Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-12-11
MESS AGE
OF THE
GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA..
Fel:oyv.t tttxe..s of tl,efSenate
and of the Huusc CT Delegate

&aSS EkN ~ OA AAS 80 = = = -
pel.oxr.t tttxe.s of tl,efSenate
and of the House CT delegates,
am gratified to say in this annual comnlu-
rication, that nothing has occurred since the
time Of your adjournment TO affect. IN any WISE,
the internal quiet, good order, and security OF
the State, or tie disturb for single moment the
customary and lawful pursuits OF the citlzen.-
All has been tranquil and all sa:e-the dntless
and Obligations of the government fulflied with
out embarrassment, and the objects OF private
industry pursued without Impressions from pub
lie burthens or prejudice from business dlsord-
e!s. On all sdes we have been Tree from any
unusual disaster, affection or wrong; have
maintained inyiolate the laws and credit OF the
State have suffered in nothing from which
sound condition of public justice and private
morals could protect Us; have been blessed ge-
neral,y by kind Providence, with our usual
health, and, if in particular places the profits
Of our husbandry have been lost from the sever
itv of the season, our general means OF suoSis-
tonce are quite equal, il is believed, for our ge-
neral wants.
And here, in future enumeration of advanta-
ges, vii! add, that our temporary debt, which
amounted to three hundred and fifty thousand
dollars three years ago, has been entirely ex-
tinyuislied .aad on, State stock is at g premium,
and that our revenue for the present calendar
wear " i'll be more than adequate to the ofdlna-
~ wants of the government-resuits which
have been accomplished under two successive
reductions Of the rate of tax, and under system
OF taxation by far more satisfactory and more
equitable than the one ii has so recently sue
ceeded.
In all these respects and they comprehend
large and important aggregate Of general good
the condition of the State is highly saiisiac-
tory, and furnishes, to a certain extent the evl
dence of we'll doing and welordered Com
monwealtil But, i'll other respects, and those
inseparably connected with every fern OF pub
lie and private welfare, that condition Is less
satisfactory, and is such. indeed, that no wise
and prcvident people. having the control OF 1t
10 their own hands. should permit to continue.
This is true, especially of the labor and educa-
ton Of our peopls-ti.ose parental interests that
lie at the foundation of all others, and whose
improvement and union form together SO essen
sial part Of the refinement, yigor aud prosper
s,y of State Instead Of cherishing these IN
terests with the anxiety and care winch was
propor;ioned to their value, and which 1t was
the clear duty of the government to have done,
we have aided neither of them by any effectu-
al system of public means, and have very gen
orally ministered to the wants OF both with as
reluctant and backward spirit as If the wei
fare and efficiency Ct State consisted IN some
thing else than in the number of hands and
minds that were freely, intelligentiy and use
fully employed. No community, free and able
as ours is. to provide 70 its welfare as it pleas
ed. and pressed as ours is by the growing ne
cessities of suffering and critical situation to
<l,.t ,>~o,;c;,, boldly. and co,pDlpfeIv
has ever, perhaps. permitted 50 enriching an a
mount of its intellect and industry to be given
up to SO much improyidence and waste. The
i,umliating extent to which the very alphabet
Of knowledge is unknown amongst US, tells
how deeply our intelligence has suffered, and
is still sufsriog from neglect. whilst the no less
humiliating amount Of our internal and export
trade, when compared with the size and fertiI-
ity Of the State. tells how effectually a part of
our private labor has been destroyed by the ov-
empowering difficulties which attend the trans
portation and exchange of its products. But
this is not all Another, and probably worse
effect of this neglect, is the disturbing and I'M
happy influence which it exerts over the inter-
nal relations and harmony Of the State. The
great loss to the productiveness of labor which
i has occasioned. having fallen with more Sc
verify upon certain geographical portions OF the
State than upon others, it has excited an impa-
thence and a sense Of wrong amongst them,
which'is foreign to the interest of a common
people. and which is daily superadding to its
other causes Of mischief strong and bitter one
Of sectional disaffection.
Snch oeing the condition of these interests. I
submit them to the Legislature with an earnest
recommendation to provide for them both as
speedily and as efficiently as their Importance
and as the power of the State viii Justify. In
this, the Legislature viii perceive the renewed
+ Recommendation Of policy which have here
tofore. on several occasions, urged upon its adj
option, and which Iurge upon it again, certain
" in no spirit OF idle Importantly, but from the
most solemn conviction that it is not only just
wise and beneiicent policy, Indispensable to the
good governments Of the State, but one which
the Legislature cannot continue to postpone
without irrepable evil, and which, sooner or la
ter, it will be compelled to adopt upon princi-
pies Of self-defence. IfVirgina would retain
the masses Of her people who are crowdipg into
other States, and thus save for her own power,
the youth, enterprise and wealth which she is
annually giving up to the power Of others, she
must 90 direct the administration of her govern
ment as to make it their interest, as Tar as it
can be done, to remain where they are. All
That q necessary to accomplish this purpose
cannot indeed be done by the government, but
what can Be done, ought TO be done. The en-
;vrstion which Is enfeebling and wasting Y to
s vial degree, must, if possible, be stopped,
8 and this. o Ear as that emigration depends up
IS, internal causes, and therefore within the
r1aeh az positive control, the government can
-orerate and is bound 70 Cooperate in effect
$50. A I'd sAas Il IS within the Isschs 70 loost
: ~. II