Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-01-11
For ne Enquirer
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE AND INTERNAL
IMPROVEMENT

FW US Enquirer.
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE AND INTERNAL
IMPROVEMENT.
Messrs. Editors-I have Just read The Cover
nor's message, document which will stand well.
| think by the sid. Of any OF the numerous Pa.
peTs OF The kind which the season brings US. He
talks like a Governor Of Virginia, and not like
the lieutenant OF an American province There
is no great question bearing on the individual in.
ter,st Of The State which is not fully and boldly
met and discussed, AID her dutes as a memter Of
The Union are acknowledged in terms just sufi
cent aud no more. There is not single mind
among hose lc which i, is addressed which will
not feel iise by the earnest and unshrnking
style in which our domestic matters are discuss
ed, and measures for their benefit urged. brace6
more strongly for The noble strife in behalf OF lhs
Stale TO which they arc called. Some paris OF
the line OF policy he recommends will probably
have 10 wait for a long time on public sentiment
before heir adoption, and may seem TO our lesis
la,ors some " hat foreign 10 their present response
bilily; but il is far better al This time and in this
state 10 err on be side OF bodness than Of timd
ty-the fault OF our councils having hitherto been
a nesGtire aud conservative spirit The Cover
nor knows that he will not get more than he asks
for, and that he may Congratulate himself if be
cnly gets lille less. Bul the measures 10 which
he most fully commits himself, are such as have
been most decidedly endorsed by public feeling,
and are, as he shows, far within The public abii-
IT, There is nothing 10 stand in their way bu! a
few unworthy obstacles which have always op
posed every grea, movement for good among Us
and always will continue 10 do so, unless trcdden
under FOO, by one bold legislature All the
circumstances under which the present one
meets, seem TO favor the hope Of something
decisive towards Internal Improvement from
it. The Stale finances were never in sound
md ~
licularly agricultural, on which Virginia works
mus; mainly depend, never more flourish
ing; the profits q such Improvements as are
finished and The prospect OF profit from new ones
never more encouraging, and The minds Of ouT
citizens never more disposed by this uniform
prosperity 10 mutual sacrifices Tor their mutual
good II may be added that the vortex OF Federal
politics is hal narrowed, It's .oa ming whi!ls
Gained down and The heimsmen Of The Old Do.
minon can easily steer their s,aunch bark within
$50 miles OF lis centre without danger of absorp-
lion into The gut profound They can now con.
vince themselves that The surest way OF enforcing
our views Of the proper government Of The Union,
will be 10 give them dignity and force by mprov.
ing our power and position, TO show that we
know how 10 govern our own State before we as.
pire TO govern all The oilers, and that the safes,
mode OF check-maing The abolionis,s will be The
securing an influence and Status which will en-.
able us 10 oeiy them. Those perpery parsonage,
will never be answered by argumen, or an ap.
real 10 their common sense. Let US send
Them 10 our mountains TO work for US, and ap
pea 10 their pockets
The Legislature will, doubt not weigh care
fully The specific Recommendations which the Co
werner makes, and not allow the perhaps, too
hastily conceived impTaciicabilily OF one or Two
Of the lines he favors, 10 prejudice the favorable
consideration Of the rest, or OF The whole. 1t is Ct
great importance 10 have The responsibility oil Sc.
lection assumed by one whose office ougb, 10
place him above The local feeling and iuleres,
which must influence 10 so great an extent lbe
toiv whose selection must be final The head Of
The Executive, whose duty ii is 10 lay the condi.
tion of the Commonwealth before them, should
al least be allowed 10 act as umpire between he
risits OF one portion The house and those ofan.
other. 1t is almost impossible 10 make The reo-
pie perform that duty, though Il has often been
referred 10 Them, for the simple reason that The
same differences Of opinion and preference agi.
tate them as do their representatives, and thai
they, with the same lack Of unity in he derails,
support as decidedly the same erea. principle
1t is striking bot net at all singular that he whole