South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1834-12-20

the General Assembly, when it shall
begin to operate, will no doubt aid
much in re-establishing more regularity.
There are very many defects, however,
in the provisions of that act, and many
omissions, which cannot be provided
against too soon. 1t would be too te-
dius to enumerate all these here. But
| recommend 10 you an early revision
of il and should you undertake this
task, i. will give me pleasure, TO lay it
before you at any time, and in any
mode you may see fit to require it, all
such information upon the subject as
experience and observation have given
me. ...
AS being intimately connected with
this matter, send herewith, the annu.
al returns of the Adjutant General,
showing the state and condition of the
Militia, together with that OF the Arms,
Announcements and Ammunition, either
in their hands, or in the Arsenal at
Lexington and also the annual report
of the Superintendent of the Armory,
who is Commandant Of the Public
Guard in this City.
You will also receive herewith, a
Report of the Superintendent Of the
Public Buildings; and a statement OF
the condition of the Bank ofIhe Valley,
and of the North Western Bank OF
Virginia.
During the recess of,he Legislature,
vacancies have occurred in severaLof
the offices of,he Commonwealth, which
i, is the duly of the General Assembly
to Gil permanently. Although author
lied by the Constitution to supply all
such vacancies, by temporary appoint
ments, | have not exerted this authori.
ty in any case where there did not exist
strong necessity for doing so, in order
TO prevent detriment to the interest of
the Commonwealth. The severe loss
the State sustained by the lamentable
death of the Honorable Robert B. Tay-
lor, the Judge Of the First District in
the First Circuit, occurring as this did,
at the commencement of the spring
sessions of the courts Of this district,
compelled me to supply this vacancy
speedily. therefore appointed Rich
ard Fl. Baker, Esquire, by Temporal.
ry commission to fill it. This appoint
ment he accepted, & has since continu-
ed TO perform all the duties ofthe Office
with great credit to himself, and TO the
entire satisfaction of all within the dis
trict, as am informed and believe.
send herewith, the resignation of
John Robertson, ESQ.,, the late Attorney
General of the State. Neither at the
time the resignation was received by me,
nor since, did any necessity exist to sup.
ply its vacancy. did not therefore till
it. But it is now desirable, that no un-
ecessary delay should occur in making
new appointment.
The designations of Brigadier General
Lawrence T. Dade of the first brigade,
of Brigadier General John Hodges Of the
ninth brigade, (both of which have ac-
cepted, and send herewith and the death
ofBrigadier General William II. Brod-
max, ofthe fifteenth Brigade, have oc-
casioned vacancies in these offices res
pectively, that it becomes your duty to
fill.
| will not close this communication
without calling your attention las my
predecessor has already done more than
once) to the condition of public offices
occupied by the several officers compos-
ing the different Executive Departments
of the Government. l send herewith,
paper addressed to me by these officers,
whose application should certainly have
granted, if had possessed the authority
to DO so. The facts represented by them,
know to be correctly stated !; ana that
these would have justified much stronger
LANGUAGE than the officers have seen ut
to employ. The public interests require,
that something should be done for the
better accommodation of these officers,
and for the preservation of the public
documents. The State owns much va
cant land around the Capital, many parts
of which might be used as convenient
5Clle lOT IuC OlCCtlUu vi u
ing that might be made an ornament to
decorate the public square, without pro-
ducing the slightest inconvenience. The
annual interest upon the sum which such
an edilice might cost, would be but
small premium to cover the risk to which
the public records are now exposed, to
say nothing ofthe health and convenience
of many valuable officers, the loss of any
of whom the Commonwealth would find
it difficult to supply.
You have been convened by the law,
at season when accidental causes will
contribute to bring before you many
questions calculated to produce some'ex-
element. But celebrating upon all
such, you will never cease to remember,
that the character and honor of Virginia
is involved. not less in what you may do,