Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-12-15


Nlagistracy OF my State, adhering To this policy
aVaeo myself OF the first opportunity TO press al
enlarge upon 1t. i could not, therefore witbo
concern, witness the efforts that were maxine
pervert the law, and to sink one of the most in
portant enterprises of the State into a mere loo
Improvement, and felt bound to exert all the j,
! liuonce ut my command TO defeat this desipn. nm
10 overthrow the eXceptionable and unpatriot
struggles which were making for its accompI;sI
ment.
Inc BOARD OF Public Works was created by In,
LOT 'he purpose OF carrying out the views of tn
General Assembly, and whenever n difference ,
opinion arises as TO those views, the power to settl
IL should be reserved 20 you alone. The proceed
ing on inc part OF the Louisa Railroad Company
the nrst that has been undertaken in this State am
trust you will, by the requisite legislation. nro
vide that 1t shall be the last of its kind that shall
be entertained in court of Justice
Dy an ACT OF the last session, passed March ODD
lo4I, tits made the duty of the Board of Publ,
WORKS. In appointing State Directors to select sucl
as are bona .fidc stockholders. | respectfully re-
commend that this section be repealed Such Di-
rectors are designed to reprcs the State Stock in
such companies. and are selected under the belief
that they will faithfully represent that interest
can see no reason for adding to this obligation the
influence OF private interest, producing thereby
possibly, conflict of opposing interests The re-
qulrement also restricts the range of selection, not
uhlrequently To the public injury.
he last General Assembly directed the Board
oil Public Works to subscribe TO sundry internal
improvements, then in contemplation Ii is known
that large sums will be needed to meet such en-
gagements, In anticipation whereof, and to provide
the means promptly 10 meet them, the law author
ICES the Second Auditor TO make SALE as may be
requisite, Of the State Bonds. But as this provi-
Sion may prove inadequate 10 maintain the bubble
iaith lnvola'c, and as no reliance can be placed on
thn 90
ternal Improvement" which authorizes a sale of
our road stocks for reinvestmcnt, deem additional
legislation necessary, and therefore respectfully re-
commend the passage of law authorizing the
Board of Public Works TO dispose of the Bank
Stock at not less than par, now held by them.
when necessary to meet their payments.
| communicate herewith Preamble and Reso.
luiions adopted by the Baltimore aud Ohio Railroad
Company, on the 25lh of August last. TDoc. No.
10, accepting an act, entitled ''an act TO author
lze the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company to
construct the extension Of their railroad through the
territory OF Virginia" passed the 9th March, lS47.
The boon conferred upon this Company is a great
one. by il we divide advantages of incalculable
value. of which we never could have been deprived.
and give forever to a rival company wealth and
power. cannot feel indifferent to these conse-
q"chceS' TO which can only, in some degree, be
reconcled by the reflection, that they secure local
advantages for portion of our folow-citzons pro
badly beyond the reach of similar improvement of
our own trust, however that further conces-
sons are at an end and that the grant will not be
enlarged, no matter how earnestly or cloquently
pressed. recommend this line of conduct in no
spirit of hostility to this Company for admire
their spirit and energy, and would rejoice to see fl
emulated here
On the 3Oth Of September last our pententary
contained 2ll convicts, diminution OF fifteen
within the year. OF this number l3i are whites
and 80 are negroes. OF the whites 90 are Virrjn
lans; of the blacks - were born within our State.
by comparison with the preceding year, the num-
Der Of white convicts born in Virginia has been re-
duced in number
The free negroes, although numbering by the
census Of 1910 only forty-nine thousand eight
hundred and forty-two, perpetrae nearly two fifths
Of the crime of the State, although we have there
In seven hundred and forty thousand nine hundred
and sixty eight whites, and four hundred and for
ty-eight thousand nine hundred and eiphtv-seyen
slaves. This is mournful demonstration. II
proves beyond human doubt that freedom to the
negro is curse, and his presence in our midst an
evil of the most fearful magnitude. Essentially
and hopclessly degraded, he corrupts the slave
with whom he habtually associates, and becomes
the ready instrument of the unprincp'ed white
man, and too frequently his shield And is there
no remedy? Are we bound to bear this cancer in
our bosom, and see lis slow but fatal poison dffuse
IL
The right of self preservation is universally con-
coded to every community. 1t is the foundation
upon which rests all police regulations. and bv
which alone they can be justified. The subjects
or citizens OF belligerent power at war with the
country IN which they are temporarily residing
may be removed therefrom or TO the interior thereof
at pleasure. No enquiry is made whether such
persons are acting an unfriendly part. The gene
raj suspicion which attaches to them as aliens is a
8 al.
er personally oppressive or destructive of private
fortune. Even in peace this power can be and fire.
quently has been exercised. In "Prigg u.s. The
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania decided by the
Supreme Court of the United States at their Jan.
uary term, 1912, Chief Justice fancy recornizes
the right of State, in the exercise OF her powers
over her internal police, 'to remove from her terri
tory disorderly and evil disposed persons or those
who, from the nature OF her institutions. arc dan.
gerous to her peace and tranquility" And Mr.
Justice Story in delivering the opinion of the Court
referring TO the free States, says, 'the Court en-
tertain no doubt whatsoever, that the States in
virtue Of their general police power, possess full
jurisdiction to arrest and restrain runaway slaves
and to remove them from their borders, and other
wise TO secure themselves against their depreda
tons and evil example, as they certainly may d,
in case of oilers, vagabonds and paupers." With
in our own State we have frequently applied lh
police principle to our free negroes. 1t is embodi
ed in many of our statutes, and indeed in relation
to them constitutes OUR general policy. Why ar,
free negroes from other States prohibited from set
Ting hereR Why is it that when they do Won
ture within our limits the law sternly demand
their immediate removal? Why is it. that, sine
1906, those who may be manumittcd and remai
within our State over twelve months, are sold in
TO slavery? Why is it that we do not allow then
TO be taught to read and write, TO possess weapons
TO bear arms. TO give evidence against white man
TO inermarry with whites, 70 vote. and 10 teac
the word Of God TO their own race in public assem-
blies 1t is because long experience has taugl
us they are evil disposed and degraded, idlers. va
gabonds and paupers. In 1881 or 1892, the cit
Zcns OF Northampton county petitiOncd the Lcpis
Ia FIN fc e..