Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-12-06

AN, u
10 oxnendjfpre abroad oil lirzina students for this
species Of education. during the last forty years, mas
/ been some s3o10Q01, exclusive oil interest. FROM
satisfactory sources of inarmaton It has been aseer-
tanned that the number OF medical stuueits itoi @
State who attended lectures abroad during Inc ast
winter was not less than 22j who carried with them
and espendrl in other States at least 9loOooo IL Il
also ct that two seyentbs Of the AUTHORIZATIONS rom
ether States than PenusFlyauIa IN the two leaaihg
pIieal oG Phil liapiia last winter were Oh
students from this Commonwealth. \ liberal policy
on your part towards Il medical institution at home
combining rs many advantages n the College in Rich
moad would do much to check this disposition OF our
young men to 20 abroad at such annual tax upon
the resources of the state and would result as the
liberal policy Of the Legislature towards the Oniver-
-ty Of Virginia has resulted in building up flourish
ing institution at home, which vii not only attract the
great minority Of Virginia students but large numbers
Of Young men from other States, to its halls.
10 relieve the Faculty Of this institution from paying
the interest now required Of them, would relieve them
ola burden which greatly dcpresses their energies and
hangs heavily upon the prosperity OF their college,
think the would advance the interests tmed
zeal science in Virginia, aud DE act OF justice and
wise bcraty towards the professors of that institu
ou. recommend it therefore to your favorable con-
sideration.
1t affords great pleasure to assure You Of an i'm
provemeut in tie agricultural condition of the Com
monwealth generally The energy, industry and in
telleet Of large portion of our best citizens have
been devoted with assiduity for years past to
this enrolling pursuit The consequence Of course
IS not only rapid Advancement in the profits Of the
State at large from that source but very highly inn
proved appearance in the face Of the country itself 1t
Is worthy Of remark, that whilst Virginia has extend
ed with great iberality assistance to education and
works Of improvement, she has never given to agr-
culture any encouragement whatever. This is the
surprising when reflect That upon This great
pursuit all the interests Of society. Let ageuI-
tnre flourish and prosper and no occupation Of soc
ETY. will fail to thrive, There have been at all times,
too, in the Legislature large number Of members
engaged in and identified with agriculture; but UP to
this time, they have been content to labor for other
interests, thought to lie Of more pressing importance
and to postpone, with liberal dsintcrestedness that
which pert3dned more particularly to their own pur-
suits. If there is in the Commonwealth n pursuit
which deserves encouragement from the Legislature
undoubtedly it is agriculture. If you take the plan
tiers, graziers and the Farmers of Virginia together
they constitute body unsurpassed for all the quail
ties OF intellect and character that adorn eopleand
II some means were adopted by the Legislature to con
ccntrae their efforts for the Advancement of their oc
eupation very little time only would lie required to
improve the agriculture Of the State to its highest
pitch
bill Of the last session, providing that tie appoint
ment 81 an agricultural chemist for the State, one
Of great merit anc calculated to promote /, interest
Of the Commonwealth. think its passage n matter
Of the first Importance.
| would also recommend to the favorable oonsidera
ton oil the Legislature the propricy of approprating
annually such sums OF money may be necessary to
sustain properly organized State Agricultural Secic
ty This course has been pursued by several States of
the North, and III every with beneficial results
The annual appropriations of New York for this nur-
pose amount to about $1,000; and as far as / can
learn. have given the greatest impetus to agricultural
prosperity in all its branches.
You will perceive from the report Of the Supcrntcn
don't the Pentcntiary, that this institution contin
ues to be prosperous and useful. The order and sys
tenn which characterize its management, strict
discipline and a. large prottas be realized from
prison labor. concur fully in the suggestion of the
superintendent touching the minimum term Of i'm
prsonment Ono year is wholly inadequate for any
beneficial effect upon the prisoner the term is too
short to acquire any knowledge whatever Of trade
whilst the degradation and disgrace are as great as
for the longest period Of confinement The labor of
the convict for so short period will be wholly I'M
productive to the State, and the term of discipline too
short for even hope Of reformation. The transpor
tatan of the offenders from the remote parts Of the
Commonwealth, viii be serious item Of additional
expense. | am satisfied that the minimum period Of
punishment in the Peutcutiary should not be less
than three years 1t gives time to acquire some knowl
edge Of trade, whilst the discipline for that length
oil time VII afford some hope Of reformation. For
crimes OF loss magnitude than those deserving this
length Of confinement imprisonment in the county
Jail and the infection Of corporal punishment would
seem to satisfy the ends OF Justice
also transmit to yona report of the aIjutant gen
era, relative to the condition Of the volunteer compa-
mend to your particular attention,
Recent events in the campaign of Mexico have de.
monsrated theutity and efficiency of this description
OF troopseycnn an army Of invasion. For purposes of
defence at home, they would be scarcely if Mt all inre
ror to regular troops Virginia possesses peculiar ad
vantagos growing ont of the system of education nt
her military institute, for rendering this arm OF the
militia perfectly effective The encouragement of vol
unteer companies in the large towns and cities of the
Commonwealth, is most obviously proper and to this
end it Is very desirable that the men should be cx
empted from service upon iures The tax in time
and money, necessarily imposed upon the members of
volunteer companies, is very oncrous and when aug
mented by the probable call serve in the Jury box
is rendered insupporable to men who depend upon
lievc them from this duty would be source of GREAT
encouragement to the volunteer SYSTEM and there
fore recommend it to the Legislature.
society has been organized by n number of gen
tlemen Of talent and respectabty having for its OBJ
connected with the history of Virginia The usefulness
Of such association is evidently 4 matter of the
greatest Importance to thepropcr calculation of our
early history, 1t is to be feared that many valuable
facts rremediaby lost through the neglect of this
precauion. The warfare which won the territory Of
Virginia from the aborigincs of the country was one
Of the most remarkable to be net with in tie records
of any country. Expeditions of the greatest danger
we're frequently undertaken promped alone by indyid
ual prowess and enterprise. This desutory conflict
BEN perpetually waged resulted finally in the con
quest OF our territory to the banks ofthe Ohio In its
progress many scenes of thrilling interest and start
pI1n oil tl,ne tusr,