Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-12-18

GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY'S MESSAGE
The Message of Governor MorsheHd Of Kentucky
i. devoted chiefly to State interest, and contains much
useful matter. The Governor is an old Whlg, and is.
in the opinion Of the n0ri hom mes. All old fogy; but
whatever kind of fogy he may be, he hasa great deal
of sound sense and patriotism. lie goes fully into the
financial condition of the State, and represents 1t a.
very prosperous. The Common Schools are rapidly
advancing. The currency question he treats in Il very
sensible manner, though he commits himself to a Ma
tional Bank. On this subject he has the following
paragraph:
In our own State, experience has demonstrated that
an overwhelming majority ot the people are in IA.
vor OF q paper currency, and during a period OF
commercial distress will have one uncOnnected with
the idea ot converlibiity, rather than be wIthoutan
With great respect TO those who entertain d diller.
ent opinion, ] think ii preposterous To talk ot u pure
Is metallic currency. IT it could be made 10 supply
all he wants of II commercial people, il lie manifest
that i, is impossible TO bring II about. But IT this
could be Gore. the change would produce the most
glsring Iplu-iic. and oppression.
AL private and public transactions have originn
ted under our present systrm. Cnles. onc.hnl' oi lie
debts of the country could NJ the same time be can
celled, every debtor would have to pay virtually at
least double his Indebtedness. 1t would not fail, for
the time. 10 p~aralyze every branch of industry. sni
every Effort of enterprise | hope never to witness
the period Of transition from q paper to a m-taIllc
currency. My own solemn conviction ia that the
only remedy can be found in q well guarded Nation
al currency, uniform in value in every part ot Ihe
United States.
Call it by what name you please: throw every We
cessary and proper restriction around II; ooy'a'e' ny
legislation, whatever the past experience oil 'he coun,
try has shown TO bs evil; but le; there be '"'he nscai
agent which shall give us a national currency WIN
power to regulate and restrain the local oanKs IN
thsir iasues, and avert, by the prudence ana "i'dom
of itl management, the ruinous Viorat'ons sno huc-
tuaiions in our ;reds q commerce.
On the subject OF the Slavery agi'atlon' governor
Mor.head holds the moderate conservative ground OF
a border State, which in no circumstances can have
the mira views of an extreme State. He Gays:
| deeply regret the agitation OF this distracting
question. and trust that the day is NOT far distant
v han il viii no longer mingls as an element in party
Conflicts. lie conrini I'd agitation is calculated to
weaken if not To sever the ties by which we are
bound together under a common government.
Tn. warning voice of ths Father of ha country
Seems TO be UNDECIDED, and all the lessons OF history
forgotten. There il no real diversity Of interest be-.
tween the d tf-rent sections Of our widely extended
country, aud situated as Wa are in Kentucky. between
the North aud South. our interests are indissolubly
bound up in The destiny Of each. Ii is our habit to
cultivate a feeling OF kindness for every section; but
a. a sovereign State, with one impulse, we claim an
equality with every other memberot the conf-d.racy
We ask III the spirit of patriotism that ttis mischisv
ons agitation, 50 vitality affecting our interests as 4
border State, shall ceas- forever.