Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-01-22
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
a q Geaessl Asssa.llgsf rI,rtria.

0rheII Assembly mAhys aud ~ - conndeAtiy hope,
beneficial reforms hare taken place in the organi
{ Law OF the Slate. Weare in the dawn Of q ne
Il ETA. The Conveniion, which assembled in ID
Capitol The I4lh day OF October, 1850, 10 pul
suance Of laws ensclsd b. your predecessors, -
consider discus and propose new CoustitutioI
or alterations 10 the existing ronstituonofthe Con-
nonweaith, terminated It's laboFs on the first da
Il oil August last; aBd the Instrument which was ID
II work u lis hands was on the fourth THURSDAY q
last October adopted by the citizen soagaps Of ID
f Stale as the CONSTITUTION OF YiRGINIA. By a ma
Iprity amounting almost 10 unanimiiy. What
sublime spectacle is here exhibited How striking
~ does il illustrate the beanttu theory and pracfir
OF Representative republican government Viii
( what nnAouHded confidence il should inspire III,
friends 81 such government, and with what aw,
/ and reverence frcan hdt impress its ener1iess On
beloved Commonwealth has just passed through
/ revolution, instantaneous and radical in lis char
zcter, operating upon and affecting every class am
I condition u society, and yet all is peaceful AMI
/ quiet within her borders Il was not the achieve
meat Of the sword its pathway il not traced BY tht
blood OF The citizen tesolared kingdom witnesset
It's triumph and NO emblem OF glory adorns thu
military chietlain. In the first daysof oHrTepublit
il was ordained as part of the basis and founda
lion Of government that when il should be found
inadequate or contrary to the purposes for which
was created . majority OF the comm unity hath an
indubtabie, unalienahte and indefeasbie right L
rel0efn, alter or abolish IT, in such manner shall
be judged mort conducive to the public veal AND
10 accordance with this wholesome and wise pro-
vision Of free government Incorporated il the or
ganic law OF our State by the patriot statesmen by
whom il was founded, and recognized andacknowl-
edged by their descendants the civilians OF our own
times looked 10 the councils Of the State instead Of
the tended field for the redress OF grievances under
which they lived The people wILLED change OF
government, and II was made; and now il remains
Tor you, the representatives ottheir choice in your
legislative capacity t0perfect and carry into prac-
tcal operation this new system Its merits were
deliberately and ably discussed in the convention
which framed il; and more recently its several pro-
visions have been thoroughly canvassed and CON
sidered by every sectian county and neighhorhood,
ofthe Commonwealth. II is unnecessary, therefore
thar any eulogy should be passed upon such oil its
features may be eonsldefed conducive Of good or
that the evil tendencies, whether real or imaginary,
Of other provisions should be made al this time The
subject of comment II may mol, however, be i'm
Properto express the opinion that the friends Of
firm and OF ruiy representative republican fern
OF government will never have cause 70 regretthe
change. The unanimity with which il has been
sanctioned by the people OF the State is well caicu
lated 10 inspire its friends with an abiding conf
debce in its merits, and gives assurance that on
your part, individual prejudices should they exist
will be forgotten, and that each will vie with The
other in the advocacy and adoption Of such laws as
NAV be required to give deficiency in its operation
The Distinguished ability with which the execu-
tive department has been conducted by the states
u.en Of our own and former times, and the proud
position and meriled fame OF our Judiciary, exhibit
in foTcible light the wisdom and fidelity with
which The duty OF eeeling these officers has been
discharged by your predecessors Tor period of
nearly three-quarters ot century. The new con-
sitution relieves you Of this important and weighiy
responsibility, and transfers TO the sufragans OF he
State the right TO elect the executive and Judicial
as well as the legislative officers This new feature
in ouf organic law excited the appfehensions of
70 It's practical operation. But with the
experience OF some OF our sister States that have
adopted this principle. and remembering the moral
and intellectual character of cur felow,citizens,
and the high sense OF honor which has ever charac-
terized The Virginia people, il is confidently be-
lieFed that with the experience OF few years, the
fears Of the most timid reformer will be dispeHed,
the prejudices OF those most welded 10 ancient Gus
toms will be removed and confidence in the wis
dom and integrity OF The great body OF the people
