Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1852-01-24

efits resulting from the exercise Of the Q.
lective franchise 10 large and rssperta.
bic class Of our citzsuS, who heretofore
have been driven from the polls,und WHOSE
poverty appears to have been their only
fault. That Virginia should have so long
retained this exclusive and anli.democrat.
ic feature in her State government, and
that this numerous class ofcitizens should
have acquiesced in 1t up to this time, is
another striking illustration Of the fact,
that mankind are more disposed 10 suffer
while evils are sufenble. than 10 night
themselves by aboishing the forms 10
which they are accustomed" and proof
conclusive that our people, though nc.
uuainted with and jealous Of their politi.
cal rights, are nevertheless pre.eminently
u law-abiding people, and unwilling 10
seek contitutiOnal reform BY other than
constitutional means.
| herewith transmit you copy Of the
new constitution, from which it will be
seen that many subjects embraced in il
will require legislation OIL your part to
give il efficiency and effect. il makes 1t
your duty to cause every city or town, the
population Of which exceeds five thousand
10 be laid of into convenient wards, and
establish in each separate place el yoi'
lng-to district the counties for the cleo
tion Of justices Of the peace, and to divide
the State into three districts fer the cleo.
ton Of Board Of Public Works" by The
people. How these wards and county and
State districts shall be laid of'-whe,her
Immediately BY the Legislature or by com.
missioners appointed for the purpose, will
be q subject for your consideration and de.
cislen. I cannot dismiss the subject, how.
ever, without congratulsting yon upon the
fac, that these are the only geographical
divisions provided for in the organic law
OF our government, and they arc not po.
litical in their character. Those arbitrary
lines by which the State has heretofore
been laid off into political divisions and
districts, were unnecessary and unwise in
their conception and only productive Of
pernicious results. These lines are now
obliterated. And though our magnificent
mountains traverse the State from one ex'
trcmity 10 the other, they are no longer
assumed TO divide a people having con-
ficting interests and a separate destiny.
Henccfonh the Blue Ridge will not form
dividing line between the East and The
IVES, ). Tide Water and Piedmont, the
Valley and Trans. Allegheny are united hy
indissoluble bonds, and with a common
inieIes. and a common destiny, We shall
know no East, no West but oil shall be
VIRoiNtA.
cannot too strongly recommend the
adoption OF such measures as will effect
!. a speedy organization Of the new Board Of
Public Works. The interests Of the State
require it, and particularly that great and
growing interest over which this board is
designed TO take coEircl. At an early day,
before our government had become so
deeply interested in The subject. a board
was organized by The appointment Of com
missioncrs taken from different sections
Of the State. These commissioners resid.
cd at prints remote from the capitol, and
the board thus organized was found 10 be
expensive and Inefficient Commissioners
were dispensed with, and after several
changes made at different times in its Or
ganization, the duties Of the board devoiv-
ed upon the Governor, Register Of Land
Office, Treasurer and first and second Au.
di,ors. At that time the business OF the
board was inconsiderabIr, and could, with
out Inconvenience, be discharged by these
State officers. BIZ, now, while the busi-
ness Of each department Of .he govern
ment has been greatly increased, requiring
more attention and labor on the part Of
those who preside over them, the subject Of
internal improvements has become most
important and complicated interest, and
demands more atlentiun.from those under
whose control it is now placed than their
other engagements will permit them 10
devote to It's duties, Byrromh and sf-
ficient action, on your part upon this sub.
iect, you will relieve those officers Of this
burlhen, and enable them 10 devote moro
OF their time and labor to the other i'm.
portant subjects that claim their attention,
and, al the same time, place this already
important and growing interest in the
hands OF others, who, having no other du.
ties 20 divide their time or occupy their
attention, will be the better enabled TO
devote 10 the subject their whole energies
which It's merits would so richly justify
and which its wants so imperiously de.
mand.
The annual report Of The Boardof Pub.
lie Works is herewith communicated
Yrur attention is specially invited 10 the
statistical information and the many val.
liable suggestions contained therein.
While a wisely directed government, in
mos, cases, will find it necessary 10 leave
the various branches Of industry 10 The
guidance and control Of individual enter.
prise, the agricultural interest Of our State
is Of such paramount importance, that il
may well claim the serious attention Of
your body. Whethcrwe consider the vast
amount Of capital invested and the nun;
Der Of our citizens cnsagedin in this pursuit,
and who depend upon ii alone for their
subsistence. or, in national poin, Of view,
look 10 the benefits which mus, result from
its successful prosecution and the evils
which must flow from its neglect-the
high claims Of this department Of labor
upOn your attention and fostering care
will be apparent 10 all. The General AS
semhlY, at m early day, devised and es.
tablished IN educational fund. the annual
proceeds Of which. amounting at this
lime to the sum Of SiOi, ,Oi6 22. is chiefly
devoted 10 tho advancement, Of Olementa.
~ education IN primary schools. And
liheral appropriations and loanS, amount.
ing in effect to donations, have, from time
10 time. been made from The Literary fund