Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-12-10

subject as one which calls for your attention.
The examinations of various parts of the
capitol, the arrangements as to the hose,
buckets, &c. have been attended to pursuant
to the directions of the last general assembly,
and the particulars will be reported by the
proper officers. | cannot forbear to call your
attention to the condition of the capitol, and
to remind you ofthe necessity to which my
predecessors have so often adverted, of pro-
viding more room for the preservation of our
most valuable records, and the transaction of
indispensable public business.
A number of the journals of the general as
semby, and some of them during the most
interesting epochs of our history, have never
been printed, and as the manuscript is expos
ed to accidents and decay, it deserves your
consideration, whether they should not be
printed with q convenient index.
The reports of the superintendent and board
of directors of the penitentiary will inform
you II the general condition of that nstiiu-
ton and its account during the year.
The revision Of the criminal code, provided
for some years since, has not been cOmplet-
ed, in consequence of the protracted indispo-
stion of the distinguished gentleman to whom
it has been coEfided.
/ have to announce to YOU the death of r.
T.. Parker, esq. one of the Judges of the court
distinguished juriSt and cstimable man.
The police of our common jails is believed
to be sometimes very defective under the pre-
sent laws as white persons and blacks, debt
ors, felons and lunatics, are occasionally
confined In the same apartments. recon-
mend to your consideration the eXpediency of
aboishing Imprisonment for debt altogether.
Civil executions are intended to subject the
property. not the persons, of debtors to the
payment of their debts. Imprisonment as a
remedy is not necessary to the creditors
rights, and as punishment, it visits the mis-
fortunes rather than the crimes OF its victims.
Its CONSTANTS are Intellectual as to the fradu
lent, and unnecessary as TO the honest debtor.
BY rendering final process on judgments to
reach lands and closes IN action, eliectual,
justice may be done without retaining ignom
ny as one of its attributes.
j have received copies of resolutions, &c.
of the Legislature of Neto York on the subject
of the public lands of the United States.
OF the Legislature Of Conneciicut on the same
subject, and others on the subject the tariff;
Ofthe Legislature of the States of Maine and
Indiana on the subject of the northeastern
boundary ofthe United States;
OF the Legislature of Kentucky on the sub
ject Of the public lands of the United States.
All cfwhch are herewith communicated.
cate, copies of certain resolutions and other
proceedings of the people of Georgetown, and
of other citizens resident in the District Of
Columbia, complaining of the Legislation of
Congress, and contemplating a retrocession
Of portion OF the territory of that District to
tie State of NLuyl2nd
would invite your earnest attention TO the
defects of our laws regulating the election of
electors of president and vice president Of the
United States. They are so obvious, and
some doubt existing whether the act of March
l6, 1882, was still in force, that hesitated
at one time whether it was not the duty of this
department to convene the Legislature, But
as this act had been acquiesced in in 1886, l
determined, after adopting all the precautions
within the reach of the executive, in order to
give fair and unbiased expression to the
popular will, to leave the execution of that
act, defective as it is, to the intelligence and
justice of the people. While difficulties may
occur in the execution of any law on this sub
ject, and while mutual complaints of those
conducting such an election, may be expect
ed in times of high party excitement, no in
stance of intentional violation or neglect of
duty on the part of the commissioners, has
come to the knowledge of this department.
The imputed frauds on the elective franchise,
now so frequent in every part of our country,
admonish US that it is necessary to guard its
exercise as we would cherish the foundation
on which our government rests. Its purity
and independence are indispensable to the
permanence of free institutions. Without
these parties degenerate into factions, and gov
eminent itself into mere form of despotism.
The late presidential election, after being
canvassed with unprecedented zeal and ex-
element, has terminated, trust, auspiciously
for the general welfare of our country. The
repose which follows these struggles, and the
cheerful Difference with which the will of the
majority is acknowledged and acquiesced in,
furnish the most encouraging omens to the
friends of human liberty, and exhibit the ma
jorlty of the people in an aspect which as
tounds the few, vino still claim the right in
other countries to govern the many. A vic
tory gained by the suifrages of free people
over countrymen who have differed from the
majority about their common interests, is not
an occasion of mere party triumph, but for the
united efforts of all men and all parties who
desire to reform what is wrong, and to per-
petuate what is valuable in our government.
Il. w. GILMER. q.
On motion, 1000 copies of the Message
were ordered to be printed, and 200 copies of
the accompanying documents.
Memorials were presented-from William
Lockridge, of Bath, complaining of the I'M
due election of A. f.. Byrd--of John w.
Haskins, complaining of the undue election
of G.. w. kyle,-of James Jones, complain
ing of the undue election Of Thomas II.
Flood, Of Buckingham--and of Col. Sam