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Home > Floripedia > Speech of Governor Fulwar Skipwith
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Governor Fulwar Skipwith's Speech
1810
Gentlemen of the Senate,
And of the House of Representatives,
CALLED by your joint and unanimous suffrages, to fill the office of chief magistrate, under the constitution adopted by the people of this commonwealth, I repair with a full sense of my own imperfect qualifications, to that critical and honorable post, beleiving it to be the duty of every citizen at this moment implicitly to obey the call of his country.
Placed like you, but as to day, to carry into effect a new system of government, little more it is presumed, might be expected from me at the moment of my entering into office, than the ordinary professions of a governor, addressing the immediate representatives of the people; yet my solicitude, during these first hours of the convulsive birth of our infant republic, induces me on the present occasion, to ask something more of your attention and indulgence.
The constitution excluding the chief executive officer, from any voice in the legislation of the state, does nevertheless enjoin on him, the duty of recommending to the general assembly, such measures as he shall deem essential to the security and prosperity of the public.
The arduous and intricate labours of legislation, devolving wholly on you, gentlemen of the senate and house of representatives, it is my intention only on this all important subject, in anticipation doubtless of your own views, to press especially and promptly, the establishment of a more compleat and applicable system of criminal and civil jurisprudence; some more efficient measures for organizing and dsciplining the militia, and other forces necessary to offensive, as well as defensive operations; a more just and equal apportionment of the representation among the several districts of the state; and lastly, a more extensive basis for levying and apportioning taxes and other resources of finance, required for the support of government and the military operations now on foot; and adequate also, to meet other exigencies of the state, likely to intervene between the present and your next session.
The judiciary system devised by the late convention, and sanctioned by the representative of the sovereign, to whom we then held allegiance, does honor to that body, inasmuch, as it secured a better administration of justice than had been practised before, and laid the foundation for a more thorough reform; but the inhabitants of this state, at length emancipated from despotism, will no longer have occasion to compromise on the fundamental principles of justice, and their rights. It is not doubted, therefore, but that system will undergo a revision, and be reformed by you, especially with regard to the powers and attributes of the district courts, whose judgments by the existing ordinances are final, both in civil and criminal cases, to a very considerable amount. Judges of the inferior, no less than of the superior courts, when vested with the power, to give final judgments, ought to be restricted to the