Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-12-13

the sick to receive all the attention due 10
| them
The Penitentary System well regulated.
Is now generally regarded as capable Of con.
ferring benefit, whilst il inflicts sufficient
punishment upon the vicious members Of So
iciety. Instruction in some useful mechanic
art, enables the convict which restored In 80.
ciety, TO procure substance with little labor,
and where conscious Of his ability by the APP
pscation ofhis art, to accomplish this object
all motives to supply by immoral or disho-
nest means is withdrawn. This is sustained
by the fact, which speakes much In favor Of
the moral character of our mechanics, that
during the past year but five have been ad-
mitted into the fenitentiary OF that class
The Report of the Superintendent Of the
Penitentiary herewith communicated, will in
form you OF the condition Of that Institution,
which il Is hoped will be found such as not to
disappont public expectation.
The returns OF the Adjutant General, and
the Commahdant OF the Public Guard, are
likewise laid before you, from which will be
seen the strength Of our militia, aud the con-
dition Of our arms.
Ia relation TO OUR fiscal affairs, il gives me
pleasure to state, that they are in a prospe-
rous condition. as will be developed by the
Treasurer and Auditor OF Public Accounts,
IN their annual reports, which will be laid be.
fore you In my last annual message, the
General Assembly was informed, that Thos:
w. Gimer, Esq Of Albemarle, had been APP
pointed the commissioner pursuant to the act
Of the Sih of April, 1881, to investigate the
claims of Virginia upon the United States,on
account Of the services of her officers dming
the revolutionary war. 1t now gives me
a hos
formed the duty confded to him with great
fidelity and zeal, and have the satisfaction
to announce, that congress, by an act which
was approved by the President, on the 5th of
July last, entitled IAN act to provide for the
liquidating and paying certain claims OF The
: tate of Virginia. authorized the accounting
officers Of the Federal Government, to re
fund 10 this Commonwealth the sum which
has actually been paid by her,to the officers
of the state line, amounting to $3.50. 5d3 sc,
and also. the further sum of S24i,345 for
which the State had become liable by ju ig-
ments obtained in the superior court OF Hen
rico. These two sums were received by tho
| commissioner at Washington, and have been
paid by him into the Treasury. The former
sum will remain to the permanent credit of
the State, TO be disposed Of in such manner
as the General Assembly shall deem ezpedi-
ent; and in respect to the latter, it will be-
come necessary by an existing statute, TO
make specific provision for its disbursement,
in discharge Of the judgments obtained a.
gainst the commonwealth. IN making these
appropriations, the General Assembly will
doubtless provide sufficient guards for the
just application Of fund which is intended
to compensate the remnant of the revolution
airy worthless for their patriotic tolls.
Owing to the frequent want Of documents
which were said to have been lost, presum-
ed it possible that something might be found
which would be valuable to the country, or
beneficial TO individuals by an examination of
that iuinense mass of papers which have
been accommodating in the allie stofy OF the
capitol for many years. Under this impress
sion, was Induced to employ John II. Smith,
esq. a gentleman highly qualified to discharge
so arduous a task, to examine and carefully
arrange whatever papers might be found
worthy Of preservation either from their fur
Fnshing information as matter of history, or
as evidence Of our claims against the United
States for revolutionary disbursements.
That gentleman undertook the performance
of the duty assigned, and discharged It with
great Tabor and accuracy, and has recovered
many valuable documents which il is believ-
~u VIII fuity SuDstdutidtt INC Cidtiii VI VHkI
MIA against the United States, for still larger
sums of money due for Disbursements made
to her forces, employed against the common
enemy. His report rs herewith laid before
yon.
1t is probable that the want Of sufficient
room, originally led to the practice Of piling
away the old records and documents in the
upper apartments OF the capitol, aud perhaps
during the late war, further accumulatbons
may have taken place.
The Inconvenience suffered by some OF the
officers of government in the transaction Of
the public business, for the want oil sufficient
and convenient apartments, is now such as
to induce me TO ask your attention to that
subject. The rooms in the basement story
are small, confined and badly lighted, aud
many of those confined to them by official
duties during the summer, find their health
impaired by their dampness, which IS also
believed TO be very destructive to the records
and documents themselves; moreover, the
apartments now occupied by the Auditor OF
Public Accounts, are so crowded by the an
nual accumulation of papers, that IN short
time, there will not be sufficient space to nie
them away.
II gives me great satisfaction to state to
you the improving condition. of our primary
schools, since not doubt Is now entertain
ed, that in time. they will be found to answer
fully, the expectations of their warmest TRENDS
The number of children sent TO school an
lnualiy inc reasses, and the operation oil the
system has been improved blythe commenda-
bile labor and industry Of the second AUDITOR