Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-12-08

REQUIRED. Such law would make our 6anhs
cautious and healthy, each Bank sending nome
the notes OF the others for payment, all wouio DC
kept within safe and prudent lhnhs-sP's
would cease 10 be at a pre- ium-e1eSa"ss
would Decline and the small notes Oh o'nef o'a'e'
would Instantly disappear. ,r, u
herewith communicate the annual repor! Oh
the Adiulant General on the state OF The Militia,
and ask for his suggestions careful consideration
Our militia system needs great and radicai re-
form. |, is aheavy annual charge TO The oale,
with but little of any corresponding equivalent.
Its music alone COSTS upwards OF $l2,000 year,
which might be wholly dispensed with, II me
presen, organization should be preserved, Win
The execution of volunteer and resimenlal mus
ers. Blu, am satisfied ha! The true policy Of
The State is 10 adopt an efficien! volunteer system
and some cheap but easy method oil enrolment
for The mass o! our militia.
have 10 inform you OF the resignation OF DIT
sadier General Henry B. Woodhouse, a,e COM
nander of The ninth brigade OF The lour'h diVisioh
of the militia OF Virginia.
l also communicate The reports oi inc CaP.d,n
If rhr Public Guard and Superintendent, vi Pub.
liz Ed;fces recommend that this branch oil
The public service shall no longer be charged win
the salaries of the interior or civic guard oil The
nenitenliary. | cannot see The proprieiy OF ex'
emp,ug that institution from The obligation 10 pay
lis own officers, exclusively responsible 10, ana
under The control of, lis Superintendent. lalsore-
commend The sale OF a considerable portion Of
our ordnance and number oil our small arms
am satisfied that they might be disposed OF with.
IN, weakening our defence, and al the same time
Give MS The use of considerable amount OF CAPT.
tai now lying unpfoductive and daily diminish
Ing in value. also recommend The passage o.
law fixing, in terms and figures, The pay and
allowances OF the officers OF the Public Guard
They are now entitled TO the pay and allowances
., officers Of The United States Army OF similar
rank and location. do not regard il az proper
or becoming, 10 leave any portion OF our liabili.
lies dependant upon the legislation of The United
States. We have already sustained serious
loss by the construction put upon The laws Of Con
eress in relation to the subject; that construction
being different from that put upon II by our &C
counting officers, and in which the officers OF said
Guard hal long acquiesced.
La consequence oil this construction oil The courts
YOU will hive 10 make provision for the paymen
Of iudgneai obtained by Lieut.. Brown, and
claim preferred by Lieut.. Selden, late OF The Pub
lie Guard.
herewith ,ransait the report OF our Vaccine
Agent, explanatory OF his branch OF Inc PUBIC
service. called for this report, thai might form
some estimate OF the value OF this agency TO the
Stale. and also of the manner in which is duties
had been reformed. From perusal Of this re-
port am satisfied that this agency is OF grea
public importance, and that The agent has per
formed his duty in highly satisfactory manner
The State owns house and lot in very d
lapidaled condition, in The county OF Norfolk. i
was originally purchased for hospital under oul
quarantine laws, but has not been used for on;
for many years. II is now occupied by tres
passrr, and Is daily diminishing in value The
Stale also owns small LOT Of land short dis
lance above The city, and Immediately on the Ca
nal. Although really valuable for lis granite
ouarries. il is not so 10 the State. | recommend
The passage OF a law providing for the sale o
both of them.
Our quarantine laws require your attention.
Passed prior 10 the adoption OF the Federal Con
silution, they are very imperectly adapted 10 ou
present relations and condition, and would seen
10 be unnecessary, especially as the acts passet
February I2lh, 1919, and February llth. 1882
seem 10 provide all The power requisite 10 guan
against the introduction Of small pox, to proven
lis spreading and 10 effect its cure.
