Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-01-21
G0YERNQR'S MESSAGE.
EHEcUrIvE DEPART1zEE, !
WHEKLIsG, Jan. ts, 1854
Gentleman Of the Senate
r1S S9o,y,, 3 T0-y.--.-

Gad House cf Dszegztss-
The tine has been so short since the ai
jouruusnc of the last Legislature, that
many of t6e laws passed bv that bodT hive
not yet bean printed The adoption OF the
Township system, aad the great change in
the County organization by tie provisions
OF our Cous'irurioH, necessarily made the
laws cf the last session very Toiumfuous
sOmeEhaf duplicated IN their provisions
sud novel il their character TO our people
and Is ths Constitution does not REQUIRE
The laws 10 be spProEed by the executive,
have uot Had the Inclination, if had had
the tine 10 examine them very closely in
manuscript So Tar, however, as l have
eIsminsd then, they manifest great indus
Try and intelligence, s1d an honest pur-a
pose on Ihe part OF the Legislature 10 give
the friends of the system proposed by the
CONSTITUTION, the benefit Of 3 fair trial OF i,
before the people And / hope after here
has oeeu an opportunity Ofresting this ne9
system and rs workings, II may 6e found
that II u EOod one and we'll adapted to
the situation OF our State
Since the adIou-rpent Of the last EeSis-
! lztars there has been 10 material change
u the condition OF Affairs within the StaIe
have rot yet the pleasure OF announcing
TO Eou the recovery Of all The territory of
the State from the domination of the en-
euy- The Southern portion of it, iDeiud-
ing some OF ne richest and nosI prOdRc-
tive countfes, Is sti4E 6eyoad the lines of
the Federal army. This Is much 70 be
reRretted, As the most reliable information
n regard 50 me psopIs Of that section Is,
that large portioo OF them are anxious
to be released trosn the destructive rule OF
the rebels; and that they will, when pro-
tected, yield cordial support not oafy 20
the Government Of lhs United States, but
also to the government OF this State They
have been forced 70 eortri61te 10 the sup-
port OF the rebel government TO the extent
OF = tIihe OF all their products In kind in
addition 10 free uent ImpressmepIs Tor nil
ItAry purposes, aud the payueot of SLaJe
taxes 70 60 into The treasury at Richmond,
until many who were Inclined To synpa-
thiZs with the rebellion are unwilling to
bear these burdsns any longer, and would
gladly receive protection at our basds
Aside from this unreeovered section, the
loyal people OF the Siate have e8joJed
more peace aud felt greater security from
any formidable force OF tie enemy dur1ug
the past sumner and fsu, thaa at any
other tine since the rebeliion- This is
owing in part, no doubt. 10 The failing for
times CT those Arrayed against the Govern
ment, but chiefly 10 the fact that An indie
pendent military department has been
created composed in CREST pait Of this
State, and put unGer me con mand OF a
competent General = 10 has felt crest in
te-est 10 cur wesfree- Before the creation
| of This new department, West Virginia was
generally the border Of some larger sue,
and was sCt regarded as entitled TO anV
specfal care or protection, at tue hands of
the eouusnding General, and could only
f.t4 - NJ h D.
the present arrangement, however, the
commander CT this department. has heen
supplied viii n larger force Ihan has beea
heretofore within the same territory; and
Al giTes me pleasure 70 say that sIace Gen
eraI Kelley has been in cSm mand mere he
has displayed great military skill, judg-
meat ard fCresight, aud 4 niiring eneFgE-
Land the officers aud men under him haTs
evineed great gaitautry in the several bat
Sies and EkImishss IN which they have
been engaged, and have sboRn their de-
EOtiO1 10 the cause IN which they ara en-
iissed, BY the long and fatiguirg marches
they have performed, and the great hard
ships they have endured, without murmur
or eGmptaint. They have not acted siuPIy
Ou the defenstEs, but have sought aud at
tackled tie enemy, and, with one single
exception, have routed him wherever he
WAS found-- An honor Is due the General
aud the brave Lr0aps under his command.
In addition to the Government troops IN
thIz department have organized Tndepen-
dent companies IL the mere exposed reun-
lies, under the act Of the Legislature, pass
ed July z2,-~Is55 the more Fmmediate
| purpose Of which Is 10 protect the citizens
and their property against the predatory
1 bands thai infesE the State, and 70 give
Information 70, and eo-eperaIe with the
Goyernmsut tr6ops wheneTer occasion re
GnIres- The result has been very sStisfac-
! tory Wherever these eoupanies are or
| ganIzed, fewer guerriiizs are found and
aeWer dEpredations are committed, and the
1 people feel greater security of persons Hnd
| properly Than heretofore By the act men
| JiOned he Legislature made teEupoEarT
appropriation OF $50 eco, for the paVmenf
! OF these companies aad fer State detense
generally. Il may b. seen fram Ii & rsport
I Of the-ARdiFoE thsJS Ii S63, ,33, of this aporo-
priaG0n has been expended It's probable
THAI the GoVrumeut troops nor N our midst
viii be eooceutratSf for more formidahIe
dRry IN the spring, and the people may be
] thIoFn On these State companies fer pro
tectioa against the guerrillas and, As the
rssidRs 5f the State, as il is recovered from
the enemy, via aIsOueGd protection, 1t may
be necessary 70 Increase their nnmbers. 1
therefore recommend liberal appropria-
tia0 With a yisT to increasing their uUm-
heEs and eaicieaey- 80 - ~ Els
SotWtrhsraudfng al that has been done
6J GoTerument troops and State comps
nIesI soma portions Of the Ssase are. .sEiIl
infested with bands of maraudeEE. Who rob