Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-12-17
MESSAGE


Fellow CitlZcns In the performance OF q
duty e~njoined by the Constitution. present TO
you the condition Of our Commonwealth, and
my recommendation OF such measures as are
calculated, in my judgment, 10 improve it.
In the performance OF this duty, for the first
time, | have to regret that ! cannot be so full
and as precise as to be satisfactory TO myself.
or as seems 10 be contemplated by the Consti-
tuition. Withfew exceptions. the law requires
all reports relative to the public business TO be
made TO you on the first day Of your annual
session, and | am thus deprived of the assis-
lance they would afford me in the perfor-
nance of my present duty. Had ! possession
of these reports, in time, | should not only
have my opportunity greatly improved, of,ho-
roughly understanding the condition Of the
Commonwealth, but | should be able TO detect
errors of fact or of principle, if existing, and to
make suggestions Tor their correction with a
force and elearness that | cannot hope now to
attain. Our fiscal year has for many years
commenced on the LIST Of October-Penitenti-
airy wear likewise commences at the same pc
riod and, by resolution adopted March 18th,
1889, all Internal improvement Companies in
which the State is Interested, are, in this partlc-
ular, put upon the same footing, and are
moreover, required TO furnish their respective
reports "to the I'd Auditor on or before the LIST
day of November annually" If this rule
were made general, and all the public agen-
cies were required TO make their annual re-
ports up 10 the LIST Of October, to be delivered
to those TO whom by law they are directed on
or before the LIST day Of November, and such
reports as are now required TO be made to the
Legislature should, instead Of that body, be
required TO be made TO the Governor, and TO
be delivered TO him on or before the time last
mentioned, TO be communicated with his An
nual Message, II is obvious that he would be
more able to see ''ihat the laws be faithfully
executed" and TO acquire a much more thor
ough and comprehensive knowledge of the
Commonwealth, and that his suggestions
would be entitled 10 more weight and consid-
Grafton than under present circumstances he
can anticipate. And if it should be your
pleasure TO order that these various reports
should be printed in octave form, be bound,
and be laid upon your table on the day on
which you assemble, you would have a large
amount of information ina most agreeable and
compendious form, ofeasy and ready reference,
which is Indispensable 10 you, and would be
of great interest 10 every citizen. |, therefore,
recommend the passage OF a resolution, direct
ing your public agents hereafter to make their
annual reports, in conformity with these sug-
gestions.
1t affords me great pleasure to inform you
that the finances OF our State are in a highly
satisfactory condition. On the lst day Of DC.
tober, 1916. the balance in the Treasury was
$i06, 1856 06. On the LIST day Of October, Of
the present year, ii was $l31 ,433. BY certain
laws Of your last session, appropriations were
made from the Treasury, chargeable upon the
H. ,ax,,,, ,,r,D,,o Axt,,, ~ xL. IL -
timated to amount to $97 900, were undrawn
at the close Of the last fiscal year. Regarding
this sum as a charge upon the Treasury, aud
drawn therefrom, there would have oeen still
left at the period aforesaid a balance of $780,
433; and this alter promptly meeting every
demand upon the Treasury, and paying off
1860 67 Of the public debt, which debt was
only payable at the pleasure Of the Legislature.
But many of the charges cannot, and hone
may again recur. And | have the satisfaction
TO inform you that, under a rate of taxation
annually decreasing for the last three years.
after defraying all the charges of Government
and other permanent appropriations, you
will nave at your command during the pres
ent fiscal year an estimated surplus Of up
wards of $4,000.
This prosperous state Of our finances would
ottill ~ Il VI "a y ituuNiIOu Va Oul ltA-
es. But instead CT such a policy, | earnestly
recommend a small increase Of them, upon
licenses, pianos, clocks and watches, divi-
dends and upon interest. except that payable
upon our State bonds.
| also recommend a restoration of the tax
on money. Money may be regarded as the
most efficient form Of property. Not content
with ordinary profits, the owners of money
generally hold it for the purposes of usury or
speculation. And | therefore think | may safe
ly assume, that there is no portion of the prop
erty of the Commonwealth that can with so
much propriety, be called upon to contribute
to the support Of the State.
The Literary Fund exhibits the same gene
raj features as were presented by the last An
nual Report. Although the permanent funds
have received substantially the usual increase
from fines, forieitures and penalties, from sales
of runaway slaves, from eScheats and derelict
from delinquent and forfeited lands,
and from the Bristoe estate yet the Report
will show the material reduction of S63 ESQ
a loss 10 the funds, resulting from the depreci-
alton of the stock Of the Bank og Virginia, and
now developed under a law of your last ses-
sion. This fund also sustained. heretofore. a
loss of $lS,0j0 or u. S. Bank stock. This
fund, since lis creation, has at different periods
heavily on dividends. 1t still owns 3,767
shares of Bank stock, now worth, il is suppo-
sed, $3l3,l70 1t does seem to me that this
fund, dedicated by your enlightened
patriotic predecessors 10 the intellectual
improvement Of our fellow citizens, should not
be identified with our monetary system, liable
10 all its losses, and without any correspond
ing equivalent. ! therefore recommend, that
he State take this stock. on her own account,
and pay TO the Literary Fund a perpetual an
nuity of $lS,7 100, that sum being an interest Of
xix per cent. upon the estimated value OF the
stock aforesaid or that the President and Di-
of the Literary Fund be required TO ex-
il, as they can, at par, for any safe six
Der cent. investment.
The Literary Fund also holds State bonds
o the amount of 81 ,000, 800 so. upon which
he State pays an annual interest Of SOL 1923 80.
Why should this relation of creditor aud debt
,r between the State and the Literary Fund be
naintained2 Wherein consists its utility p
The old idea that the State might refuse 10 make
iuch an appropriation, is enutled TO but little
consideration, and certainly less respect. The
lay is past, if il ever existed, when Virginia.
lnmindlul Of her honor and her duty. would
to pay a specified and acknowledged
lebt, destined too to the education of her own
| therefore recommend that the bonds
n question be surrendered to the State, to be
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