Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1852-01-24
Governors Message.
To lle General .lsslmbIu d virginm:

adjournment Of the late General Assembly
many, aud II is confidently hoped, bensii.
cial reforms have taken place in tbs or
ganic law Of the State. We are in the
dawn oi new era. The convention, which
assembled in the capitol on the l4th day
Of October, 1850, in pursuance Of laws,en'
acted by your predecessors. Ste consider
discuss and propose n new constitution,
or alterations and amendments 10 The ex.
isiing constitution Of the commonwealth" F."
terminated It's labOrs OH the first day Of
August last; und the instrument. which
was the work Of its hands was on The
fourth Thursday Of October, adopted by
the citizens suhagans Of The State as the
CONSTITUTION or VIRGINIA, BY a majority
amounting almos, 10 unOnimity. What
sublime spectacle is here exhibited How
strikingly docs it illustrate the beautiful
theory and practice Of representative re.
publican government! With what un.
bounded confidence il should inspire the
friends Of such q government, and with
what awe and reverence ii can but i'm
press lis enemies Our beloved common.
wealth has just passed through rerolu'
tiun, instantaneous and radical in lis char.
acter, operating upon and affecting every
class anil condition Of society, and set all
is peaceful and quiet within her borders.
II was not the achievement Of the sword,
It's pathway is not traced by the blood Of
the citizen, no desoated kingdom wit.
messed its triumph, and no emblem ol
glory adorns the military chieiiain. In the
first days Of our republic il was ordained
as part Of The basis and foundation ol
government, that when il should be found
inadequate or contrary 10 the purposes for
which il was created. IN ma jority oi The
community hath Nh iGdubiiablP, unalien-
able and indefeOsible right 10 reform, alter
or abolish il, in such manner rs shall be
Judged most conduct, e to the public veal.
And IN accordancs with this wholesome
ard wise provision Of free government,
incorporated in the organic law Of our
Stute by the patriot statesmen By whom il
was founded, and recognised and acknowl.
edged BY their descendants, the civilians
Of cur own times looked 10 the councils oi
The State instead Of the tented field loI
the redress Of grievances under which
they lived. The people willed change
OF government, and il was made and now
Il remains for you, the representatives oi
their choice, in your legislative capacity,
In perfect and carry into practical opera.
ton this new system. rs merits wese e.
laborately and ably discussed in The cen
reniiou which framed IL; and more re.
Gently its several provisions have been
thoroughly canvassed and considered by
every section, county and neighborhood
Of the commonwealth. II is unnecessary
therefore, that any eulogy should be pass
ed upon such OF its features as may be
considered conducive Of good. or that the
evil tendencies, whether real or imaginary
NJ other provisions should be made at this
time the subject Of comment. 1t may net
however, be impropeRo express The opin.
ion that the friends Of reform and Of tru.
II representative republican form Of gov.
eminent will never have cause to rcgre,
the change. The unanimity with which
il has been sanctioned by the people oi
the Stnte, is well calculated to inspire its
friends with an abiding confidence in its
merits, and gives assurance that. on your
rart, individual rrsjudices. should they
exist, will be forgotten, and that each will
vie with each other in the advocacy and a.
dopiion Of such laws as may be required
TO give it efficacy in its operation.
The distinguished ability with which the
Executive department Of the government
has been conducted by tho statesmen ol
our own and former times, and the proud
position and merited fame Of our judicia.
ry, exhibit in forcibls light. the wisdom
and fidelity with which the duty Of elect.
ing these officers has been discharged by
your predecessors for a period Of nearly
ihree.auaners Of a century. The new
constitution relieves You Of this imrortan,
and weigh,y responsibility, and transfers
to the sulIngans Of the State, the right to
elect the executive and judicial, as well
as the Legislative officers. This new fea.
turc in eur organic law, excited the ap.
prrheu.icns Of some as to its practical
operation. But with the experience before
us Of some Of our sister states that have
adopted this principle, and remembering
,hr morl and Intellectual character Of ouI
fellnw.citizens, aud the high sense Of hon.
or which has ever characterized the Vir-
giuia ren1'e, ii is confidently believed thai
with the experience Of few years, the
fears oi the most timid TF"rmer will be
disrelled, the prejudircs Of those most
welded 10 ancient customs will be remov-
ed, and confidence in the wisdom nnd in.
iegriiy Of the great body Of tlle people
will take the place Of distrust, in The
minds of those who fear that political and
other canNs muy endunger the hesltnful
exercise al this power m the part Of the
people. By our present system, that iden.
iity Of interest und rncirrocity Of feeling
whirh should always exist between tho
representative and the constituent, will
bc maintained; the officer, holding under
tho immediate and voluntary suffrage ol
those Win are directly and most deeply
interested in a faithful discharge Of his du.
ties, will bN inspired with confidence in
his position, aud a fearlcsSncss in the dis.
charge of lhe functions or his office and
tho rrorl'. conscious Of the great reSpon.
sibiIilv with which they Nre clothed, will
frrl n lively interest on the subject, com.
rgrr oviniOnS, and elicit information frnln
every sonrrc. And thus. whilst the rxer.
rise II this power will unite and enIIcNr
NIUE closely the citizen and his govern.
mcnl. il will cnlighten anil elevate the
masses urnn whose intellectual, moral
nnl political education, depends The STA.
hIitv Of q representative government -
NNhnn ,rn rnnsilnr Tho many inesIinn hle