Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-12-12

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monstrated the effectiveness and insecurity
OF former regulations on the subject, and was
intended to introduce and establish an en-
tirely new system in the receipt, safe-keeping
and disbursement of the public monies. 1t
Is emphatically the organic law of the public
treasury In Virginia, and until repealed or
modified by the Legislature, the only COM
Petent authority, it must be regarded as a
binding rule ofaction to the public officers and
all others concerned.
This, then, being the existing state of the
law, let 1t be supposed that it had been de-
termlned to remove the public monies from
the Banks, under the eis nth section ofthe act
OF 1887. Where We're they to be placed for
safe keeping and due administration In
the custody of the Treasurer, as the legal and
responsible fiscal officer Of the Common
wealth., would naturally occur, as the answer.
But the Treasurer, it will be seen from his
letter herewith submitted, accompanied by
the opinion of the Attorney General, whose
advice he required, would not have consider
ed himself at liberty to take possession of the
pubic monies, in case of their removal; re-
garding his custody of them to be inhibited
by the letter and spirit of the law of 1929, the
ieauing object and policy of which Were to
place the public monies, out of the custody
and beyound the control which that officer
had formerly held over them. If any other
place OF deposit could have been found, the
pubic monies there would have been wholly
Without legal safeguard or protection, for the
treasurer declares, he ''would consider them
In that case" out cfMe Treasury How. too.
could public money have been paid in
TO, or out OF, this new place of deposit, ifsucb
an one had been found and designated bv the
Governor! The law of 1929, it has been
seen, expressly prohibits the receipt of public
money into the Treasury, except through the
! banks, and Ill like manner prevents any nav
ment from being made by the Treasury. 9th
erwlse than by checks drawn on the Banks.
NO other mode has been prescribed or apthor-
ised by law, and the Executive could have
prescribed none without an unwarranted as
SUMPTION oil Legislative power. The remo-
| val oil me public monies from the Banks. and
TIE establishment OF a new place of deposit by
the Governor, Ill this state Of things, must
men, have been entirely nugatory, or have
| involved, as necessary consequence. Il total
stoPpa@e In the operations Of the Treasury.
Dctn as to receipts and disbursements.
heSe are some of the insuperable embar-
easements which would have attended an at
tempt, in the present state of things. to eve
cue Tile contingent authority niyen tn the
"oVernor by the act of 1887. They brouoht
my mind to the conclusion, that a GENERAL
suspension OF specie payments by all the
pdi'hS was not such Il contingency as that act
contemplated or, if it Were, that the eyecn-
tion OF lis provisions was impracticabIe. with
out farther exercise ofleoislatiye authority
nave deemed 1t, therefore, most in HARMONY
win the constitutional duties of the Fyecn-
1--WE department, as well as most consistent
with the Intentions ofthe Legislature. and the
s enei"i iltereSts CT the people and tie Com
inonwealth, to submit the whole matter .s
posed OF by them as they, in their wisdo-n
snail Judge best for the common coed.
: tour attention is again most respectfullv
INV invi'ed to the subject of Common Schools.
ne lncaiculable Importance Of a iudicious
system OF popular instruction 20 the best i,-
'erests OF society, will be my Justification for
pressing 1t upon you so often. I'm = tnr,,,er
communication, suggested that the plan of
Ieh:iai Education should embrace not only
VIC Instruction CT the entire youth of the conn
Wy; "u' gradual increase of well qualified
'u Inexperienced teachers. Further enquiries
rI ie9 me 10 the conclusion, that provision
I;aa,iy ing teachers ought to precede the
organization OF schools. I'm some of the Statos
and III other countries. where tboy L.,,o 80 %
engaged In establishing Common SchocIs
the greatest difficulty which they have had ,
encounter In the commencement, has been in
obtaining properly qualified teachers. And
uh.il the Inducements to qualify themselves.
ana the facilities for so doing are greatly MI
uPlied, 1t Is not tObe expected, that thew vii,
be found among ourselves.
ltls not to be questianed, that the diffusion
OF sound education is of the last imnort.rcn
TO the well being ofsociety. Indeed, we are so.
leihnly admonished, that the safety of life and
property IN our country depends upon the mo
per training and educating of our voitb
"hen man becomes the master of his own
Polltcai destiny, it is not rational TO supposo
tnat nc will give to ita proper direction
without knowledge ofthe power committed to
ms keeping and Of the consequences that at
should you not deem it advisable to do
iioie at the present session, let me press upon
you the necessity of makingprovision for the
preparation OF good teachers. would alec
u;Se ,i'd' a competent person be appointed to
isi' ,he inherent counties, examine into tho
dc'uai condition of the schools in each. and
iePof. 10 future Legislature the result Of tbis
examination The General Assembly ,,.c,,IJ
men De enabled to act with full and correct
knowledge OF the condition Of the schools
dh6 state oil education in the Commonwealth
Dufing the past summer, had an opportu
my CT personally inspecting the Western
nuidCic Asylum at Staunton, accompapied IN
'i'e institution by the physician, whose unt;-
my ei.oIts 10 Improve its usefulness. are xyor-
wy OF the highest communication. I was
grained, inPassing through all the build;nos
10 observe the order and neatness which no.
vaoed the whole establishment. and the com
ioi, Oh us inmates. l was especially cratified
10 learn the number Of insane persons. tbst
hdu, within the last year or two, been cured