Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-08-13
embodied in the constitution of Virginia. will, in our

embodied in the constitution of Virginia. will, in our
opinion, efficiently provide for
But it is to the general election Of Slate officers that
we look with the most confident expectations OF advan-
tage to Virginia. State tickets make State issues. We
may expectthe candidate for Gubernatoria honors te
make known his opinions, much upon the inter-
preted intentions OF the mighty dead upon his own
intentions IN regard to the Central railroad the James
River canal, the Virginia and Tennessee railroad, or
the connection between the and river ports and
the producing interior. Instead perhaps, OF luminous
dsquisltion upon States rights. he may be compelled
to say whether he is favor of steamships and in the
midst OF an eloquent denunciaon OF the North for ta
king practical possession OF the territory won by the
common blood and treasure OF the South he may be in
terruped by polite inquiry whether he is willing to de-
mand share of the lands thus acquired 10 educate the
ignorant, and increase the compensation of honest la
Dor by diminishing the cost of transportation to the far
mer
We should think that such issues thus forced upon
the applicants for public favor, will do much to bring
about in Virginia. il does else where habit of exam
ming great questions of public interest and of establish
ing practical and progressive policy which is neces
say to restore her lost rank in the sstehood of States
The policy OF internal improvement will be emphati-
cay subjected to popular discussion upon the organi
cation OF the Board of Public Works.
We may hereafter expect to the elections in Vr
gina turning as in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio,
upon the comparative efficiency of parties promoting
the prosperity OF the State When such is the point OF
competition between parties the advance OF the State
must result from the success of either.
The Judiciary Department OF the Government is ar
ranged with appprent system and attention to detail
The justices and judges of the original and appellate
courts all to be elected by the people for fixed terms
terms apparently sufficient TO secure efficiency and
responsibility in the incumbent.
The e are many other provisions which show wise
and prudent OF the important interests conded TO
the Convention by the people, which we need not emu
meraie. But there two subjects upon which we
propose to make a few comments.
The only provision for State education practicable in
Virginia is that which at present in operation. Itpro-
vdes for the education of those whose parents
able to educate them. This is done from fund that
is equally the property of ALL since it has accrued from
incidental sources and is not sustained by regular taxa
ton The permanent capital of the fund is than
one mi lion of dollars and its annual income is
ally employed in education, with an anxious and in
creaslng demand Tor more. The University OF Virginia
draws annuity from this fund.- which il repays by The
garuitous board and education of number of young
men selected from the Senatorial districts OF the State
Some other institutions have also received annuties
from the same source which they repay in the
manner.
The difficulties Establishing state system in Vir
gina does not grow out of Indifference learning or
want OF iberality, but out of the irregular density
OF the population and out Of the unequal distribution of
property in sections and in communities Slaves
are in sense, propey they are, in another sense
pesons in the latter they OF course supplian white
population. The Contributors then, OF the stakeholder
are heaviest where the smallest return be derived
by him from the expenditures OF the education fund.-
Eastern Virginia would as section, contribute sew
eny-five cents in the dollar; she would receive
back for education less han fifty in the dollar
the money would be raised on the basis of property,
and returned the basis OF scholars free white pop
ulaon. This difficulty deseends to communities so
that upon the grea proposition of popular education, the
people have been empowered to take any county sys-
tenn they might choose-and adjust their taxes to suit
themselves and discontinue their system if they became
tired oft Under this agreement education is prospecting
better than it could do perhaps under any compulsory
system.
But the constitution consulting this delicate relation
between property and numbers has done all that is |
possibeo for the cause Of education Il imposes cap
tation tax equal to the assessed land OF the
value OF two hundred dollars, upon every white male
nhabitant who has attained the age of twenty-one
years; and applies one equal moety OF the capitaton
tax upon white persons to the purposes OF education in
primary and free Schools leaving to private enterprise
and local organization TO do the rest.
The constitution affords another melancholy EVIL |
dence OF the injury to the wretched free negroes which
the agitation of the past few years has occasioned
The General Assembly is forbidden to emancipate |
any slave the descendant OF any slave either before
after the birth OF any such descendant. This cuts up
not only absolute but postnatal abolton-the latter
having been the favorte scheme OF Mr.. Jefferson and
openly advocated in the Virginia Legislature in 1890
The soundness OF Western Virginia upon the subject of
slavery may be imagined from the adoption OF such
provision at such lime. The unholy hopes of those
who have anticipated disaffection from the sectional
jealouses of Virginia forever dssipated.
Slaves emancipated forfeit their feedom absolutely |
by remaining more than twelve months in the State, |
and the Legislature is empowered to provide for the
deportation of the whole free negro popuation- |
they can only find any other States in which they will
be admitted.
But we have been led into much longer and elabo-
rate review OF this admirable constitution than had
intended; we think that the action of the Convention
has been emnenty wise, practical, and worthy OF the
State and age in which they live. And that the adop
ton by the people of this truly republican form OF gov
eminent will constitute an area from which her adj
vancement in all the practical elements OF greatness
may be dated We trust that whilst Virginia has,
like her own immortal son, devoted her earlier en-
ergies the interests of the Union, she may follow
his example and devote her maturer attention to her
own.
EXECUTION OF Amos GREEN.-The negro, Amos
Green, who was sentenced be hung for the rape of
white woman. near the Annapolis junction, on the Bal
tnore and Ohio railroad, gin June 1850, was hung at
Elicott's Mills on Friday last. To the last moment
and repeatedly, he protested the ministers and Off
GERS his innocence of the crime of rape, and averred
that his criminal connection with the woman was not
by force. To question of the Sheriff's whether he
regarded his sentence just he replied 81 cannot feel
satisfied that 1t is just"
On arriving at the eallows, the prisoner, Rev. Mr..
Carter the Sheriff. and his deputies assembled the scat
fold. Mr. Carter commenced religious exercises by
reading and singing the hymn commencing
"And must this body die ?"
the singing of which the culprit joined. Mr.. C.
hen read, in distinct voice, the last chapter of Reve