will take the place of disTus in the minds OF those
who fear that political and other c. uses may en-
danger the healthtnl exercise OF this power on the
part Of the people By our present system, that
identity OF interest and reciprocity OF feeling which
should always exist between the representative and
the constituent will be maintained; the officer,
holding under The immediate and voluntary SUI
trage of those who are directly and most deeply n-
terestrd in faithful discharge OF htt duties will be
inspired with confidence in his position, and lear
essness in the discharge OF The functions OF his Of
fee and the people conscious OF the great respon-
sibiiity with which they clothed, Will heel live
" interest in the subject, compare opinions. and
ELECTS information from every source. AND mus,
whilst the exercise OF This power will unite and en-
dear more closely the citizen 10 his government, it
will enlighteh and elevate the masses upon whose
intellectual moral and poitl al education, depends
the stability Of representative government When
we consider the many nestlmabie advantages which
must inevitably accrue TO the sutfagan by extend
ing 10 him the right 10 elect 10 office the men OF his
own choice, it must.be oyou sourceot nnieigned
graduation that another provision OF our new con
stilution extends the benefits resulting from the ex
ercise OF the elective franchise to large and re-
spectacle class OF our citizens who heretofore have
been driven from the polls, and whose poverty APP
pears 10 have been their only fault That Virginia
should have so long retained this exclusive and
anti-democratic feature in her State Government,
and that this numerous class OF citizens should have
acqnesced in il up 10 this time IS another striking
illustration of The TACT that mankind are more dis
posed TO suffer while evils are sqfferable than to
right themselves by abolishing the forms 10 which
thew are accustomed and proof conclusive that our
people, though acquainted with and jealous Of their
political rights, ale nevertheless preeminenuy
law abiding people, and unwilling 70 seek constitu-
,ional reform by other than constitutional means
he.with iransmityou cory Of the new consti-
,,t;on frnnt which ii will be seen that many sub
;s,s emhra,.d in il yilirequire legislation your
oar, q Give il efficiency aud effect u makes II
your duly 10 cause every city or tpwn, the popuia
ton Of which exceeds five tsousara % g taIu ~
into convenient wards ano establish 70 eaen SEP
.saie place OF voiing-o district the ecs.ntes lor lne
ssss,sa OF justices Of the peace, and TO dIyIe the
asSsss hree disficts for The election Of Boara
and eosss y ~ 2 by the people. HOY these wards
whether iisAsaes,ssase districts shall be laid OH
missionsrs appslasea Sssthe Legislature or BY Com
dismiss Ills subject ssa ma apsis;on cannet
ting you upon he fact ihass .'hout congratuIa-
sranieal divisions provided 10 are me anlv ger
/ Of our new government, and ,heS ess 0sgaAis law
( in their character. Those arbitrary ~ ,posical
The State has been heretofore laid of intSs Mnich
divisions and districts, were unnecessary assssaa
wise ia their conception and only productive OF PSI
! nicious results These lines are now ohlileraied
And though our magnificent mountains ,raEerseth
/ State iron one extremity TO the other. they no lon
ger are assumed 70 divide people having eonnici
ing infs rest and q separate destiny. Henceiofth
rhe Blue Ridge will not form dividing line oe
/ tween the East and the vest; Tide-Water an
/ Piedmont. the Valley and Trans Allegheny ar
| united by indissoiuhle bonds, and with commo
interest and common destiny we shall know .
East no West but all shall BE- FiRGlSlA-
cannot loo strongly recommend The adoption I
such measures as will effecta speedy organizatio
81 Ire new Board Of Public Works. The interest
81 the State require Il and particularly thar gres
ard growing interest ovcr which This boaId Is d
signed 10 take control. AT an early day hefoFe 0u
government had bereme 50 deeply interested in q
Subject. q hoard was organized By the appointmel
al commissioners taken from different sections
the State TheSe commissioners F,<ided a. poin
remote. trrm the capital and he board thns organ
ized was found q " expensive and inetheienl-
commissioners we're dispersed with ard aft.
ssv..rai changes made al different times 10 is b
eanization the duties Of the board devolved upc
n ~ rsnvernor register of the lard dficP tfsaSur
nj lsr.f and sscora auditors Atihsi lime The 3
s;ness of the Board was inconSiderahse and caal
Without incoarenis uce he discharged 81 khess Sia
ss;cers Bar now. while the;hasiness q each 4
n...e " = a IN enf Aa< hser vreafIr i