Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-01-19

rh. following letters accompanied Governor " iSe
10 IN. Legislature. But Is they have never
,en otherwise published weiay item before Our 'eA'
-s to day We should have done 80 sooner out '"f Inc
constant pressure upon columns OF o'her mat e'e
that would admit Of no delay:
rHAYER'S EMIGRATION SCHEME;
R,ClMoNp, Va Aug. "a 1901
DEAR SIR Y"urs of tho 10th in.:a"' nas IL,
ceiy,d this murnur, and reply 10 II ,mme"':,''t'
that mir. Ell Thayer's Emigration Scheihe' ~
Western Virginia or any where oise' "s hes "eeu
submitted III any manner whate't! " ", ~ ra,, ~
nr Lisapproval. What The schena ~, '0t any p"''
VIRGINIA or elsewhere, am no! definitely lh'orh' 70
and the agents of no such emigration sche'he nn'e
ever addressed me on the subi"ct d;rtcly W ,,,..
rectly and it's irends, whoever they De- en.e q" '
thorty whatever for the use oil my lh'e y" " 80
newspaper report TO that effect I'D pchmond
journal, was lately contradicted ny INC
enquirer" with my authority. or,s;r;ns, N
/ am "cogniZant' Of no "matter appe . tans nj;
,bs origin objects and probable results OF ''s
prize" which have not been gwen 10 -, subject. ~,
Officially, have nothing TO do with inc oS,
cept il be made apparent by proper anu 1891
nroof that combinations or associations alo ~
in or out of the State, to cause Invasion % ~
surrecton, or TO prevent the execution VI o.u. .;
especially those for the protection OF Piope'5 VI
slaves Any association or continuation ~, ,;,I, M
der ANY pretext, coming iuto our li''s WIN .ie
ayowed or manifest purpose and act oil hppams ,he
value Of property in slaves, would be asa'ns' tie
laws of the Commonwealth, which l VIII .ahe care
shall be faithfully executed" No such association CT
combination has my appreciation, ahu " VIII
have to encounter all the power 'es.eu III
me by the Constitution to resist and overcome
any such unlawful intent or purpose. anu 'o Gu
force the execution of the laws. But IN say
inc this. | dsclaim all meaning 10 interfere
with peaceful and lawful immigration mo inc ilmi'r
of our commonwealth. Our State needs selters 10
develop her vast resources aud Wouu' '.o'i poi'.J
and without fear encourage Immigrants 10 come l"
our waste lands and improve Them to increase our
popuation our wealth. our revenue and our State and
federal strength. And 80 conscious am OF Inc pow"
or of Virginia to project and defend her institutions
and the peraons and property OF her cilZens III her
own limits at least that would neither feel, nor be-
tray any fear if felt, which would repel lawful imH
grafton and settlement. That State must be weak
indeed which would, from mere apprehension arrest
the nroyress of her development lest she could not
preserve her peace protect her persons and property
and enforce her laws have no fear Therefore, that
any emigration scheme intended to affect Virginia,
can endanger either her honor hrr rghs, her posses
sops or her peace in her own limits.
No matter what may be the newspaper rumors,
however calculated to alarm the timid or 10 excite
the e1citsbe or to add fuel to the fires OF agitation,
nv counsel calmly to invite settlers to our lands ID
offer them every facility and favor OF good neigh
borhood to give them all the protection OF peace; to
encourage them in increasing plenty, by multiplying
the hands and vocations of abor-and to allow them
to abide with us under our laws 80 long as they Will!
obey those laws and respect all rights under them-
Inceed know of no laws, State or federal, which do
moi reoure this rule TO be observed towards all I'm
migrants of good behavior. The right to remove
from one State aud to settle in another, complying
with the laws ia reciprocal right OF The cizens o
the respective States, under the Constitution OF the
United States Why not calmly wait then. Tor me
fact as it may arsel II the act and the intent OF
immigration shall manifest themselves to oe unlaw
full we have the power 10 enforce Inc laws; ana u
eltf
bound to extend protection to Innocent and lawful
immigrants. At all events, let ua bemanly in our
action. and not move from the promptings OF mere
apprehension and fears
These are briefly my views, and am grateful to
YOU for the opportunity of calling them forth.
Yours. truly, HENRY A. WISE.
Hon. ALBERT G. JENKINS.
pTBLIC THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER.
RICHMOND, Va, Nov. b, 1857.
S,e.-In renly TO YOURS of the 4th instant received
this morning inform you that il is not my purpose
to recommend any Day in the current year as day
of thanksgiving throughout the State. l have no
mower whatever, officially or otherwise TO exercise
such authority. 1t is an ecclesiastical concern en-
irely and ought to be left to the respective church
es, with which the State has no connection, ana no
right of interference, except TO protect eacn ana all
in their freedom of conscience and OF religious Wor
ahip, in the mode they may severaly ADOPT. Inc
government of Virginia recognizes christianity IN all
its forms. 1t eDions "all to practice christian for
bearance love and charity towards each other. II
| ack nowedges .'relgon or the duty we owe 10 our
Creator" but it leaves the manner Of d'schdrgtng
that duty TO "be directed only by reason ant conr'c
tioa" according to the dictates of conscience and 1t
has abolished entirely all Church establishment, and
all connection of Church and State therefore, con-
cude that the "cv authority" vested in me as Gov
erpor of the Commonwealth, must not presume To
NEEDLE with the appointment, of any day, at any time
for Thanksgiving to God. Our people are perfectly
| free, thanks to God, TO make their own appoint
| E~nt sAlU Ihkv
tan people, and will discharge their religious duties
at their own appointed times, "decenty and orderly,
without order or counsel from governors and mags
| trates. ,s,
w. -. Massey, Esq, Mayor of tha City Of Alex
J andria.