Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-12-21
Gonermor'a Ja eaaage.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, !
December, A, 1643. I
Felio,o- Citizens Of the Senate

FeIoU- CatszenS Of me oendfe
and House Of Delegates:
Although the time which has passed
since your late adjournment is but shor:,
and has not been productive Of any ex-
iraordinaTy national events, nor Of any
irregular or critical condition Of our State
AFFAIRS, there is nevertheless in the cur
rent condition Of these good deal that
will require the provident exercise OF the
functions to which you have returned.-
So frequently however, have previous
Legislatures convened under like con-
dtion Of things, that you will see in the
existing one nothing to be surprised at,
nor any thing else which is not incident
at all times TO the common course and OPP
Grafton Of Governments. Like other leg.
islaturss, you will find in your turn how
difficult it is to place the wide ard vari.
Gus interests Of the commonwealth upon
their soundest and steadiest footing. And
like others too, you will find that when
you have executed your trust in this res
pect to the uttermost of your ability and
means, have extended your aid to every
thing that may be thought to require or
deserve it, and applied your remedies to
every discovered defect in the policy,
principles and administration Of the laws,
that the inherent tendency of them all to
relaxation and disorder will operate just
az before--that your own labors will re-
suit in imperlections which the labors Of
others will be required to correct. and
that at last the great problem Of what IS
best 10 be done for the god Of the Com
monyealib, will continue to occupy your
successors in office as anxousIy as it now
occupies you. Such is the constant move
ment, either forward or ackward, in al !
human things, that the duties of legisIa.
ton can never cease, no matter how well
or wisely they may be performed. And
least of oil are these duties like 10 be sus.
pended even, much less to cease, in com.
munites like ours, where the whole body
Of the law is in perfect sympathy with the
people upon whose consent il is formed,
and where as necessary consequence
change will he made to follow change,
not because the public mind is reckless Of
results, but because, on the contrary, it is
habitually, srdently and profoundly intent
upon shaping results for the best, and so
obtaining for human happiness every
thing which government aud laws can
be made to contribute. These are the
duties which avail: you, and such has
been the general health, the general abun.
dance, the perfect peace, The soothing re-
pose from party conflict, the exemption
from caIanities of all kinds by which the
year that is closing has been marked,
that you enter upon these duties surround
ed by blessings which call unon you, and
upon the State, for devoutest gratitude to
Him who has provided and bestowed them
all. With advantages SO suspicious to
the calm, wise and prompt execution of
your duties, the public have right 20 ex-
pect that correspondent good will be
received; and without engrossing your
time with narrow legislation for small de-
fects, you will arrange with wisdom the
pecuniary burthens of the State--wll fos-
Ter with liberia! hand the subjects Of edu-
cation and internal commerce--and SO
labor TO bring the sympathes and inter-
ests Of our scattered people into fellow
ship and unity with each other, as to lay
the foundations Of still broader and more
progressive prosperity than we have yet
enjoyed, and thus contribute useful
share to the patriotic work of rendering
the commonwealth, as strong in every ell
ement Of physical, moral and intellectual
power, as she has ever been strong in the
veneration and attachment OF her chill
drcn.
should overlook the manifestations oil
public anxiety no less than the pressing
wants Of the State, if | were not, at the
very outset Of your labors, to recommend
the subject Of our finances as amongst the
first and principal of any which can or
ought to engage them. This is always
delicate and embarrassing subject, when
considered with reference to taxation,
but never so much so as when the neces.
sity for continuing high rate Of revenue
tax co-exist, as it does at present. with Sc
we're and discouraging reductions in the
marketable value of,he property from
which il must be taken. In this case, the
ordinary difficulty Of assessing tax
which shall be fair in its relative proper.
,ions, and sufficient in its total amount,
is deeply aggravated by the necessity Of
keeping upi its cxactions at the very mo.
ment when it would be most desirable to
relax them. This necessity would not
now be seriously felt, if felt at all, had the
Law of the last Legislature, providing for
an increase of revenue during the present
year, been as productive as it was intend.
ed and expected to have been. But as it
has not been so, having yielded little more
than half the sum il was expected to
yield, it will be for you to supply the de-
ficiencies Of the ensuing year, either by
re-enacting the same law, or by adopting
some other not less effective.
Whilst however, this law has but par
tally accomplished its main design OF
providing sufficient means to discharge
the current expenditures ofthe State;
together with the interest upon its perma-
men, debt, and to pay off its temporary
loan from The Banks, it has effected GER
tain collateral and contemplated objects OF
great value in the most gratifying and
serviceable manner. When IL was pass.