The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-12-12


al ole white population, the BLESSINGS of eluca.
thu In the numerous appeals In behalf Of this
phcy which have within the last three Years
heen made from the forum and the press il seems
Ia have been assumed that We are the Degenerate
sons OF distinguished sres. and that " @ must aJoni
sone efficient system uf educa tinn o ares, our
downward course. This is nat ,rae in fact On
the con'rsry. never, since we iook stand amonu
tue nations OF the earth, have our daughters been
iater, or our suns more psiri",;c; never have the
blessings OF morality. of christianity. and of e,iu.
cation been so highly appreciated, SO ex,en
sively dflnsed
In the anxious consideration which has been
given To tins snlJ"ci. the great difficulty has
been In agreeing upon a practical and efficient
system. ffw can appreriate onr difficulties
none can do so VIII" are not familiar with nur
physical and s"cial ndiinn--bui among our dit
| nrM''es. am happy I" say, indisposion, and
VIII add indifference not To be fund. The
prevailing wish of our State is TO spread The lights
nj Srlence into our reuiotes, glens, and into the
humoieSi habi'aiions of the people. That this
VIII be d"r- there caunni he doubt how and
when. II is IN your wisdom Ia decide l. how
ever. recommend that poll be opened on the day
OF yonr neN annual election, est The sense of
each county upon the District School System
mat majority of The voters uf each county, vut-
ING at said election. shall decide npnn the ad"p
non or the rejection uf the sys,cm-ihat If il
'e rejected by particular c"on,y. then the dis
'iris into which such county may he divided
shall severallv vote upon its adoption within
their respective districts; the system Ia he udop
,"d IN each district giving majority at its res.
hi"n' VOTERS therefor In these suggestions my
purpose is 10 compel each county Ia vote upon
his sys'em-,he best. by Ear. which have ex
atnined-and when rejected in particular coun-
lies. /" give such districts thereof may de-
sire it, all The advantages contemplated by the
system.
The next suffice, Of the Message which We
shall notice, We have M doubt will find avor
with men of all parties in this section Of the
State. and wuuId if the Governor had advised
more severe and stringent action than he has
We are seriously affected ia this county and
neiahborhood by the influx of that population
spoken of below, and it has long been a desire
with our people to get rid of them. but they have
not been able to accomplish this wish. In the
suggestion Of the Executive they now see light.
FREE NEGRO POPULATIONS
'' regard nur free negro pupulaiion as one of
onr greatest evils. and Ia get rid Of il as one of
onr highest dntes. Great as may he the anna
rent difficulty Of accomplishing this desirable mea
sure. IT would dwindle into nsignfcance under
hold and decided treatment. Bnt all | now
p"p"se is the passage Of law providing that
have the right to vote upon the question of re-.
moving the free negroes. within their respective
limits beyond the C"mmonwealth--ihata all conn
ties voting affirmativelv shall communicate The
Tact to the Executive, who shall be required In
remove the Tree negroes within such counties
alter SIX or twelve months notice and that snch
population shall not thereafter he permitted to
reside therein. Such law. dependent mon the
vote of the people within their respective coun
ties, if adopted in single couniy--relie wing the
! White man ard the slave therein Of great and
unmiiigabe evil inflicting no inhnmanity non the
free negro. bnt by placing him in community
entertaining other and il may be more generous
views of his rights and capabilities, actually i'm
proving his prospect Of lettering his condiiioB-
would commend itself in very high degree 10
our constituents. and will. gentlemen, find favor.
! sincerely hope, with their representatives
Even if The proposed law should not he adnp,ed
IN single county. lis mere existence with The
power at any time to give it vitality would ma.
'arlally aid us in the management uf this unhap.
py race"
We are highly grafed with The remarks
which fnllow, as we have long been convinced
HAT the unfortunate suhec, mentioned is suffer
ing unjnsily. and contrary to the intention of the
law. We do no, coincide with the Executive in
The amount of guilt. for from all the facts which we
have been able to gather. we are firmly convinced
that it was an accidental homicide, for which
the prisoner has been severely punished How
ever this may he, the object sought to be obtained
by the Governor is that ought always be pro-
vded in every Constitution
coMMUTATIoN OF PUNISHMENT
When ! came into office / fund Hunter Hill
of Nansemond. under sentence of death for the
homicide nf Robi. r. Smith He was under re-
priNve by my predecessor. hut for reasons HAVING
no relation To his guilt or innocpnce I also re
proved him for one month for like reasons -
Subsequently, was urged to examine the record
and evidence in his case. did not feel at liberty
io decline so doing. hat undertook with great re.
lnciance. in consequence of a strong impression
that II was case OF cruel and deliberate murder
MY examination of the case. however, resulted
IN a very different conclusion became fully
satisfied that The criminal was mol guilty Of nur.
der IN the first degree and that il uas nv dniy
In arrest his execution. But. believing him ouil.
" of high offence. that deserved punishment. I
did not feel satisfied To pardon him. and there
lore reprleved bin until The sixth day nf Februa
ry next, that the Legislature n,ipht if they
thought proper, enable the Executive 10 cnmn,uie
the sentence Of death to confinement in the pepi
Tertiary In this | have The power To dis
charge the prisoner from cnrfnemeni and 10 free
MN iTt m all runishmt nj whatever. and yef f,r
want OF the right 10 use Tie PentPnlary I am
'nnable Ia commute his sentence to a term Of years
therein. Without legislation must discharge a
man from all punishment whatever. v no is not
gully 0f the crime "f which he stands convicted
according To the evidence before me. hut who is
guilty ct high crime for which he deserves and
"nghi to receive severe punishment Ought This
state of things 10 exist 7 VIII nOi The Lepisla
inre provide i"r il? Laws Of the description I
now propose have long prevailed in The State Of
Now York and presume exist in other States of
our Union.
The suggestion contained in The follow ing
plragraI b IS new 10 rs IL il be in The nurver If