The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-22
9nhntund nispatth.
,rossoae ofCsovernor Stevenson.

Governor STEvENSoS'S message 70 ths
General Assembly of West Virginia is in
tercsting. He discusses many questions
He seems 10 be in favor of removing the
disabilities of the so-callcd rebels, though
he handles the subject rather gingcrly. Az
to the act of Assembly requiring test-oa'hs
Of lawyers and teachers, he speaks more
rlainlv. recommending their repeal un'
cua.ifcdly. He calls attention to the regis
tra.ion law. remarking that the highest
interests of the State arc best promoted, a
more ready obedience to the laws secured,
and a better spirit inspired among the
"pcoplc, when all the citizens, without DIS
'tinction of party, arc protected IN the
Hycnccful and lawful exercise OF their
"1i.ht 10 vote, and when the purity OF
"thc ballo.-box is most vigilantly guarded"
This is ambiguous language.
Ks TO internal improvements, the message
.ncaks freely. The Governor says the
Chesapeake end Ohio railroad must add
Immensely to the wealth and population Of
We: Virginia: He says also that capital
It's aud corporations in other States pro-
r9sc TO give substantial aid to the West Fir-
Hiuia Central railway, while the people OF
eoI.c Of the counties through which the road
) 10 pass have voted to tax themselves
largely to aid in its construction. This road
would pass through that State from north
to south. This road failing, macadam-
lied road from the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road on the north to the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad on the south would, says the
Governor, " seem to be Indispensable"
The project of constructing q railroad
through several counties of Western Penn
sylyania and West Virginia, so as to con-
meet at some point in the latter State with
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and at the
White Sulphur Springs with the Chesapeake
and Ohio road, is at the present time Mt
tracing general attention in the counties
through which the road is expected to pass.
Already. says the Governor, a number of
catcrprising men, some of them large CAPT.
talists, have identified themselves with the
proposed improvement; and there is GER
tainly cheering prospect that, with pro-
Per encouragement, work may be com
mcnrcd upon this road soon, and that por-
ton connecting with the Baltimore and
DINO road completed at an early day.
The Governor speaks as if he considered
Charleston the permanent capital of the
State.
What Richmond may expect from the
chesapeake and Ohio railroad may be in
fc,rcd from certain facts stated by the Go
vernon. The Great kanawha Valley now
slins 10000 bushels Of salt per month.
The same region sent to market in 1869 four
ruif.;yas of bushels of coal-notbing to
VIA; il coull send had it a good outlet to
the eastern markets.
On tle subject of immigration, Governor
STEVENSON recommends as worthy OF con-
silcraton the proposition made by persons
who have paid much attention to this sub
icct, that West Virginia, Virginia, Ken
turky, and Tennessee, should contribute
Jointly to an immigration agency.
IN view of what Congress is doing just
now, it is rather amusing than otherwise to
read in the Governors message recon-
incubation that the Legislature of West
Virginia ccde to Congress exclusive juris-
dio;io over the national cemetery at Graf
ton. General SHERMAN had asked for this
act of grace. Such modcsty is amazing.
Tolcprive a people of every right they
hold dear--to tnhc n,cay their Governors,
Judges, justices, clerks, and every other
officer, and every right Of person and pro-
perry, and then ask the poor privilege OF a
hurial-pace, is what nobody but a Yankee
cnuid do. The Italian bandit who robs and
perhaps murders innocent passengers every
day in the week, but will not cat meat on
Friday, is the only similar cxemplar Of
such modcsty that we can recall to mind.