Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-12-14
Governors Message.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Dec. 4, 1843.
fsilo,o Citizens of the Senate,
of L. ,F III,

although the time which has passed
Since your late adjournment is but short, !
and has not been productive of any ex
traordlnary national events. nor OF any
Irregular or critical condition of ourl
State affairs, there is nevertheless. in the
current condition of these, a goood deal
that will require the provident exercise
OF the functions to which you have retur-
ned. So frequently, however, have pre-
vious legislatures convened under like
condition of things, that you will see inl
the existing one, nothing to be surprised
at, nor any thing else which is not Incl
dent at all times TO the common course
and operation of Governments. Like o.
Their Legislatures, you will find in your
turn, how difficult it is to place the wide
and various interests Of the Common
wealth upon their soundest and steadl-
est footing. And like others too, you
will fad. when YOU have executed your
trust in this respect, to the uttermast OF
your ability and means. have extended
your aid to every thing that may be tho't
to require or deserve it, and applied
your remedies to every discovered defect
in the policy, principles and administra-
tioH of the laws, that the Inherent tenden
Cy of them all to relaxation and disorder,
vii. operate just as betore--that your
own labors will result in lmperfectlons,
which the labors of others to correct, and
that. at last, the great problem OF what
is best TO be done for the good of the
Common wealth, will continue to occdpy
your successors in office, as anxiously as
it now occupies you. Such is the con
slant movement. either forward or back
ward, in all human things, that the duties
of legislation can never cease, no matter
how we'll or wisely they may be perform
ed. Aud, least OF all. are these duties
like to be suspended even, much less to
cease, in communities like ours, where
the whole body of the law is in perfect
sympathy with the people, upon whose
consent it is formed, and where, as a
necessary consequence, change will be
made to follow change, not because the
public mind is reckless of results. but
because, on the contrary. it is habitua,ly,
ardently and profoundly intent upon
shaping results for the best, and SO OBJ.
tanning. for human happiness, everything
which government and laws can be made
to contribute. These are the duties
which await you, and such has been the
general health. the general abundance,
tie perfect peace, the soothing repose
from party conflict, the exemption from
calamities of all kinds, by which tie year
that's closing has been naked, that you
enter upon these du ties, surrounded by
blessings which call upon you. and upon
the State, for devout gratitdue to Him,
who had provided and bestowed them
all. With advantages SO auspicious to
the calm, wise and prompt execution of
your duties, the public have right to
expect, that correspondent good will
be recelved-that without engrossng
your time with narrow legislation for
small defects, you will arrange, with
wisdom. the pecuniary burthens of the
State-will foster, with liberal hand,
the subjects of education and internal
commerce-and so labor, to bring the
sympathies and interests of our scatter
ed people into fellowship and unity with
each other, as to lay the foundations of
a still broader, and more progressive
prosperity, than we have yet enjoyed,
and thus contribute useful share to the ,
patriotic work Of rendering the Common
wealth as strong in every physical, NOR
al and intellectual power, as she has ev.
Ell been in the veneratlon and attachment
Of hei children.
lshould overlook the manifestations
of public anxiety no less than the press
ing wants of the State, if | were not, at
the very outset of your labors, to recon-
mend the subject of our finances as am
ongst the iii st and principal of any which |
can or ought to engage them. This is
always delicate and embarrassing sub |
ject, when considered with reference to
taxation, but never 80 much so as when
the necessity Tor continuing high rates I
of revenue tax co-exist, as it does at pre /
sent, with severe and discouragire re-
aetions in the marketable property
from which it must be taken. In this
case the ordinary difficulty of assessing
tax, which shall be fair in its relative
proportions, and sufficient in its total A.
mount, is deeply aggravated by the ne
cessity of keeping up its exactios at the
very moment when it would be most de-
sirab'e to relax them. This necessity
would not be seriously felt, if felt at ali.
had the law of the last Legislature, pro-
viding for an increase of revenue during
lac present year. been as productive as
it was Intended and expected TO have
been. But as it has not been SO, having
Welded little more than half the sum +
was expected 10 yield. it will be for you to
supply the Deficiencies Of the ensuing
wear, either by re-enacting the same law,
or By adopting some other not less effec
tive.
Whilst, however, this law has but par