The law providing Tor the erection OF court
house was carefully considered. The Executive
unanimously concurred in The opinion that j
nuoh; not 10 he located on The vacant lot attached
Ia the Government, mansion. Upon examination
The Museum was found TO be nothing better thar
n mass of crumblng ruins, 10 nj up which for ;
courthouse, il it could be done al all, would in
volve an expense fully equal 10 that OF erecting
out of The same materials, as far as they wonlt
go new and appropriate building. The pub
lie service really required courthouse wiIhou
delay, and deemed il my duly 10 carry out IN,
plain intent and meaning OF the Legislature, bJ
The erection Of one, neat in appearance, solid IN
structure, convenient in arrangement, and eco
nomical in cost. For further particulars as tc
the improvements which have been completed oil
arc in progress, refer you TO the report OF lh'
superintendent OF public edifices.
Our internal improvement fund has dimin
ished in The past year 1857 ,598 SO. To hi,
may be added our stock ip the Winchester ant
Potomac Railroad Company, am abou! one.thirc
Of our loan TO il, making in the aggregate Sl7O,
900. The policy which seems 10 have governed
the last Legislature IN relation 10 thia Company
will, presume, be extended 10 other embarrass.
ed corporations, and The consequence will be
heavy reduction OF The nominal amount
Of our internal improvement fund. | am sat
tisfed, however, that this act was hurried
through the Legislature amid the confusion
OF lis closing scenes, and thus escaped thai
vigilance which il would Otherwise have re-
ccived. That act gives up 100000 dollars for
an annuity of 5000 dollars without any assu-
rance of the payment of that small sum, and can
moi be accounted for, Otherwise than as | have
slated. II plainly demonstrates The importance
Of adopting some precaution against The rccur-
renee of similar legislation. Notwithstanding
the serious reduction in The amount oflhis valua-
be fund.- am happy to inform you that lis in.
come is improving.
Bul our Internal Improvement Fund is wholly
inadequate for The prosec uton OF that system Of
improvements called for by your constituents in
every part of our beloved Commonwealth which
is indispensable 10 the full development of our
wonderful advantages, and ihe commencement OF
which can no longer. be deferred without disre-
gard OF those high duties, Upon the manly and
enlightened performance al which mainly de-
ponds The position which Virginia is to maintain
among her sister States. All The elements oil
greatness are ours fertile soil, genial climate.
exhaustless mineral wealth. broad and noble r.
yers, mighty wafer power territory large enough
Tor an European empire, noble people, and 'o
all which may he added, a most fortunate geo.
graphical position, present an array Disadvantages
unknown 10 any other SPOT of similar dimensions
on the habtabe globe Shall We longer delay &c
mse these noble elements OF greatness2 Shall il
be said that we have not intelligence to anpre-
ciate, or The spirit use these inestmable gifts OF
Heaven7 That, deaf to The hum OF industry, and
nsensible TO the vigorous enterprise which dis
llHSulSnFS OlHeT OtdlcS, WE dTc CUHteHt w HNr VII
in Incidence and ease upon memories that are
goHe7
In laying my views before you, gentlemen,
upon this most important subject am very SEN
sible that / may Dc liable 10 severe animadver-
sion-lha, may disappoint some and offend
others. But love my Stale TOO sincerely, am
100 deeply anxious for her thorough development
TO hesitate in the performance of my duty. lam
prepared 10 incur the responsibility of those vigo'
rous measures which shall cheerfully recon-
mend, and which, sincerely hope, you will
sanction and approve.
The age is unitarian. Whether or not the
wonderful discoveries of physical science are The
cause or The effect OF this condition OF the world
ii is needless to enquire. But the march OF i'm
proycment is onward The most imposing OBJ
struclons are readily overcome: time and space
are amos, annihilated, and The most remote
parts OF the earth are made 10 iee dependent up
ON each other, and 10 recognize, to some extent, a
common interest Virginia will not consent TO
give up her righlfu part in this mighty destiny
Embracing within her limits two routes OF great
importance TO The Union, and OF ncacuable va
lae 10 the country through which they pass, the
people require an early construction upon them