Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-03-15
EnR THE WII1G.

was no less surprised than mortified at the refu-
sn of the Legislature to augment the salary of the
Governor. Upon this subject the honorable the Le-
gisature surely must labour under strange and
unaccountable hallucinatIon, to suppose that the
small and patry sum of $1,000 is by any means ade-
luate sustain the dignity and official ne
cessarily belonging to the chief magistracy of the
State of Virginia l cannot for nome mt believe
that they will continue to persevere in an error so
palpabe upon its very face, but the contrary will
reconsider their determination, which verify belive
involves honour and responsibility abroad and
injurious to our interests at home. PROFESSIONALLY
If the present salary necessary support our
Governor fifty years ago, double that amount ne
cessary Can any reasonable man doubt this
who considers the numerous duties and rela ions
which have accumulated with the lapse of half
century, and especially the additional responsibilities
and duties arising under the constitution? But
the under writer is confident that the Governors sala
~ has been always insufficient 10 enable him to live
in O style becoming the character or the Uttice.-
Having lived ia Richmond fifty years of my life and
personally acquainted with many Of the distinguish
ed characters who have filled the Office with honor
to the country. am enabled to form an opinion not
only from observation, but from information derived
from those Officers themselves
I informed by patriot and statesman
Patriot Henry, while Governor, that his salary was
entirely inadequate to meet the heavy expenses in
cident to the Office although he used the most ri
gid enconomy in his family and that he should be
compelled to resign" and accordingly he did
sign; his own being too limited to Justify his
continuance in office Here then is an instan ce
Of losing the services of of Virginia s
greatest patriots merely for the want of salary to
enable him to fill the Office in manner be coming
its dignity and character; and will any one pretend
to say that the necessity for increasing the salary
not much stronger now than formerly?-It would
seem that the Legislature must have supposed that
the Governor would live as private gentleman, and
that there would be no occasion for acts of curtesy
and hospitality to strangers who visit metropolis;
but the contrary is the FACT and know IT from con
tinua observation.
Foreigners, in unfortunate and distressing circum
stances. invariably call upon the Governor for relief
and humanity must often prompt him to aid them
however it may interfere with his means. In
TACT the Governors house IS, and will be, to
some degree an aims house; for there unfre-
quenty cases OF peculiar hardship and misfortune for
which there is remedy alienation, and as the
chief executive officer Of the state, he is constrained
in many instances, to afford relief from due sense
Of delcacy and pride, imposed upon him by the robes
OF official dignity, and which would be detrimental
10 the Office well to the high character of the
commonwealth, to refuse. | appeal therefore, with
Confdence,to he pride of VrGnians to the honorable
Legislature themselves there any thing more rea-
soDable, Hay actually necessary, than auomenta-
ton of our Governors wages, for purposes not ONLY
humane themselves, but really indispensable for sus-
tanning the exalted character Of ancient and be-
loved country? But there other considerations
of still greater Importance and deeply interesting to
every Vrglnian. How it be expected the Go
will be able devote all his time and Eacul-
ties to the interests Of the state when he is depen
Must not his attention be necessarily drawn from
matters of pubic concern, to his own private aAirs2
But we are told the duties of the Governor are
merely executive, and that he has very little to do
Under the former constitution such was the fact and
the officer was almost snecure in the government;
but the case is very different at present; for now,
there are grave and important duties to DISCHARGE
ana responsibilities to be incurred Even under the
ola constitution, the nature Of the office was highly
important IN another point of view; since required
OF the incumbent devotion Of all his time and tai
ents IN investigating and ascertannp The true inter
csts OF the state to discover all her sources of wealth.
to PROJECT and advise schemes of improvements
IN word, every thing comes under his general ST.
pervison, which has for its object the advancement
ut our interest IN moral or physical aspect and to
communicate those views Of policy TO the whole
state, for legislative action. But how is the Governor
80 obtain MI this Informa.ion which is usually rerni-
red Of him by the Legislature? Most unouesfion5blv
by an interchange Of sentiment with those an1uallv
convened from the various sections Of the common
wealth, well by intercourse with the ntelli
gent and enterprisng men of other states. For this
purpose, he Of course must entertain them at his
Rouse Now he question is, who should pay'for this?
Why according to the salary at present fixed, the
GoVernor has all to pay out of his pocket, or
have those important channels of information closed
up earnestly hope, for the honour and interest of
~ county That this STAG Of th!Dgs vii not coz