Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-12-15
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
To tho General assembly of viarinm.

1t IS with unalloyed satisfaction, that am abb
20 congratulate you upon the suspicious circun
stances under which we commence this pleasan
yet important duty. We are blessed with unusua
health; our granaries were emptied during thu
past year to feed the starving millions of foreign
lands, but have been again replenshed by our re-
cent abundant harvests our revenues ample
our laws are firmly yet quietly enforced our in
dustry Is Increasing her stores, and improving the
whole aspect of our State; and all the arts ant
comforts of civilized life are multiplying among
every class and condition of the people. II is nm
der such circumstances that YOU commence your
career Of official duty-circum.stanccs well calcu.
lated to stimulate your eXcrtions, and to fill your
hearts with checriulness and hope
On the LIST day Of October. 1876, the balance in
the Treasury was $l37 ,433. After meeting al
demands upon the Treasury, many of which were
entirely contingent in character and of large a
mount, there was IN the Treasury at the close OF
the last fiscal year, the sum of l27 LA o. This
sum and the ordinary receipts into the Treasury
during the present fiscal year, will pay all ordina.
ry demands thereon, including ga ,343 rs, the in
terest on the public debt, 05,3Sl &C. on account of
the Southwestern and other public roads, and still
leave an estimated surplus of about Ids 900 n sum
which 1t is presumed. when appropriated, will en-
able the Board of Public Works TO meet ali de-
mands upon them during the present fiscal wear.
without reSor'lng 10 loanS-a resort which cannot
be too cautiously made, especially as large issue
OF State bonds was directed by the last Legislature
to be made to the Alexandria Canal Company, and
TO the james River and Kanawha Company
The Legislature at their last session passed acts
which may increase the liabilities of the State in
the sum Of S2,SS7 800. OF this sum about one
NTH has been, and very large portion of the re-
sldue will have To be incurred. In addition to this
large amount, there was paid from the Treasury
during the past fiscal year S7S,6I4 81, and there
will be paid during tho present one under appro-
DrlltlOnS heretofore m2In fhn nf cox
tor and on account of roads and bridges. In this
connection respectfully refer you to the Second
Auditors report, In which you may at glance see
the amount Of our existing and prospective liabil-
ties. When 10 these shall be added those which
you may direct at your present session, it is mani
Test that moderate enlargement OF our revenue
may be necessary to maintain public credit, in
that high estim lion in which it has for years been
held.
1t has long been mooted point whether the
living generation has right to create a debt and
leave 1t to posterty for payment However this
right may have been questioned, it has ever been
exercised; and certainly objections can be urged
with less force to that debt which may be incur
red for internal Improvement than to any other in
the whole list Of public expenditure. Debts thus
created and invested, enhance the value of proper
ty. They are expended without charge and CON
fer lasting and perennial benefit on those who sue
coed u.s. Still, the disposition To spend when we
In man, that hold it TO be duty to interpose
cafe and healthy restraints To control it,
England, after repeated but partial acts of repu-
diatlon, is now grooming under enormous debt of
about four thousand millions of dollars. France
owes about one thousand millions: and Austria
deeply embarrassed, in 1911 rcpudiated and ex
plunged $500 900 of her debt, and in 1918
$l50,OOO,OOO more of it, Although nothing ex-
lists in the history of our Union. or OF any of the
memhcrs thereof, at all approaching, even by COM
Parlson, this stupendous and mischievous prodiga-
ty, yet enough has occurred impress upon us the
DUTY OF observing the most guarded crcumspection
and care
1t may safely be assumed the fixed determi-
nation of Virginia, to carry those improvements
which requisite to develope and secure the re-
sources and advantages for which she is so remark
ably distinguished. 1t is policy cminently patri-
otto and wise, and addresses itself with force not
TO be resisted, to that pride and affection which we
all feel for our native land and which induce us to
look forward with anxiety and hope to that day
when Virginia Will be as physically great as she
is now illustrious, for all the high moral and in
Sollectual qualities, which elevate and adorn our
race.
In support of these views, regard it as of the
greatest Importance that you should establish at
an early day of your session, 4 maximum annual
limit of expenditure, by which the Second Auditor
shall be regulated and controlled, and which your
appropriations shall. under no circumstances, trans
cend. Such regulation would satisfy the pru-
dent and timid friends of internal Improvement 81
lence some heretofore opposed TO it, and give conf
dence to all. am aware that the regulation sug-
gested Will not impose legal restraint, even upon
yourselves, and Of course, not upon YOUR success
sors; but am fully satisfied that the high moral
obligation 1t will create will command general re-
sPect, and ensure for it scrupulous and honorable
observance
What is the limit we shall prescribe, which
will neither unrcasonably burden ourselves nor our
posterity, and yet accomplish within reasonable
Time the great enterprises we have in view
have given to this subject the most careful con
slderatlon, and have attained the conclusion that
we can and ought annually to expend, within the
views have presented, the sum of six hundred
thousand dollars.
look to the Treasury for one moiety, and to
loans Tor the other moiety OF this amount.
The Treasury can be easily put into condition to
meet this demand. As have before stated, the
probable surplus in the Treasury on the LIST of Oc
tober next, will be Sl45, 900, and but for the an
preparation to the Southwestern road and other
roads and bridges, it would be upwards of $40
600, leaving only the sum Of $4,000 to be provi-
ded by new and additional taxation. This sum-
80 inconsiderable in amount, and for an object so
laudabe and patriotic, would Cor much mistake
my fellow citizens be paid without murmur-
For the subjects from which, principally, recon-
mead this tax to be collected, | refer YOU TO nv
former message. VI all the forms of property, mo-
ney inactive and on hand is least entitled to favor
and will, / trust, be no longer exempt from fair
and equal contributions to the State The hioh
credit of Virginia, both abroad and at home. and
the avidity with which investments are sought in
her bonds leave no doubt of our ability, annually.
to raise the sum stated, in the manner | have pro
posed. Indeed entertain but little doubt, that a
very large portion of the contemplated loans will
be made by our own citizens. OF our public debt.
amounting to $6,447 AS 60, the sum of $500, =
t09 AZ is held within our own State, contribu-
ting by the expenditure Of the income thereof in no