Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-12-08
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
~, a., Genera, A,,ep,bly Of Virginia !:

my lude ment, 10 improve IL.
In the performance of this duty, for The iiisl
time have 10 regret that canno, be as full anu as
precise as 10 be satisfactory 10 myself OF as sre>
10 be contemplated by the Constitution. WIN
few exceptions, the law requires all reports reia-
live 10 The public business 10 be made 10 you on
the first day OF your annual session, ana au
inns deprived of The assistance they would afford
me in the performance OF my present duty. HAD
possession Of these reports, in time, should mol
only have my opportunity greatly improved OF
thoroughly understanding the condition oil Inc
Commonwealth, but should be able TO detect En-
rors OF fact or OF principle, il existing, ana 10
make suggestions Tor their correction win ioiee
and cleaTness that cannot hope now 10 altaih.-
Our fiscal wear has for many years commehCeu
on The first OF October-lne PenitenllarY year
likewise commences a, The same PERIOD; anu, oy
resolution adopted March 18th, 1889, all Internal
Improvement Companies in which Inc S'a'e Is
interested, are, in this particular put upon tne
same footing, and are, moreover required 70 lur-
nsh lhei, respective reports ITO the I'd Audi or on
or before the frs, day OF November annually
If this rule were made general and all Inc puoilc
agencies were required 10 make their annual re-
rs up 10 the FIRST Of October, 10 be delivered 10
those TO whom By law they are directed on or De-
fore the first day of November, and such reports
as are now required TO be made 10 the Legisla-
,ure should, instead OF that body, be required 70
be made TO The Governor and TO De delivered "
him ON or before The Time last mentioned, 70
be communicated with bis Annual Message,
il is obvious that he would be more able
10 see "that the laws be faithfully executed,
and 10 acquire a much more thorough aho
comprehensive knowledge of The condition oil
The Commonwealth, and that his Suggestions
would be entitled TO more weight and considera-
ton than under present circumsta noes he can an
ticipate. And ii it should be your pleasure 10
,hot, hoeo rioue ShOOlQ be printed
in octave FORM be bound, and be laid upon your
table on the day on which you assemble, you
would have large amount OF Information, IN a
mos, agreeable and compendious iorm, OF easy
and ready reference, which is Indispensable 10
YOU and would be oil great interest TO every cili-
zen. l. therefore, recommend The passage Q, re-
solution, directing your public agents hereafter 70
make their annual reports, IN cohiol'h''y WIN
these suggestions.
II affords me great pleasure 10 inform you lna'
The finances OF our State are in highly satls-
factory condition On the first day OF October,
1s45 the balance in The Treasury was Sl0G,-
$50 o.. On the frs, day Of October, OF The pre-
sent Year, il was l37,433 dollars. BY ccrialD
laws Of your last session, appropriations were
made from the Treasury, chargeable upon the
then accruins revenue portions oil which, es''-
mated 10 amount 10 $1,000 dollars, we're undiawn
al the close OF the last fiscal year. Regarding
This sum as a charge upon the Treasury and
d lawn therefrom there would have been sui leit
AT the period aforesaid balance OF Az, i55 DOLLARS
and This after promptly meeting every demand
upon the Treasury and paying on 1920 o.
oil the public debt, which debt was only payable
at the pleasure Of the Legislature. But many
of the charges upon the Treasury are entifeiy
contingent in their character. OF such charges
many cannot, and none may again recur. AND
have the satisfaction 10 inform you that, under
a rate of taxation annually decreasing for The
st three years, alter defraying all The charges Of
Government and olher permanent appropriations
YOU will have al your command during the pre-
sent fiscal year an estimated surplus oil upwards
Of $50, 900 dollars.
This prosperous state of our finances would
seem to call for further reduction oil our taxes
But instead of such policy, earnestly recon-
mend small increase OF them, upon licenses,
pianos, clocks and watches, dividends and upon
interest, except that payable upon our State bonds
also Recommend a restoration OF The lax on
money Money may be regarded as the most
efficient form VI property. Not content with or
binary profits The owners OF money generally hold
tior the purposes OF usury or speculation. And
| therefore think may safely assume, that there
is no portion of the property oil The Common
wealth that can with SO much propriey, be called
upon 10 contribute TO the support OF The Stale.
