Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-01-21

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are sufferable, than to right themselves by
abolishing the forms to which they are ac-
customed," and proof conclusive that our
people, though acquainted with and jealous
of their political rights, are nevertheless pre-
eminently a law-abiding people, and un-
Wiling to seek constitutional reform by oth-
| er than constitutional means.
| herewith transmit you copy OF the
new constitution, from which it will be seen
that many subjects embraced in it will re-
quire legislation on your part to give 1t eth
cheney and effect 1t makes it your duty
to cause every city or town, the population
of which exceeds five thousand, to be laid
| off into convenient wards, and establish IN
each separate place of voting-to district
the counties for the election of justices of
the peace, and to divide the State into three
districts for the election of Board Of Pub
lie Works" by the people. How these
wards and county and State districts shall
be laid off-whether Immediately by the
Legislature or by commissioners appointed
| for the purpose, will be subject for your
consideration and decision. | cannot dis
miss this subject, however without congrat-
ulating you upon the fact that these are
the only geographical divisions provided for
in the organic law of our new government,
and they are not political in their character.
| Those arbitrary lines by which the State has
been heretofore laid off into political dlvis.
ions ana districts, were unnecessary and
unwise in their conception, and only pro-
ductive of pernicious results. These lines
are now obliterated And though our mag
nicent mountains traverse the State from
one extremity to the other, they are no Ion
ger assumed to divide people having COLI
Aicting interest and seperate destiny
Henceforth, the Blue Ridge will not form a
dividing line between the East and the
West Tide Water and Piedmont, the Val
ley and Trans-Alleghany are united by in
| disSoluble bonds, and with common inter-
est s a common destiny, we shall know no
East, no West. but all shall be VIRGINIA.
Icannot too strongly recommend the I'D p
ton Of such measures as will effect a spec
dy or or-anizaton of the new Board of Public
Works. The interests of the State require
it, and particularly that great and growing
interest over which this beard is designed
to take control. At an early day betolc
our government had become so deeply in
terested in the subject, board was organ
lied by the appointment of commissioners
taken from different sections of the State =
These commissioners resided at points re-
mote from the capitol, and the board thus
organized was found to be expensive and
inefficient. Commissioners were dispens-
ed with, and after several changes made at
different times in its organization, the du-
ties of the board deyolved upon the Cover
nor, Register Of the Land Office, Trea ,urer
and first and second Auditors. At IT, at time
the business Of the board was inconsidera-
Bile, and could without Inconvenience, be
discharged by these State officers. But
now, while the business OF each depart
ment of the government has been greatly
increased, requiring more attention and la
| Dor on the part OF those who preside over
them, the subject Of internal improvements
has become a most important and compli-
Gated interest, and demands more attention
from these under whose control il is now
placed than their other engagements will
permit them to devote to its duties. BY
prompt and efficient action, on your part,
upon this subect,you will relieve those of
fcers Of tins burthen, and enable them 10
devote more of their time and labor to the
other important subjects that claim their at
teAtion, and, at the same time, place tins
already important and growing interest in
the hands of theirs, who, having no other
duties to divide their time or occupy their
OF ho ba loH - Il q
vote to the subject their whole energies,
which ITS merits would SO richly justify and
which its wants so lmperiously demand.
The annual report of the Board Of Public
Works is herewith communicated. Your
attention is especially invited to the statis-
teal information and the many valuable
suggestions contained therein.
While wisely directed government, in
most cases, will find it necessary to leave
the various branches ofinduStry to the gui-
dance and control of individual enterprise,
the agricultural interest of our State is OF
such paramount importance, that it may
well claim the serious attention of your
body. Whether we consider the vast a.
mount Of capital invested and the number
OF Our citizens engaged in this pursuit, and
who depend upon it alone for their
subsistence, or, in national point of view
look to the benefits which must result from
its successful prosecution and the evils
which must flow from its negiect-the high
claims OF tins department of labor upon
your attention and fostering care will be
apparent to all. The General Assembly at
an early day, devised and established an
educational fund, the annual proceeds Of
which. amounting at this time to the sum
Of S10l,016 -, is chiefly devoted to the
advancement of elementary education in
primary schools. And liberal appropria-
tions and loans, amounting in effect to do
nations, have from time to time, been made
from the Literary fund and the treasury OF
the State to the higher grades OF schools
and colleges throughout the commonwealth,
for the promotion of education in the other
departments Of science. Why, then, should
agricultural the most important, and in our
State the most neglected branch of educa-
ton, be made an exception' England and
other European States, have sufficiently
and successfully tested the efficiency of
governmental aid in the promotion Of agri-
cultural science Some Of our sister States
have extended to this branch of industry
their fostering care with the most beneficial
results; and why should Virginia refuse to
join in this march Of agricultural progress
Voluntary associations and Individual skill,
unaided by the government, have already
tested in different sections of the common
wealth the practical efficiency of agricultu-
raj science IN reclaiming our wasted ana
WORKOUT lands and in making our own soil