Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-12-02
Governors Message.


fett0Oo- Citi=ons Of the ScNate
and House of Delegates:
The Constitution requires of the Governor "to com
"muncate TO the Legislature. every session fine CON
diuon OF the Commonwealth; and to recommend to
their consideration such lac may deem OK
pedient. Hence, it becomes my duty to exhibit TO
you at this time, all such information as possess in re-
gard to any matter of Importance to the Commonwealth
ana TO invite your attention to the adoption of such
measures as seem to necessary either remedy any
known detects IN the operation of the laws, to pre-
vent the occurrence OF evils, which, although they NAV
not have yet happened probable as to render Il
prudent to guard against them now.
In performing this duty, although desire To be brcr
cannot suffer the qualification Of this wish TO nduce
me to leave any thing unnoticed which deem il i'm
portant ior you TO Know or OF much interest
Try III IS better that should be tedious than that NV
account should be imperfect and the interests and rcs
tons OF Virginia various, and some of them SO
complicated, that the report required to make To
you, cannot fear, be compressed into narrow com
pass.
Although the Governor is required by our own Cons
luton to conduct either in person. such manner as
shall be prescribed by law all intercourse with other and
foreign States yet under the wise distribution of powers
and duties established by the Constitution of The United
States (Which all bound TO support the case vl
very rarely occur, that any State of this Conederacy can
properly have direct intercourse with any other State
uuy Termed Cregn to IT, Some of the great objects i'm
adopting the Federal Constitution were 10 provide for
the common defence and general welfare of all the States
ueeDy connected by bond OF more perfect union than
had existed before this Constitution received their sane
ton TO attain these great objects with most certainty
and facility, all the external relations of these States
were placed, very properyu, nder the direction and con-
troll Of the Government then created bv them: and
mainly for this very purpose. BY that Government on
~ can any treaty be entered into foreign commerce
be regulated War declared Peace made Piracics aud
Felonles committed the high seas offences AGAINST
the law of Nations be defined punished. In short il
IS difficult not impossible imagine any relation that
can subsst between any one OF these United States
any foreign State whatsoever which must not find liz
foundation and authority in act of the Federal Go.
ycrnment
Nothing can illustrate more truly the confidence ,o
posed in this constitutional arrang Of powers f,u
the well known fact that amidst the great variety ~
Of tie Federal Government, winch have divided ar
people from time to no example exists Of snv oL,
beng entertained as to the ogcusire r;ght Of tof o.
ycrnncnt TO provide for all our for,i0n rotations A.,
Site mas ever assorted right 10 interfere in such affairs
wnSh ADMITTED TO have that single object and most pro.
OaDly, NJ state VIII advance any such preicn-
SION. however, VIC may differ from each other i'm
esPect 10 the right or expcdency ofacs touching our in
ral concerns 70 what Department Of the Federal
government, the power of regulating our external rcia
uons properly belongs, all in regard 10 our ac
tua intercourse with foreign States to this hut one
thought IS conceived but language held bv any; and
al agree, that this thought must be conceived and this
language ueredby Department Of tle Federal Go
yeriment only rs tins Government is Of human Greg
uo administered by irai like ourselves, II may be-
and VIII no doubt sometimes be wrong: but be IL roit or
be il wrong, it is own Government; and 20 FAR os
TeigR States arc concerned, it must and will be sustain
ed by all.
Then, in reference TO the relations between ,b;s Com
monweail and any foreign State whatever I have
nothing, ought not TO have any thing 60 comrnu.
nicate to you. True ~ the Federal Constitution
which she has plghted her sacred faith 70 support
Virginia never has had, and while she CONTINUES n
member Of this confcderacy, meyer will have intey-
course with any such except under tho authority Of
u" 'sDFl Itiprnt e lbl iu.ttd ~ ta. 81 ia, .