Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-11

'lifure of tic past year. The policy how
ever. OF charging this appropriation, if
employment can be found for sit, Still ex-
lists.
BY an act of the General Assembly Of
the 9th January 1871, founded on The
III NJ pqicy, the Executive were altiior i
zed 10 dispose OF the surplus cannon man
uiactured at the Foundry anI Boring
Mil, and To extend their operation. II
appears, however, that instead ut exer-
clsing this authority, that branch OF the
institution which was regarded as most
profitable, has been permitted 10 lie idle.
The extent of the ediiicc, within which the
manutactory of small arms is conducted,
would admit considerable enlargement
| of tsOpcratIons: aAdtha eject of such en-
largemenf would be, as suggested in the
| lastreport OF the Committee OF Finance,
| to occasion the interest IN the fixed capi-
| tai vested IN the Araory, aud the salaries
| OF It's officers, TO bear a smaller propoyti-
on, than they have hitherto done to the
value OF lis annual products 1t is GER
| tainly important, with view TO the lust
! economy OF tlIe public revenue, to com
| plete, as early US possible, the object for
! wllc6 the mandatory was erected, III
order tlat such Z disposition may be made
| az e, aS snail render il less burihensome
on the treasury than 1t has hitherto pro-
| we'd
The committee beg leave, while upon
this interesting subject, To call the atten-
| tioD OF The House Oiis connection with
! one 10 which It's intimately related, and
TO suggest the expectancy of presenting 10
the properauthority, the claim ofthe COM
| monwealth upon the Government OF the
United States, for disiributabIe share Of
those arms TO which the Commonwealth
Is entitled under the act al Congress,
which passed on the 23d day of April,
1903, and provides an annual appropriate
on OF 900. 000 dollars, towards the purchase
or manufacture and distribution of arms
among the several States and Territories
of the IT, >. III proportion 10 the respec-
| tive numbers OF their effective milifla
| The value OF the arms which this act en- :
| titles the Commonwealth To claim of the
| General Government, may be computed
at Sl90000; and the present situation of
| the United States, al peace with all the
world, must ensure Il speedy attention 10
any application To the General Govern
ment, in behalf Of a claim arising from
! the express provisions OF 1.-THE laws ofthe q
y. and which derives superortiilc to the
justice OF that Government, from the de-
lay OF this Commonwealth 10 press its
diihlSSlOli at an earIier period.
1t belongs 10 the President and Direc-
tors OF the Literary Fund TO cherish the
sacred treasure, 90 which the best homes
OF the Commonwealth are directed, for The
future education of IFS youth but the
| improvement of this Fund can never
cease to be an object of common solicit
tude. The debt due from the Govern
ment of the u. S. for the military exDep-
ces OF the Commonwealth during the late
war, has been appropriated 10 public edu-
cation, III pursuance of recommends
ton contained III the last annual Reoort
of the Committee of Finance. The nro-
tracted delay of the final settlement ofthis
claim, has given an additional importance
to question which it involves. whether
the interest which the Commonwealth,
has actually paid on the several loans.
which those expences necessarily occasi-
oned, shall be refunded by the Govern
ment OF the o.. :. Tie committee are an
| prlsed, that this question is regarded by
ile department of that Government. on
| which the duty devolves of Iiuudaling
| TINS claim, as proper subject to submit
| To ne consideration of Congress. After
the admission OF the obvious principle of
Jusiice, that the Commonwealth is emit
tied 10 reimbursement OF the sums
winch were drawn from the Public Trea-
sury, from time TO fine, often without the
| sanction of any law, in aid ofthe common
| defence; If does not seem TO your com
mittee, that doubt can arise in the Ma
tional Legislature of the right ofihe Com
| monwealiii to reimbursement of the in
terest on the loans, which those expeuces
shall he shewn to have rendered indisDen-
SADLY necessary.
! Ii 4 comparison be made of The FERNS
| on which those looms were effected with
| the conditions of the cofemporaneous
! loans OF the General Government flie
| latter will -be found 10 have been preserv-
| ed by the former, from a very considera
bic, and otherwise, irretrievable loss
| Upon the large sums drawn bythis Com
| mOnweaith from its own citizens Inv the
war taxes, and advanced TO the use az
The Government of the Union, no interest
| has ever been claimed. 1T is for the Ge-
neral Assembly to devise the means of
| presenting this subject to the Justice of
| Congress.
The committee have felt if 70 he f,e;r
| duty 70 ascertain whether the sum now
remaining In the Treasury, will suffice TO
meet the eXpences charged upon if he
| fore the revenue, for which the acts ofthe
present session may provide. shall come
IN to Ms aid. TEeyfin that the balance
IN the Treasury, oD the first of January
last, was 8 2l2,2l6 ~. or sum far excee-
ding the balance in tie Treasury at fhe
same period, III ,nV former vpar In al