Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-12-05

4
sai'ed 10 such design With these suggestions
respectfully submit the subject Tor your consde.
! ration.
! BY The fourteenth section Of The Act, pass
March ~ 1920, entitled IAN acf to amend The Sc
vera laws concerning the Peniieniary institution"
| it's male "the duty Of The Executive 10 repor, 10
the General Assembly, al each session, every
case Of pardon granted by Them" Although this
act has never been complied with in single in
stance, and has Consequently grown into disuse,
releni circumstances nave drawn my attention 10
il; and 10 subsequent message which shall do
myself The honor 10 communicate 10 you, will
comply with lis requirement.
The term Of the guberHatorial Office CON-
mences al most incouyenient time, 10 the
midst OF Winter, at the close OF one year, and
the beginning Of another; and the Governor
elect is called upon TO abandon his private al
fairs, and speed with all diligence to the seat If
Government, that he may commence at the pro-
per time his official career. The removal OF his
family IS imp-acticable, not only from want of
time but from the natural incemency Of the wea-
Their; and should he reside in remote parts of the
Commonwealth, it would be impossible for him
to receive notice Of his eection, and be 10 place
at the commencement of lis official term. To
obviate these inconvenience, and other objec.
tons which readily suggest themselves recon.
mend that il be provided by law that the Gu
Material term shall commence on the first day
| of October next, and on the first day If the
same month every third year thereafter, in.
stead Of that now fixed by law. Many Of the
reasons for this change so readily presen, them.
selves, that shall not give them here; but |
will remark, that The first day of October is The
commencement of our fiscal year; the period up
10 which the various State agencies are directed
TO make their annual reports; al which the term
for which members Of assembly are elected be.
| eins, and al which, for the sake Of uniformity
alone, there would be peculiar propriety for
the commencement of The Gubernatorial term
In connexion wih this subject, respectfully
submit Tor your consideration he propiely of in.
cfeasing the salary q the governor Asnow fix.
Ell by law il is not only no equivalent for The sac.
rificc OF private interests which this officer must
make, but II IS inadequate Tor The support OF the
proper hospaies OF the government; house.
You can well imagine, gentlemen, how notify.
| ing II must be 10 The man you may honor with
this high office, II without private fortune 10 be
compelled 10 decline il, or II he accept it, 10 deny
himself The endearmenls OF his family, and the
practice OF that hospitality SO pleasant and so ma
| ural 10 every Vfginian, and which our chief
magistrate should lake especial pleasure in ex-
tending to every distinguished stranger make
these suggestions from sense of duty 10 The Stale
and 10 my successors, and with The more satisfac-
| lion that they can under no circumstances enuIe
10 my advantage. With these remarks, con6de
this subjec, 10 your pride and sense OF justice.
In my last annual message, informed you
that the regiment We had furnished at he call Of
our country, TO aid in the Mexican war, had not
| had the good fortune 10 win honorS on the field
OF battle have now 10 inform you, that this
/ war having been closed our regiment has re-
turned home, in fine health but lille diminished
| in numbers by DEATH and, with high character
tor soldierly efiicien y, have been honorably dis
| charged from the public service.
BY the war with Mexico, which has been Gle
sed by an honorable peace, we have greatly ele-
vailed The American name, and largely extended
our federal limits. Within this acquisition is 10
be found, have no doubt the richest country OF
the earth, aflording 10 every citizen ample scope
Tor his enterprise and industry
But, gentlemen, regret 10 see determination
manifested in certain sections OF our Union 10 ey-
clude our Southern population from our new &C
QUESTIONS | am mortified also 10 believe that
| mis- determination is the result in parl OF the con-
vision that We will submit 10 such exclusion II
is my anxious desire 10 see this question selled
during the session OF Congress which commences
This day; but, il not, | have great conf ence in
the patriotism OF the Senate OF The United States,
and have strong hope, from The position and cha.
racler OF the President elect, that he will not pei
nit this unjust and oppressive policy 10 be con-
summated by giving 10 il his official SANCTION
II, however, The policy OF exclusion should pre-
vail By the passage Of the Wimot Pioylso or
any o.her kindred measure then indeed the day
OF compromise will have past, and the dssou-
ton OF our great and glorious Union will become
necessary and inevitable. May God in his mef-
cy, however, pass this cup from our lips. Ii lie
meantime, recommend the passage OF Fl IN aud
temperate resolves, similar in character and prin-
cipie 10 those unanimously adop,e. By the Gene
raj Assembly on The 9Th day OF March, lS47.
have thus, gentlemen. presented 10 you my
views OF the condition 0. The Commonwealth,
and such measures as are calculated 10 increase
her prosperity. Before closing my last annual
message, however, | must ask your attention 10
a brief statement OF the leading measures mat |
have recommended, and the principles and feel.
ngs which have governed me-
In my first message, recommended the call Of
State Convention, for the purpose Of revising
orr State Constitution; but the people did not
seem 10 feel any great anxiety about il and
have .orborne since to urge il. My opinion,
however, is unchanged, for am decidedly
in favor of The measure. Deeming a sys-
tenn OF Internal Improvements indispensable
TO the prosperity oil the Stale, | embraced
The first opportunity, earnestly and almost
| passionately, 10 press il upon your allenion;
| but | advised most anxiously that we should
select one, or al most two, great enerprizes, and
concentrate our resources upon Them, until they
should be completed, leaving all secondary I'M
provemens 10 future day Such has been my
policy in this respect, perse y"rinsy enforced; and
| cheeriully leave its wisdom to the lest ol The
public judgment. Sreing, 10 my opinion, defects
in our judicial system affecting seriously The
| pure sound and certain administration Of JUS
| iicc, have pointed them out repeatedly, with
| nope that you might undertake their REFORM
Considering il important 10 the success OF thai ca.
| rcer 81 enterprise and industry, IN which hoped
10 our Stale vigorously engage that all he
| capital held By her ciiizeus should be liberated, |
nave recommended from lime to time the repeal
| u The usury laws. Looking 10 our social state
| ard finding thai il embraced two races and lhree,
classes OF people, each governed by different
| aw. one Of tnem the free negroes hopelessly de-
graded here npaning essentially the value ofihe
| Slave, and sapping seriously he character Of
Of rtion OF The whites could not see This state OF
| things and be silent-and, accordingly, have e
| psatedly recommended measures for us improve
| meni. These and numerous other measures Of
secondary importance, embracing, however, va
| rious and important educational Suggestions, are
the means by which have proposed 10 improve
our physical, social, intellectual and moral cor
ti,ion And alter my best reflections, persuade
my sell that there is not one oi these which, il u
| ~ carried oul, would not conduce 10 The real
prosperity OF our State.
In reference TO the principles by which | have
been governed, can truly say that he great and
controlling one, has been fidelity 10 The hies md
honorable trust which has been coLiiicd 10 me.
| The various measures which have recommen.
ded, have MT in any instance been the result u
selfish considerations, bu, Of a sincere desire 70
promote the hes, interests OF our Sate; and |
! feel that may claim this character from he pub.
lie judgment, when il is remembered, that there IS
scarcely an important interest that have not al
some time or other inleIiared with and opposed
Ia few days, and shall be an humble unit
OF that mighty aggregate which makes This efea!
republic With our country al peace with all
the world, and overlooking with every blessing;
with fame rapidly rising in The esiimallono Of
nations, and already distinguished as the model
hoU laav he's Pi nj ar lin A led