Toes aud ns;ive
mai4onieHf. and respecting the bold stand
which he took on The question OF The Right ~
Instruction as ersditabie 10 tus Independence
and Grmoess OF character, we were disposed
to regard hin, with more than ordinary re.
specl. But he has lifted the veil with his
own hands, and we behold him in his nude
deiormity- stripped OF the tinsel which threw
additional lurtre on his eloqnence and gave
three fold strength to his arguments, when
he stood uI, erect, in 1e PRIDE ofhis intel
leciual manhood.
We have not, and we shall moi, forget our
early attachment 10 the man, when yet We
were mol capable " forming an opinion of
public men or things, bui as we were impeIl-
ed by youthful feeling. But. neither can we
refuse 10 see the deyiations from correct prin-
ciples which. have marked his later years.
They are " eonn'd, and Sc. downin u note
book.'-These predatory REMARKS are made
TO show, that, if we now entertain any thing
like prejudice against Gov. Giles (Which we
deny we were once more pref udiced IN his
bs!aif-We set off one as a foil TO The 9th
er.
In the outset. then, we say, without the
least hesitation. that we believe Gov. Giles's
Message, taken as d tphOis, is The best which
has been presented 10 a Virginia Legislature
since Mr.. Monroe was in the Chair We do
not speak OF its styie-but of its contents. For
the mo,t part confning himself TO matters of
State .ouce,n. be has treated them with n
perspicuiiy which shows tina, be has devoted
no small portion OF his time to The duties of
his Office. With these, nj present, we shall
noi have much to do. But We must express our
decided Misrepresentation OF his views with regard
to the relations existing between debtors, credi-
tors and securities, aud to imprisonment for debt
And our contempt for his double. dea ling where
he sought 10 win the doubtful TO his side. We
shalt take another opportunity 10 show, and we
can conclus,ycly show. that a security is as MOI
ally aud as legally bound as u principal, Gov.
Giles TO the Contrary no,wiinstandnx.-We
think, also, we Can show, that the laws IN Yir-
ginla Ia relation TO debtors are as lenient as any
honest nan could " isb them to be. We shall
enter more largely into ,be discussion OF these
matters at a future period, when we shall come
to their investigation not armed " ilh the statutes
Of The I'd Edmard aud the 7ih H,uS, but ~nh
We will only remark here, en- passant, that it is
somewhat singular Ne should irier to the
" "iden time" for rules of tt gal and equitable
decision, i,h almost holy reverence, ~ulle, at
the same moment, We denounce ti,eir s. stems oil
theology and modes of worship rs pagan super.
s,itions and idoIatrous rites. Let us be consis
tent. For our o"n parts, We attach no more
reverence 10 al opinion, BECAUSE ii has been I'll
tered through a dozen generations. and has re
ceived the sanction Of my Lord Coke and Ba-
con, than If il had sprunt irtuitively into the
mind vi d piotghboy. Justice aud Truth are
not accessories to ncnes-ind we are therefore
sstonished that such n man as Gov. Giles should
go back iuto 6tdck ieter to show as that the
laws enacted by the verlest tyrsnts hat ever
scou' ged England in her days Of deepest gloom,
were Infinitely more humane and merc,ful than
those enacted, IN a" age Of tist', by a people
who held their ow" destmlcs IN their own hands
His ,deas, however. On these subjects are NOT
singular-and, '~ncl,uins, az they do, 10 mercy's
ade, are no doubt honest. But, they are mol the
less mlsch'evous aud uusound. GIVE immunity
to The debtor and make a security merely II nom
lnal patty 10 the note to which, his name give,
currency, anu a gate Is opened for innumerable
evIls-evns against which no prudence can
guard tho selected victim of deliberate fraud.
We tase said above. that the avs Of Virginia
were already as mercilul la The debtor as AN,
honest man could desire them 10 be. What
need, then, of revision I No tnan notp can be
imprisoned for debt oue moment long e.. than he
complies "'ts a form which the statute requires.
Aud II Is very seldom that a debtor is Compelled
by his creditor to adopt this course, Illuminating
as 1t must he TO a man Of sensibil,ly, when il i.
kaown that he has no intention to net fraudu
len,ly There have been, We are aware. SINE
cases Of contrary character. and doubtless there
wall be agaio, where an honest debtor may
chance to iallinto the hnnds of an ~unfeeiiue
Shyioeh-6u, even the must me,ciless of The
tribe ca" 80 no further with hrs victim than the
( -. -.
pr'so" door. II IS no sooner closed than tie
la" points oui a simple and easy though We ad.
'o' a d'Hsfteable nl,de by "hfch it may he o.
oeued' We again ask, then, what need Is III. re
ct amel'orsthg the Statute I Eyen now. we see
frauds almost daily communicative see men
taking advantage OF lis provisions TO. de
fraud their debtors out Of their just claims
-iefeIlihg IN every species Of luxurv