Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-12-03
ANNUAL MESSAGE

OF THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.
Executive DEPARTMENT,
December =, 1914.
Si-. have the honor to enclose a communl-
cation to The General Assembly, and 10 request
that ii may be submitted TO the House OF Dele
gates. am, most respectfully,
Your ooedient servant,
IA: MCDOWELL.
To The Speaker of the House Of Delegates
Executive DEPARTMENT,
December = 1874.
Fellow-Ci,izens Of the Senate
and House OF Delegates
| am happy TO say to you, at the ou'set Oh lhis
animal communication, that you return 10 your
duties a, the Capitol under circumstances OF de-
cided aud general improvement in the private ana
public interests Of the State. The distressing
cmbarassmen,s which have SO long disturbed
and crippled the operations Of business, nave, IN
a great measure begun to relax; the abuses OF Gre
di,, with the extravasance speculation ana deo'
,hty encouraged, 10 disappear; more rigorous
and seli-dcnying frugality TO be practiscd-and
Tins The foundation OF wiser and safer system
,f individual transactions has been gradually ana
extensively commenced in the experience, habits
and spirit of our people
Whilst in these respects. Affecting aoVahla9e-
oa.ly the sources of our private prosperity Tor The
future, we have reason 10 be sralited, we nave,
in other respects affecting the sources oil puoilc
good, reason even for warm and patriotic conSra-
lu!ation. The public revenue ana credit OF the
s;a,e-those erca, interests which bring into issue
.uo character and weII-Deins oil whole people,
a se's S OF nas y- no; only been
rescued from every danger 10 which they have
been exposed, but established upon footing OF
The greatest soundncss and strength.
In 1910, the Treasury being unable 10 meet the
public obligations then due, such sum as was
necessary 10 supply the deficiency was autho-
riled by the Legislature 10 be borrowed from the
Banks. This sum, 50 borrowed for that purpose,
has been increased from time 10 time since then,
IS the increasing necessities Of the Treasury
required amounting in December 1910 to two
hundred thousand dollars, in December last 10
three hundred and fifty thousand and constitutes
what is commonly called 'lhe temporary debt
OF this debt two hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars were paid in December, 1913 out of the re-
venue of last year and the residue Of one hundred
thousand dollars will be paid off ont OF the reve-
nue. of the present year, with balance over as
il is now expected, OF near, il no, altogether,
hundred thousand dollars besides. Highly graft
tying, under any circumstances, as would be the
complete and rapid eXlinguishment Of so con>ite-
rable debt, il is especially gratifying 10 have
aselnent ot inany difficulties, and By means, loo,
o: revenue system winch, however untried and
novel amongst lis. in many Of lis provisions, has
ACCOMPLISHED il all without narShneSs. oppression
or inequality.
Upoa this branch, therefore, of the public
vice-he SAFE otlhe Tfeasu 1T affords me the
highest satisfaction to report 10 you, as now do,
that every thing is safe-that every engagement
charseable upo the Treasury within the present
wear. has been, or will be fully and puncIually
mel, and that handsome surplus will remain
for such appropriations 10 the public welfare, as
your vision shall determine.
Upon a.olhcr, and associated branch Of the
public int.resL-thc pecuniaiy credit the State
il affords me equal satisfaction 10 report, and in the
same terms, ,hateyery thing also is safe that the
strenuou, :ycr,ivns which were made 10 maintain
j; will in .i1ah!e fidelity cos. what it might, have
ciTec ualy pc ccted il against every frsience OF
suspicion, and iha: he bonds on The Common
wealth. as a consequence, now stand where in
,rinscally lhey deserved always 10 stand 4!
