Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-09-09
The Governors. Message.

|
| The message of Governor Letcher-publi.hed by US
,esterday-s comprehensive yet Succirc. in its treat.
meut Of the varied subjec which it brngs to the no
tee of the Legislature. Il breaIhes, too spirit OF
patriotism becoming the Chief Magistrate Of Virginia,
aud displays zeal for which Welrust vii meet
With proper response from those TO whom it is ad-
dressed Il is lucid aud able document eminenty
practical in its recommendations and, with or two
exceptions forms a sound basis for legislative &C ion
The recommendation "that The local militia should
be required to make tie defence" say OF Richmond
the instance quoted In the message by way Of lustra
ton fifty miles" from Il, is Of questionable propreiy
n4smuch as such provision would be calculated Gre.
ate dstrust Of the good faith of the authorities aad
lead to apprehensions of an ultimate design to employ
the militia ia perma ent service Nothing has so seri
Ou,l embarrassed voluntary organizations for home d.
feues as this apprehension; and the feeling will be
strengthened - the en- bltimenl 10 militia Law Of
such provision tie Governor sug5,ss TIE trans
fer of the whole force bJ the State to the Coufederacy
as was done in the of the Army of Virginia after
the breaking of the war would be but slight move
farther CSmpusOn in the matter of service at points
remote from the place of Organization implies oblga-
tons nearly commensurate sjth these attaching to coy
ders in the regular service. We feel assured that the
militia would make no objection to their employment at
any point deemed essential effective defence not IN
reasonably remote from their homes But If ANYTHING
is calculated to render the syitem odiou it l. the OIL
dering Off hurriedly, of odand young men, the former
especially to distant points, without their being eua-
bed TO arrange their Affairs at home aud it may be- at
risk of much suffering to the families Aud yet, to
make the force pre- posed to be ri'ed effective IL is evil
dent tba. the power 20 march the local IN lia out Of
their own neghborhoods aud counties mast exist
Perhaps as good rule any that be adoped
would be to give authority order the militia Of one
county Into any adjoining y, but not farther eIS
cept by Their own consent by special = mand Of
the Governor, the constitutional cOmmanierasehief
With regard to the recommendation Of the Goyernor
to repeal the act of hast session prohibiting the receipt
OF Confederate issues of dates anterior to April 9Th
1893, while the policy seems Necessary and just, we
apprehend that seriouI inconvenience will be entaed
By such measure. We may ,bly anticipate that
large amount Of these isue' discredted by the Con-
edeIaie Congre ITSELF will sccu nu!ae in the Lands Of
our State Treasurer and - becomes serious question
how they can be gotten rd Of The Government that
issued these notes will not receive them otherwise than
in plymen. Of taxes and the bes. tn, State do will
BE- to pay them out il discharge OF current liabilities.
Thsl they will again go back into the community 10
constitute as before medium OF circulatio To get
them out of circulation will need al extension Of the
Eme for their investment in bonds and the utter can
ceiling Of all outstanding notes OF that class at the tx
piratiOn of that period
The policy Of dspOsng Of the States interest in our
various internal Improvement companies and the sppi
cation Of the proceeds arising therefrOm TO the payment
OF the State debt is to say the least Of it, doubtful
Iadeed, We might say, it Is impractcsble otherwise
than BY the consent Of the bondhoders for justice aud
good faith demand that the State creditors shall nosbe
compelled TO sacrifice their claims to the extent of tSo
thirds merely because the State chooses to take adVan
tage Of an opportunity which affords it easy
to pay its debs The operation would be creda7.
bic to its honour. Il void smack largely Of shaw.
ipg process such brokers usually practice aud would
not be entirely free from the revolving character Of
repadiahoa.
We are not informed as to the returns which the
Sase's investments in internal improvements nov
YIELD or whether they pay amount of interest equal
10 that which would be cancelled by their sale II So
there would be no advantage in the SALE ProspecVey,
the sale may be serious disadvantage to the State for
is to 81 presumed that When trade and commerce
feed from the restraints nov upon them and assume
their usual activity, these improvement will prove
sources Of considerable profit especially under the i
pulse which every interest will derive from the rapid
developments of our resources certain to- follow our
separation from the North