The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-14
Presidential and Gubernatorial Mes
saGaS.

known In the land. M ~ -
Presidential and Gubernator1al Mes
sages.
We have been quite refreshed OF late by
a brief, and we may say "sententious," In
ausural address from the Governor of q
State. Governor NswBoED, Of Iowa, after
taking the oath of office thus chrystalized
his policy in sentence I'll do the best
can" A volume in a "nut-sheil." The
royal speeches from the throne are generally
brief. and republican Presidents and Gov
ernors have somehow come to consider that
they must send in long messages giving
views OF all matters and suggesting general
policies, to be unlike royalty. We rather
think the brief speeches OF kings look more
republican than the long messages OF re-
publican rulers. And whyy Because the
representatives OF the people come directly
from them, and are supposed to know what
they want better than Governor or Presi-
dent, and it is better that they should chalk
out chart for either than that he should
senQ In one 10 Cieule .-'
In the beginning of the republic inaugu-
rails and messages were very brief; but they
have been growing as time passed on.
WASHINGTON, ADAMS, JEFFERSON, and MADI-
SON wrote short messages. WAsHINGToN's
farewell address was the longest official pa
per my OF them wrote; and that, although
more brief than many .gubernatorial mes
sages OF these times, is grown entirely too
long or questionable now to be read at all.
Few people know anything about it.
MoNRoE was not tedious. JOHN QUINCY
ADAMS was fond of style, and he was so
pleased with his own sentences that he lin
gered over them much longer than his pre-
decessors did. But JACKSON seemed to set
the fashion. Bold, nervous, and strong
willed OLD HICKORY He wasted no time in
phraseology; but he wanted to speak plain
lyaand thoroughly, and he did SO: The Pc
Rod was one in which the presidential
mind was required to be active more than
previously, and he avoided no response
hility, but rather advanced to meet the
coming question. He wrote the longest
message up to his time, but it was generally
read. 1t was what in the slang of the day
would be called "iiye message" .
But even OLD HICKORY has been beaten
in the length of his message. And length
has become so important matter in mes
sages rs to be like WALTER SCoTT's "two
volumes'-a law. So that it matters not what
Presidents and Governors have to say the
message must always be of respectable
length. .tr -. .,
We wish the brief address were consid-
cred republican and not the long one. These
messages have Of late years, especially I'M
der the bias of that brevity established by
the telegraph, become heavy. TO take up
papers month after the meeting Of Con-
gress and see whole pages full of 'Fthe mes
sage" when the newspaper in which it APP
pears so long after had the tenor of the
message and the organization of Congress
in telegraphic news the very day after the
meeting, is bore. 80
There is too much matter printed. 1T
has become q great evil, emanating from
the improved printing-pres' that multiplies
impressions Of types so very rapidly that
people can't read what is printed. Every
body is tempted into prolixity-representa-
atires, and Presidents, and Governors, and
even editors, God help them. Why can't
Presidents and Governors indulge in salu-
tstions and fluctuations to the members of
the legislative branch, aud, Offering them a
few heads OF policy, refer them to the re-
ports Of the heads of departments for "fur-
Their particulars wiz, "see small bills !"
Of the heads of bureaus. 1t would save a
world of reading and large expense. 4
tcn-column message is read, and a partisan
moves to "print ten thousand copies"
which are printed and become "waste pa
PERI; but the people have prepaid the
>" cash for rags" Ali extravaganza, all er-
ror, all waste, comes upon the people.
We are in favor Of breyity, as anybody
may know from our habit We think SIM
plicity and brevity are republican. They
are. we confess, the characteristics Of arbi-
trary missiVes; but that does not make
them less appropriate for the expressions Of
integrity and cander.s Yerbositysis needed
to conceal the error and the fault Of deceit
full craftsmanship, and the meditated enc
croachment, upon public rights or public
interests. In these days the people are
dreadfully bamboozled by wrangling. &
We do not setiup Governor NEWBoLD as
a model statesman, but he certainly strikes
out in a line that tends towards brevity.
Could I'VE have less talk and more of the
I" doing OF the best :" 1t would be proyi-
dental blessing. : !" iz'' .. >
. County Roads. sas,. $50
We regret to see by, the report of their
proceeding In yesterdays Dispatch that
CONN nf tho 1,onrIo of uo,,r;an n.d nay.