Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1838-01-11

Of Der stock. and excluding her real es-
tale, 20 meet these liabilities, 10 So. 3l5, :
O26 o3, The like Liabilities Of The Flf-
meFs' Bank Of ViTgisia, II tie SANE
period. amounted 70 Sf,l77,754 81.
aud It's means in ike manner, insiosivv
OF he stock. AND excluding is real es-
tate. were ST. 431 .sC6 80. The con-
dillon Of the other hanks in the Com
'ncRwealsh renders 40 less secure Inc
holders 81 notes and other deYosi,ofs
Of money.
The report Of the Second Auditor on
the State OF The Literary Fond, and
'she condition Of the Common Schools
viii be laid before you. and from il
you viii see the progress made and
making in the general system OF edu-
cation. The success attending the edu-
cation OF poor cbsldren, j. highly graf.
tying, and II Is reputable 10 the coun-
Try. that this subject is attracting more
general astenuon. for certainly in what
ever aspect ne view ~. there is none
more important. An enlightened Le-
gislaiure win not in the performance
Of their duties in this great work, bali
st the Threshold.
That Is now the position we occupy.
Ia other countries. not poSsessed OF
our ample meaDs. their governments
have provided for the education of their
cntise population. This is the case in
Prussia. and several other Of the Ger
man States. New York has her system
IN full operation. and is doirg well. -
Why, allow me 10 ask. have We failed
to make provision for general system
of common sehools' l. il not . NOR.
flying reflection that while one Of our
fundamental canons declares That
all power is vested ia and consequent.
ly derived from the people" there
ahould be thousands Of that very peo-
pie incapable OF eiiher reading or wit
ing' Yet such is the humilialinS fact.
!, was certainly most praiseworthy
IN the General Assembly that original
ed IL. 70 project the plan providing for
the education .of the poor. The por-
ton OF The income ofthe Literary Fund
applied TO their education for the year
ending The 3eth OF September, 1897,
amounted 10 ssi. III e5. This Is now
more than can be prndeniiy applied to
that single object. What then ought 10
be done with the increasing revenue oC
that fund.- The question, humbly
submit, may be promptly and sa,isfac.
ioriiy answered. Apply the surp,usto
The entowmenis OF common schools
throughout the whole Slate. for the
education Of the children Of the erea,
body Of the people, and Of all classps.
These schools have been very npDro-
rriately called the academies and col.
leges Of the people. by endowing and
promoting them, every citizen is pro.
yided in his neighboIhood, or 81 his
door. with school foI the education oil
his Children school where that class
OF children may be educated, 10 whom
IN few years the deS,inies of the
country are 10 be committed.
Many OF our most respectable cili.
zens, and not few OF those who d.
rect our public conneils. obtained their
education, not wiihia the halls Of a
college, but in schools Of much hum.
bier preiehsions. Their means being in
adequate TO the expenses Of college,
they acquired al the common schools
The elements Of solid education and
by their subsequent well directed ef-
forts, have nobly qualified themselves
Tor all the duties OF public and private
life. To me II seems all important that
effective measures should be taken 10
place the system Of common schools
upon footing commensurate with the
wants Of the public snd Tie obligations
OF the goYernment--aad respectfully
submit 1t to your enlightened and
friendly consideration.
Among The subjects Of cnrros,ing
interest. are our works Of Intcrnai I'm.
pFovement, - we'll or account ct the
large sums 1t money which We are
expenaing in their construction, az the
great advantages which We expect 10
derive from them when completed.
Those who achieved their coupiry's
Independence, had no sooner. re sied
from their lsbors than ihey turned their
attention 20 many important improve.
menis, some Of which at this late day
we are engaged in executing.
As ea'Iy as 1888. an act passed Tor
improving the navigation Of James Rs
YER. and another Tor Imposing the
Roanoke, In 1854 the James River
Company was Incorporated. aud the
70 be. ethe clearing aud
extending the navigation from tide wa.
ter upwards 10 the highest paris praeli-
cable on the main branch" IN the
same year The Potomac Company was
incorporated for improving that river.
IN 1877 the act PASSED for incosporai-
Jog the Dismal Swamp Canal Gonna.
ny, for cutting canal from the va
leis Of Elizabeth River 10 the waters Of
Pssqpoiank. in North Csfolina." IL
the same year an act passed "ior i'm
proving The Apromstiox." and in 1893.
The kap9ehsnnoek Company vas IN
eorporaied for opening and clearing
he navigation Of that riveF-@so that
IN ten years plans we're laid and CON.
panies we're formed co. improving ali
The principal nayigable streams ~ the
State WHICH run eastwardfy from The
mountains.