Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1831-03-12
l'OR TIE WIIId.
GOVERNORS SALARY, &c.

was n" IS surprised than mortified at the refiI-
sal vi the Legislature augment the salarv of ~
Governor. Upon this subject the honorable the To-
glsature surely mnst abour under some strange and
unnccpuntabc Authorization, to suppose thar m,
small and paltry sum of ElOOO is by any means ado
quate 20 sustain the dignity and Official court esv no
ccSslrilv belonging to the chief ma uistracv NJ tho
State of Virginia. | cannot for nome mt believe
that they vii! continue TO perSevere IN an error 60
paIpa5'c upon IFS very face, but the contrary will
reconsider iAc!T discrimination, which verIly beliye
involves our honour and re- probability abroad and
injurious 10 our interests AT home. PROFESSIONALLY
II the present salary necessary TO support our
Govc-nrr fifty years ago, double that amount is ne
crSsary now Can any reasonable man doubt this
who considers the numerous duties and rein,
which have accumulated with the apse of half
century and especially the additional responsibilities
and duties Arising under The constitutions But
the under winter confident that the Goyernor. sal,
~ has been always insufficient enable him 10 live
IN style becoming The character of the Office -
Having iIvcd Ia Richmond hiy years of my life and
acquainted with mamy OF The distinguish
ed characters who have filed the Office with bonor
- The country, an enabled 20 form an opinion no,
only rom observation, but from information derived
from those Officers thrm solves.
| was informed by our patriot and statesman
PdTict Henry, while Governor, that his larry wns
entirely inadequate TO meet the heavy cxpcnses in
c'd"nl 10 the Office, although he used the mos, ri
ga cncon'my IN his family, and that he should be
'c"mpeIlrd 10 resign and accordingly he did re-
sign; his own means being hunted to Justify his
ccn'Inuance IN office Here then 10 an instance
OF our losing the services OF OF Virrnia's
gr5nle.t patriots merely for the wan, of a salary 10
enable HIM 10 hll the Office in a manner be canine
ITS dignity aud character; and will any one pretend
To say that the necessity for Incrcurinp the SALARY
are not much stronger now than forrnerE 1t yUouI1
seem hat the Legislature must have supposed that
the Governor would live as private gentleman and
that there would BE- occasion for acts of curtesv
ana hospitality TO strangers who visit our METROPOLIS
Ont the contrary Is the 5lCt ard know il from CON
inudl observation.
t,,,C,. t..
stances. invariably call upon the Governor for rcIief
and humanity must often prompt HIM TO mid thorn
however It may Interfere with his own means In
TACT the Governors house IS, aud ever will be- to
some degree on aims house; for there are no, unfro
quenty cases U peculiar hardship and misfortune for
which there Is no remedy alienation and as tho
c'ct executive officer OF the state. he is constrained
IN mnny ancUs, 10 afford rclcf from duo sonsr
oid.licacy and PRIDE imposed upon him by the robes
OF official dignity ond which would be detrimental
TO the Office, rs well as 10 the high character of the
conmohwcahh To reuse. ! appeal therefore, with
condencciu he pride Of NiTuuians TO tho bonorobI
Legislature tho tharr IS INV tbin moro rc,
sohaDc' nay actually necessary, than an aurmnnta-
t"n OF our Governors wages, for purposes not onlv
hnmnnc themselves, bot really Indispensable for sus--
aiming The exalted character Of our ancient and br
loved ccSntry, Bur there nrc other considerations
- stu greater Importance, and deeply Interesting TO
every Nrgnlan. How can II be expected the 90
vernon will bs able 10 devote all his time and facul
ties To tic interests Of the state when he is dcpen-
dnni upon his resources for actual supnorl>
Must not his attention be necessarily drawn from
matters OF pubic concern, 10 his own private affair
But we arr told The duties of,hc Governor are
merely executive and that he has very l;tlc TO Gs
tndcr tic Former constitution such was ihc fact auL
me officer was almost sIuccuro IN the Government:
on' the cas- j. very different at present. Gr now
'hcfc are grave and important duties 10 dscharpc
ana responsibilities to be incurred. Even under tho
old constitution, the nature of the Office was highly
importan IN another point Of yicw; since il rconIrrd
OF Tic incumbent devotion Of all his time and ,sl-
cnis IN investigating md asccroming nc true inter
c5s Of the state 90 discover all her sources of cntb
| 10 PrClcc. and advise schemes Of mproycmen.
/ III word every hing comes under hs general STU
pcfWson which has for as object the advancement
OF ouf interest I'D moral or physical aspect and 10
communicate those views 81 policy 10 the whole
-lo'' I0r Iogisn'vC gctiu But how l. the Onvcruor
w OMAN al lbs uormn.on, which is usually rcoui-
tcd OF nun BY the bcgish'uro' Most unqucsiionGblv
Wy an interchange OF sen mout with those rIl1ualy
convened rom mo various sections Of the common
wchIth' % wniI as by intercourse with the intci-
GEM and cnicrprisng men Of other states For this
purpose, he oi course must entertain them at his
house Now the question H. who should baylor fins,
why according the salary as at present fixed IN.
'Olcfnor he's a'' 10 rav oH' Of his own nockct or