Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-12-18
THE NAVY, ETC.

duo ol tne great European powers,
whose maritime forces are far superior
to ours. 1t is hoped, in view of the
facts brought to view by the president,
that Congress will adopt such meas
ures as will place our navy in a more
respectable position before the world.
I Taken all together, Mr.. PoLx's
message is an able document; plain
and unostatious in its style, and reflects
no little honor upon its author, as a
sagatious statesman and pure patriot,
whose highest ambition is 10 see his
country happy and prosperous.
Election Of Governor. On the 10th
inst. the Legislature balloted for a Co.
vernon of the State, to succeed Mr..
MCDOWELL, whose term expires on
the first Of January next. Hon. WILL
LIAM SMITH, of Fauquicr county, was
chosen on the first ballot. The Joint
vote of two houses was as follows
For Smith, "a; for Brockenbrough 49,;
scattering, 26. We are very well sat-
isfed with the result, as we believe
MIR. S. to be true-hear,ed Virginian,
and that he will make an excellent Co.
vernon. 1t is understood that he is in
favor of the call of Convention to a =.
mend the State Constitution; but it is
thought by some of his opponents, who
are not perhaps acquainted with his
opinions, that Mr.. S. will not give as
hearty support to the improvements
that are proposed to be made in the
Western part ofthe State, as the friends
ofthose Improvements could desire
OF the truth of this surmise, however,
we have no positive evidence. But,
even granting that, privately, Mr.. S. IS
views are adverse to extensive internal
Improvements in the West, we cannot
but believe that, as Governor of the
State, he could not, and would not,
place his seal of disapprobation upon a
system of improvements, the obvious
tendency Of which would be to deyel-
/ ope the dormant resources ofthe State.
and contribute to the general prosperi-
ty of the people. Mr.. SMITH is a
warm advocate Of the cause of Educa-
ton, whatever may be his views upon
other subjects. We repeat it, W. are
well pleased with the selection made by
the Legislature, and do not believe that
we shall have just reasons for regret at
the result.
CoNGREss.--No action has yet been
hac on any measure of sufficient i'm
portance to interest our readers. Mr..
Adams is pouring in petitions from
Massachusetts against the annexation
Of Texas to the U. States, as a slave
State. That is certainly laudable
and patriotic calling for the people of
that state, some of whom are indebted
to the products of slave labor for their
prosperity and their fortunes. Suppose
that slavery-hating people should refuse
to use any of the products Gifts laborip
their families or in any ftheir pursuits
suppose they should refuse to use
the sugar, the molasses, the rice, the
tobacco, and the cotton, produced by it
-whatthen would bethe consequence.
Nay, more: Suppose these articles
should find market elsewhere,-bow
very soon would these patriotic .consci.
encsous petitioners change their tone
'1hat are Hunt.'-We are comnelled
to defer that are hunt till next week
The messages and proceedings of Con-
gress and the Legislature have crowd.
ed out everything else. That's cause
why.