The Literary Fund exhibits The same general
features as we're presented by The last Annual
Report Although the permanent funds have
received substantially the usual increase from
fines iorteitures and penalties from sales OF run
away slaves, from escheals and derelict estates,
from delinquent and forfeited lands and from the
Bristoe estate; yet The Report will show the mate
rial reduction of 1853 630-a loss to the funds, re-
suling from the depreciation OF the stock OF The
Bank Of Virginia, and now developed under
law of your last session. This fund also sus-
tanned, heretofore, q loss of iS, obo dohnre on
United States Bank stock This fund.- since lis
creation has al different periods lost heavily on
dividends. Il still owns 3,767 shares of Bank
stock now worth, il is supposed, 3l3, ITO dollars.
II does seem TO me that this valuable fund, dedi-
Gated by your enlightened and patriotic predeces-
sors 10 The Intellectual improvement oil our TEL
low citizens, should mol be identified with our
monetary system, liable TO all its losses, and
without any corresponding equivalent there
fore recommend that the State take TINS stocK, on
her own account and pay to the Literary Fnnc
perpetual annuity of 100 dollars, that sum
being an interest OF SIX per cent. upon the esl-
mated value OF the stock aforesaid; or that the
President and Directors of the Literary Fund be
required to exchange il, as they can, al par, LOT
any safe six per cent investment.
The Literary Fund also holds Stale bonds 10 the
amount of 81 900 500 50,upon which The State pays
an annual interest OF S6l 1923 80. Why should this
relation OF creditor and debtor between me Stale
and The Literary Fund be main'ained3 wherein
consists its ulility2 The old idea that the State
might refuse to make such an appropriation, IS
entitled 10 but little consideration, and certainly
less respect. The day is past, if il ever existed,
when Virginia unmindiul of her honor and her
duty, would refuse 10 pay specified and acknow-
lodged debt, destined too 10 The education oil her
own children. | therefore recommend that The
bonds in question be surrendered TO the Stale, TO
be cancelled and that the Legislature pay to The
Literary Fund, for and in consideration thereof,
a perpetual annuity OF I'll ,32o dollars and ~ CTS
The Two suggestions which have made, in con-
nexion with this subject, if adoped, will put an
end 10 frequently recurring and sometimes incon-
venient Inquiries will, 10 some extent. diminish
The expenses Of managing the fund, and assured
ly contract and simplify lis accounts.
The education OF our fellow-cilzsns, especial
" the INDECENT portion OF them, has long engaged
The attention oil our benevolent and enlightened
statesmen. Hence spring the University OF Viz
GINA, the Primary School system, and The noble
fund, TO The condition OF which have briefly adj
ver.ed. Looking TO the extent of our terrific
nv, the sparseness OF our population, and The
condition of about two-fiiths of it, we may
congratulate ourselves upon the amonnt OF good
which we have already accomplished. But
much remains 10 do The necessity OF education
is obvious and urgent. The enlightened, patriot
il, and INDECENT combine 10 call upon you, as hey
have done upon your predecessors. 10 adopt some
vigorous and decided system which will place
within reach OF our whole while population, the
blessings OF education In the numerous appeals
in behalf OF this policy, which have within The
last three years been made from the forum and
the press, il seems 10 have been assumed that we
are the degenerate sons OF distinguished sires, and
that We must adopt some efficient system OF edu-
cation, TO arrest our downward course This IS not
true in fact. On the contrary, never, since We
look our stand among the nations OF the earth,
have our daughters been faiter, or our sons more
patriotic never have the blessings OF morality,
OF christianity, and Of education heen so highly
appreciated, or SO extensively didused
In the anxious consideration which has been
given this subject the grea, difficulty has been in
agreeing upon practical and efficient system
Few can appreciate our diihculties-none can DO
50 who are moi familiar with our physical and So
cial condition. But, among our difficulties, am