premium in the market. This happy resnlt i,
in both cases, the direct an legitimate effect OF
bold and wise counsels, promptly. heartily, aud
faithfully sus;a med ht those who, II last, had 10
carry ths:. Though. And IIch in rs practical be-
nef,s rs this result may well te considered 10 be,
i, is vel immeasu.ablv more 50, as having reveal
about, and revealed through The most in!allible
Of tests, how keen and deep are The scnsibilites
oi or peaple 10 The obligations Of national faith,
all how over-maslerng and interrupted amongst
them is the wal sentiment OF public and OF rr-
vz,c hcEcsy Ilar1s>cd in their h0rdua, labors
hycyery species o. reverse, which rcvulsion in
business having scarce parallel IN our history,
coul.. iIf.Ici they nevertheless came forward IN
SANITY, no without murmur, al The cali OF The
7 md pom2 and SSpcl2 atr o apa " wants 'is
nj. Ia y. = 5 Necessary for The supply OF hers.
Thc Inst.ll:e! preservation ot our public credit,
hy this p.:,iolic coaducl Of tie people. is an
achievement worthy o! everything il has cost,
aud worthy OF il all, ard vel more is the graceful
and noble es .,nony By which that conduct proves
that our public morality is always true 70 our
ru1lic engaSe'neniS-ihat Whatever IS contracted
unon the profit, and honor OF the State as the
law 10 enforce II. is contracted upon law which
embarrassnien;s and reproach have no power to
weaken, and whita will 10, be and cannot be
broken.
But the early ard successful extrcaiion OF
these branches Of public Interests from the dan
gers which threatened them, will no, aIior! YOU
i higher, nor perhaps 20 high and exultins gra-
iica,ion as the evidence, just furnished 10 the ca
paciiy ofour political system TO stand firm under
The severest trials which attach 10 its nature
You hare seen it encounter, and now see II emerge
;r;umphan,ly, and whou, hurt, from one of these
trials which i, may be confidently said that no
Government upon Garth but itself could have
stood wilhon, CONFUSION and hoodshed At no
former period has any national struggle brought
the masses of our people into more thorough con-
nct than the one through which we have passed:
never were they more radically distinguished
IRON each C,aer B. opposition OF sympathy and
oninion. or urged forward to the Object OF their
wishes under deeper more distempered IN
tiammation OF parry feeling; yet the great result
il 10 sooner announced, by The will which settles
il, tLan the commotion is over-tbe excited mil
lions retire in acquiescence and peace 10 their
common occupations, and our whole system goes
on lus As at hcst, without jar hindrance or dsor-
der in It's uncomfortable and henetcent move
men,. This result, so decisive Of the most per-
fec. submission to the great principles OF our ed
inirabic Government, is new proof, that what
ever are the temporary and party issues in
which national contests may end, American Co
vernment, American institutions and American
liberty are safe
Rejoicing, with you, that the recent contest his
brough, into still clearer l;9h, than before The
sound aud selfsupporting capacities OF or sys-
ten, and has justified more than ever the an;icl-
palions which are founded upon it, invoke You
10 employ the repose which has followed, IN buitl-
Ing up win Giusence ana VlSoi inc tHuulinS d"a
PRACTICAL interests OF that part 81 the svs-
fem which resis uron you. There is no work
which could be better commended 10 your hands
no one which is more needtu to be done--aud
Here is no time for doing it, which is perhaps
more propiiious than the prcsen, ore of political
relaxation Under this view Of The advantages
q: the moment, deem it nv dnty to recon-.
,msui nothing which is not directly connected
with the invigoration Of our domestic policy
and 10 that end, shall invite your attention, CHIEF
". 10 those leading interests whose sound condi-
ton is indispensable 10 every well-adminis'ered
snd webbing Commonwealth.
G; these interests, ''thc 'f.crnal improreniea"
interest of The Commonwealth is one-a principal
ana 10 some considerable extent, 4 suffering one
Having adver;ei to,his subject in my former mes
sage, though in par,icula. connexion only, |
would not recur II il now, but for the conviction
long ami habi,ually entertained, that tie internal
81. 1,.e