Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-04-08
For TIE WHIG

10 the Governor OF Virginia the present General
Assembly OF virginia. and the People of virginia
The Governor is in Office under the new
Constitution; and the Legislature must adjourn with
out giving HIM salary which will enable him to dis
cnarge MS duties unless one course shall be taken.
Whether that course will be pursued or not, know
not; In my opinion, justice ~ the State and to the
General Assembly, requires that it should
From the day the present salary was established
to this day. 1t has been inadequate to the support
OF the Office; and how the General Assembly pro-
pos" 10 justify to tho people, the raising their own
wages more than double what they were when the
Governor s salary fixed. and which, during sue
cessVe Legislatures, has cost the people at lenst
seven hundred thousand dollars a. Tho Same time
tina, that of the Governor is left as it was knew no,
Ill the members OF Assembly can't toork for MOTH
ing and find themselves, surely the Governor can't
III ah increase Is not necessary TO INN it surely is
not to them.
1t would be little short of treason so su,,ose ,bo,
they will Justify themselves by saying ,chat is not
me jdct that an increase was necessary as to them
nut not as to HIM. 1t is undoubted fact that it
hds alWaJS oeen more to him than as TO Them
The eXpencn of the Legislature for one or two
days added to it, would enable the Governor to live
or his saIary-Suppose Ito members to draw daily
wages reducing tn cir allowance only 81 cents each
would leave sum in the Treasury nearly equal TO
Inc present salary; that by reducing their WAGES
that much mot as much perhaps as thew Law out.
daily IN nuts and apples, and giving it to him. would
put tile Governor IN situation to serve the country
without great and inevitable injury to himself
viii the people submit to the importation that It
is their riU to support one branch of the Govern
ment at an eXpence of $3.50 per day, for the addi-
tlonai Sc to the members when 81 cents deducted
from each, will support the Governor? They must
somehow or o'her, wipe off this Stigma, or the Lee
Sislature and the Governor must respectively do at
once what 1t becomes them 10 do. 1t is impossible
TO justify, according 10 truh and fair argument tho
raising their own wages and starving the Executive
am not, nor are the people for starving any de
partme2t of the Government
suppose the Federal Government had the fxinp
| Of Sfofn ,fso
ernor 1oto ought TO be the fruitful sentinel ON the
Wach 7oWer, to work for nothing and find him
self; or to separate himself from his family and =,
most from hIs ottlce and live in Boarding house
would tins be considered the way to procure ar eff
cent and Independent sentinel or the reverseo Would
not this have been considered direct attack on The
sovereignty Of the State?
The effect tho is precisely the same whether i,
proceeds from the one Government or the other: ex
cept that would be better to give the power 20 the
Federal government; for in that case the peonle
would resist such injustice, by private subscrp
ton, II no other means were left in order IN s,in
port the dignity of the State
Us 1t safe and sound policy to overburthen and also
to starve our State officers and thus drive all the
men of talent from our State Institutions into Fed
era offices, put out of their power to serve tho
State, and thus leave only ,uder6idders instead If
master ,0orfnren. to fill the important stations under
the Government?
Ii the subject pertained to the Federal Govern
ment, could they devise more efectual wav IN breol
down the States than this? and if it was pursued
would any one fail to its tendency and resist it
accordingly
! Surprising it utterly impossible that this course
Tul he consolidated by any compatible, with the
honor or safety of the State, the next question is.
how is it noac % be remedied2
think the Governor ought to resign his office
on the ground that his salary altogether inad
qnae to his support, and that ne can neither con-
sent tn separate from his family, nor to devote his pr
Vae fortune to the service of the State, without
adequate compensation When he accepted the of.
| q thp had u ;,,t
tlce to the Executive branch of the Government Il,
was perhaps not tor him, at that time to advise or to
presume they would not do so.
1t has been omitted, however, and it is for him
noW 10 say whether the constitution has been IN
Piled with IN regard 10 the adequacy of the Governors
salary If it has not the Legislature and the peope
ought to know it. Possibly men may be got to
nil the office with the present salary or our
ousy) suppose that, having accepted the office he
ought TO go on regardless of consequences Ifbow
ever he should think, that in Justice to the Execu-
tive Department, Oth the independence of chch he i,
charged, he ought TO resign, and no fit person can
be found to accept the Office until the salary is made
adequate, the Legislature will of course do their
duty IN that respect: whether they would be mag
unanimous enough that event to re-elect the man
who shall thus have devoted himself to cor
rect principles. or whether he would accept the of
nee under such crcumstaDces.I know mott think
ooth ought to take place But be this as it NAV,
he will have performed acceptable service to his
country; and for which he will receive its thanks.
| 1t will be better for him to resign now than to
abandon his family, do it at the next session
Ihts's The General assembly which is relied on to
tx the principles Of action under the new Constitu
ton The people don't expect to receive at their
hands an Inefficient Executive These are times which
call for the course.
! Although the words of the Constitution, as well
as rccolec, arc not express to that eff c. believe
there can be no doubt but that according to its
P'rh, the Legislature fill a vacancy In the
CHAIR OF State, if one shall during the session
or at the next session after it shall occur
There IS another subject to which wish 10 draw
inc public attention 1T is one Interesting to the
whole state, but particularly so to the Shenandea
'ahey and It's dependencirs.-I think the act for in
cooperating company to make a rail road from
oSaunton TO the Potomac ought to be suspended un-
I'll the rising Of the next session of Assembly
Ghe rates Of toll and transportation are fixed at
cents per ton per mile from West to East, and 6
cents from East to West, and cents per mile for
passengers.
The cost of the road, to be made of permanent
materials, understand is estimated 81 600 per mile:
bnt put 1t down at $4,000
Inc interest on a loan OF $4,000 at per cent al
. which money cen readily be had is $500
Hos's OF repairs, say per per annum, is 2do
/ bNPtnse OF transportation al per mile