Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1872-11-30
FROM THE CAPITAL.

ond annual MESSAGE
Gentlemen of the Senate and Of the
House Of Delegates
Your session will be one of labor to
yourselves, and of great interest to the
people. Since the last Legislature al
journed,a Constitution differing III many
material points from the old Consti'u,
ton, has been ratified by the peoPle'ahd
is now in force. A Constitution is meant
to define and preserve the rights OF the
citizen in person and property 10 estao-
l:sh his equality before the law, and to
guard him against wrongs, whether at
tempted to be committed by one or
many: it so organizes society that each
nav contribute his share to the general
rood.-not only without detriment but
with positive advantage to himself. And
in so far as it accomplishes these ends,
lust so far has it conformed to the high
est idea of popular government, in
which all. govern, at the same time
are governed. 1t thus becomes the ex-
preston of peoples highest idea of
government and social order, and marks
their progress in the principles of civil
liberty and material improvement. 1t
is not matter of surprise, therefore,
that any changes in it are closely scruti-
nized and sharply criticised, and that
men who are attached, from habit or
principle, to old forms, reluctantly yield
their assent to new or unaccustomed
ones. Although, while the new Consti-
tuition was under examination by the
people, provoked warm and sometimes
angry discussion, now that it has been
ratified, have every confidence that
our people will all yield cheerful ODE
dience to its commands. Its ratification
will impose upon you the duty and res
possibility of giving to it shape and
vitality, by the enactment of laws ne
cessary to put it in complete operation:
In the discharge of this duty, there will
probably arise wide differences of opin-
ION. but investigation and amicable dis
cussion always tends to produce correct
conclusions. In communicating, TO you
as required by the Constitution, the con-
dition of the State, may | not be per-
mitted to express the hope that harmony
may orevail in your proceedings, and
that there may exist forbearance and
liberation which spring not from timidi-
" of opinion or INDIGESTION in Judgment,
but which have their foundation in mu
tual respect and good feeling?
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
One,of the first subjects that will de
mand your attention will be the thorough
and complete reorganization of county
governments. The destruction of the
township system and with it the board
of Supervisors and Of recorder, have
swept away ALMOST all the existing laws
pertaining to the management OF county
or local affairs The establishment of
the county court system, with its office
Of county clerk, will require a revision
more or less of all laws relating to mat
tiers of probate, the appointment OF per-
sonai representatives, guardians, com
mittees aud curators, the settlement OF
their accounts, the recording of deeds,
roads, ways, bridges, ferries and mills,
and also the laws relating to the hold
ing of elections and certifying the re-
turns thereof. The president and clerk
Sf,the county court are new officers,
unknown to the present laws, and Con
seouentlv, it will be necessary to pre-
scribe when and how they shall qualify.
1t will also be your duty to prescribe
for the several counties the time of
holding respectively the couaSy and
circuit courts. ! do not arrogate to
myself the task of suggesting the form
or character of Legislation upon these
subjects; simply desire to call attention
to the necessity of prompt action IN
reference to them. On the first day of
January the present system will practi-
cally expire, and unless necessary laws
are enacted in the meantime, the result
NAV be enthusiastically, there will be
many inconvenience to the public.
The Fl amers of the Constitution clearly
had in view the necessity of the revls-
ion or modification of these laws at an
early day, when they fixed your meet
ing at this time, and provided indirectly
that laws passed at the present SESSION
a,ay take effect from the date OF their
passage.
deem it my duty, however, to call
sour special attention to one OF these
subiects-I refer 10 the law relating to
roads. No person can travel over
considerable portion of the State with
out being impressed with the thought
that either our road system is defective
in itself, or that it is effectively execu-
ted. 1t may be that the laws themselves
do not meet or are not adapted to the
exigencies of the case, and also that they
are not faithfully carried out What
ever may be the cause, the fact cannot
be ignored, that the roads are in bad
condition-even some of the turnpikes
that were constructed few years ago,
comparatively few roads were needed
over which to transport the products of
the farm, and bring back i'll return ne
cessary articles. The wants of the peo-
pie were few and simple; with the ex-
ception of a few articles, the farm was
made to supply all of these wants.
Many localities were so remote from the
markets of the country; that there was
no stimulus or motive for the produc-
zion of anything except to supply I'M
med a'e wants at home. Under this
condition of things, the great mass OF
the people consumed what they pro-