Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-12-11
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

ceived and read, as follows:
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Fello,c- Citizens of The Senate
and Of the House Of Delegates
am gratifed to say in this annual commune.
cation, that nothing has occurred since the time
of your adjournment 10 affect, in anywise, the
internal quiet, good order and security of the
State, or to disturb for single moment the GUS
tomary and lawful pursuits of the citizen. All
has been tranquil and all safe-,he duties and
obligations OF the government fulfilled without
embarrassment, and the objects of private indus
try pursued without oppression from public bur
thens or prejudice from business disorders. On
all sides we have been free from any unusual dis
aster, aftiiction or wrong have maintained in
violate the laws and credit Of the State have
suffered in nothing from which sound condi-
ton Of public justice and private morals could
protect US have been blessed generally by kind
Providence, with usual health, and, if in par
ucular places the profits OF our husbandry have
been lost from the severity of the season, our ge.
neral means OF subsistence are quite equal, it is
believed, for our general wants.
And here, In further enumeration of advanta-
ges, will add, that our temporary debt, which
amounted to three hundred and fifty thousand
dollars three years ago, has been entirely extn-
guished, that our State stock is at premium,
and that our revenue for the present calender
year will be more than adequate to the ordinary
wants oil the government-results which have
been accomplished under two successive reduce
lions IN the rate of tax, and under system of
taxation by far more satisfactory and more eaui-
table than the one il has so recently succeeded.
In all these respects-and they comprehend
large and important aggregate of general good
the condition OF the State is highly satisfactory
and furnishes, TO certain extent, the evidence Of
weli-doing and well-ordered Commonwealth.
But, IN other respects, and these nseparably con-
nected with every form of public and private well
fare, that condition is much less satisfactory, and
is such, indeed, that no wise and provident peo-
pie having the control of it in their own hands,
should permit to continue. This is true espe-
ciaily OF the labor and education Of our people
those parental interests which lie at the founda-
ton OF all others, and whose improvement and
union form together essential part of the re-
hnement, vigor and prosperity of State. Instead
OF chertshing these interests with the anxiety and
care which was proportioned to their value, and
which 1t was the clear duty OF the government to
have done, we have aided neither of them by any
ehectual system Of public means, and have very
generally mInlstered 10 the wants of both with as
reluctant and backward spirit as if the welfare
and efficiency of State consisted in something
else than in the number of hands and minds that
were freely, intelgently and usefuiy employed.
NO community, free and able as ours, is TO pro-
vide for its welfare as it pleased, and pressed as
ours is by the growing necessities of suffering
and critical situation to make that provision
boldly and completely, has ever, perhaps, per-
'mitted so enrching an amount of its intellect and
industry to be given up to so much improvidence
and waste. The humliating extent TO which the
very alphabet OF knowledge is unknown amongst
us, tells how deeply Intelligence has suffered,
and is still suffering from neglect, whilst the no
less humlliatlng amount of our internal and ex-
port trade, when compared with the size and fer
tility Of the State, tells how effectuaIy part of
our private labor has been destroyed by the over
powering difficulties which attend the transporta-
ton and exchange of its products But this is
not all. Another, and probably worse effect of
shis neglect, is the disturbing and unhappy in
huence which 1t exerts over the internal relations
and harmony of the State. The great loss to the
productiveness of labor which it has occasoned,
having fallen with more severity upon certain
geographical portions of the State than upon
Others, it has excited an Impotence and sense
OF wrong amongst them, which is foreign to the
interest OF common people, and which is daily
suPeradding to its other causes of mischief a
strong and bitter one of sectional disaffec,ion.
such being the condition of these interests, /
submit them to the Legislature with an earnest
recommendation to provide for them both as spec
oily and as efficiently as their importance and as
the power OF the State will justify. In this, the
Legislature will perceive the renewed recon-
tGs
on several occasions, urged upon its adoption.
ana winch urge upon i: again, certainly in no
spirit OIL Idle Importantly, but from the most So
Tenn conviction that it is not only Just, wise
ana oenehcent policy, indispensable to the good
government OF the State, but one which the Lee
s's'e'uIe cannot continue to postpone without ir-
reParable evil. and which, sooner or later. il will
be compelled to adopt upon principles of self
defence. 1t Virginia would retain the masses of
ner people who are crowdng into other States.
ana mus save Tor her own power, the youth en-
terPrise and wealth which she is annually pivino
up TO the power of others, she must so direct the
administration of her government as to make it
aheif interes, as lar as 1t can be done to remain
where they are. All that is necessary to accom-
pllsh this purpose cannot indeed be done by the
government, but what can be done, ought TO be
zone. The emigration which is enfeeblino and
wasting us to vital degree, must, if possible,
be stopped, and this, so far as that emipration
depends upon internal causes, and therefore with
In the reach OF positive CONTROL the Government
can cooperate, and is bound to cooperate in ef-
fecting. And that it is within the reach, to a
most available extent, of such control. is evident
from the tact, that the causes which generally
Cypress the condition of people and drive them
from their na've land TO some other, as neces-
sary process OF national or personal relief, have
scarcely even conceivable existence or opera-
ZION mere. we have no territory incapable of
''i"'oi 'e'Hehent vi SuodlVlslon,-no population
pressing on the limits Of subsistence no can't
tai and business so concentrated in few hands
as to place the great body of society under their
command I'VE have none of these causes Of
hardship, dependence or poverty for which emf.
grafton offers, wherever they are found, the com.
mon and effectual remedy. On the contrary, il
10 known to all, that if our population were sew
eral times greater than il Isl it could be maintain
ed and employed, not only without the slightest
burden upon our capabilities, but with the most
obvious and decided benefit to their development