Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1836-12-15

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sures to effect The immediate execution of the !
Eastern division of the line.
II have not recommended that portion
undertaken on State account, il is by no
means from any doubt of It's importance, but
because i, is quite within the competency of
private means, prepared 10 embark in il, TO
effect.
Should the Legislature concur with me in
the foregoing views, and perceive no obsta
Gle interposcd by the contingent right 10
make a road hetw cen Richmond and Lynch
burg, granted n, its last session TO the James
and kanawha Company, should hope there
will he no difficulty in selecting out Of the
several schemes which will doubtless come
under their review, the one the most condu-
Give of the public good.
There are numerous other interesting
public works contemplated, and in course of
! execution, which ill come under your no.
tice, aud which deserve your liberal consid
| Grafton. | omit more particular reference
Ia them. because they partake, of the most
part, OF local, rather than general charac-
ter, and because an examination OF them
would prove tedious, probably, 20 you, aud
extend 10 an inconvenient length the present
communication.
| The great Cause of Education, the mould
| in which The young and plastic mind is cast
in the beautiful proportions of virtue and
| usefulness ,-or STAMPED with the uglineSs Of
vice and crime, will doubtless receive from
| you that regard, which the paternal suiici-
lude of IA Virginia Legislature has rarely
failed TO accord.
! Ii is topic on which, however commnn-
| ding its interest, | do not design to enlarge,
hut shall limit myself TO very few reaec-
lions, suggested by The act appropriating The
surplus Of the Literary Fund, passed by the
last General Assembly. Virginia long since,
10 her high h0nor, established system OF
education a, once liberal and comprehensive,
and wrthal, muniiicenlIy endowed. II was
deliberately, cautiously proceeded with, mar
rowly scrutinized, and inaliy in 1921, when
Colleges, Academies and intermediate Schools
were provided for, seemed from The nice AL.
Justment OF its provisions 10 the vary I'M
! measures Of the 81 hUlastic wants of the CON
/ munty 10 be accommodated iu every inter
est and 10 command general appreciation.
! All, at least, were disposed 20 give il fair
/ trial What lees was due 10 a scheme thus
anXiously elaborated, so approx ed by the
! " Use, and so interviewer with the best inter
ests OF the Common wealth THAT trial has
now been in progress for many ycars.-Pri-
mary Schools, the first provided for by the
! System, and the University afterwards, have
each long erjoyed as they ell deserve 10 en-
icy, the fruits OF its bountv.-The period al
/ length arrived ~ hen from he accumulated in.
come of the Literary Fund, Schools OF the in
,ermedate grade were by the express s. time
sanctioned provisions OF the System 20 pHtli-
! cipaie in lis benefits. A bill securing 10
! them the promised advantages, was aCcor
diagly brought before the last Legislature !;
! bat this al late stage of the Session, was
I supplanted by another, adding that surplus
ttclhe Primary School Fund, and leaving the
! tptn ms ~ AT sI.hf ha
I OF the School Commissioners, even for that
! moGicum OF the amount which should fall To
! the counties or towns in which such schools
might be situated. Thus, without any Gaia
10 shew the exclusive or even superior claims
F.! oi primary over intermediate schools, has an
important provision o! our well balanced and
long approved State system OF education,
been defeated, and without any opportunity
afforded of testing lis value. Attaching
much consequence tothe provisonsalludedto TO,
aud especially IN the view that, by its effect
in cheapeniDg education at High Schools il
would afford 10 youths OF limited means, the
only opportunity they can have Of approx
mailing the scholastic advantages of the more
| afluent, The propriety of restoring i, 10 lis
place IN our system of instruction, is now
respectfully referred TO your deliberations
The condition of the Finances of the
Commonwealth, always an interesting head
OF enquiry, viii he found on The present 0C-
casiOn, 10 demand from you more than oidi-
nary consideration. For all details necessa
~ 10 pu' you i'll full possession ofthe subject,
| respectfully refer you TO the proper officers
On examining these ii will lie seen that
the actual receipts OF the last fiscal year eX-
cccded ihc estimate oE the Finance Commits
tee al The House Of Delegates, by about
Ii GOO, yet the disbursements also ever.
run their estimates by about the like amount
no increases of course, Of the anticipated
balance in the Treasury occurred d, the close
OF the year.
The available balance on hand on the 3Olh
September last, as appears by the report Of
tho Fourth Auditor, lille exceeded Sl9,-
QUO, and at The end OF the current fiscal year
charging The Treasury with only the ordi-
nary expenses Of Government, and ascertain
ed claims against il, that officer estimates
the balance al about $4,000 orly. But as
extraordinary and specific appropriations,
and unforeseen demands upon the Treasury,
have never in any year, failed lo exceed that
amount il is plain that the State will be 10.
able ~ meet her engagements unless meas
sures are taken by the Legislature 10 inset
The threatened deficiency.
The suggestions made by the Fourth Au,
ditor, as to the means The most expedient 10
be adopted in order 10 effect this object, and
which avo;d nj the same time, the necessity
Of augmentipg the taxes (alwsys unwelcOme,
but al The present moment, in lew OF causes
bearing on our financial condition, now in O.
reratioD, perhaps unwise also seem 10 me
highly jndicious. Should they, however,
f'l 10 find favor with the Legislature, no
alternative is perceived TO I've left them, save