Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-12-10
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Fellow Cui-ens of the
Senate and House of Delegates

interest of the Commonwealth Notwithstand-
ing the fears expressed by many lest the liberal
spirit eylnced in the mere recent legislation OF
the State, touching the improvement of roads and
canals, would embarrass our finances; the reports
| herewith transmit to you from the several de-
partments, will show that our condition is sound
and prosperous. Indeed, there is everything in
it to vindicate the wisdom Of the Legislature and
to crafty the friends of a judicious but liberal
system OF internal improvement. 1t will be, J
am sure, gratifying 10 you, and to the people at
large, to know that Virginia has at her command
ample means to discharge all her subsistng pub
lie debt, with the exception of very small and
inconsiderable sum. fit We're thought desirable
tomorrow to wipe out the public debt, a sale at
par of her profitable and interest paying stocks
would effect it. This present subsistine debt a.
mounts to 81, 541 1894 II. The annual interest
and dividends received by the State amount to
$780, 1872 oS showing that the stocks yielding
this sum are worth, at par, ST. i79, 200, or about
1862, 900 of our present Indebtedness There is;
however, an additional sum Of $4,000, 900 which;
under existing laws may be called for out OF the
treasury, & about $5, 600, 00O Of which will, it is
thought, be certainly demanded in the course of
Il few years hence this sum, though not now a
sabsistng debt, will become so, and ought, there
fore to be taken into the estimates Of our liabili-
ties. This view shows the precise condition Of
our financial situation, and is truly sustained by
the reports and documents which will be laid
before the Legislature. The State, il is true has
guaranteed loans, to Il considerable amount, for
various Incorporated companies which security
ship some regard part of the public debt: but
this is unques!ionably an error, for a knowledge
of the resources and the prospects OF the compa-
MES, whose bonds have been guaranteed, will
satisfy all that they are or, will ultimately be,
amply able to repay their bonds as up TO this
time they have already done the interest on
them.
This exposition is cheering one to all, but TO
none more so than the friends OF internal I'M
provements, for which the debt has been mainly
created However whilst it shows the perfect
capacity of the Commonwealth to manage her
present debt without Inconvenience, 1t also shows
the necessity of the greatest prudence and Cir
cumspection on tie part OF the Legislature, to
avoid such increase OF our indebtedness as may
result in future embarrassment and additional
taxation. Nothing ought 10 be more cautiously
avoided, or earnestly deprecated by the advocates
OF the recent liberal system OF Improvement than
such result. would recommend, therefore,
that, except such sums as are necessary to carry
on the great works already begun, or such as
are essentially necessary to contribute to their
success & profit, no farther appropriation should
DC Illdllc -IuCStlll WI VI
make this recommendation with the greatest con-
didence, because believe the success of a per-
anament and wise system of internal improve
ments depends upon it.
1t anything can ever restore to Virginia that
pecuniarY and commercial ascendancy which she
once possessed in the confederacy, it must be
the contamination Of the system Of internal inn
provements she has already embarked in, and
the completion Of the truly great works already
commenced To endaneer the system, or TO I'M
pede the prosecution of those works. is to strike
"a fatal blow al the resuscitation of the Common
wealth and nothing would be so effectual for
this, as a lavish expenditure of public money
upon insignificant objects, from which the State
at large could never receive any benefit.
The great works of internal improvement, al
ready undertaken and SO generously sustained
sby the public funds and public credit, together
with one or two proposed bnt not yet determined
upon, are calculated to develope very fully the
resources of the State, and TO swell the tide OF
her commercial prosperity otis utmost limits
The active energies OF thesCommonwealth should
be devoted TO their completion, but in such
way as TO avoid embarrassment and to escape
onerous taxation That this can be effected by
the prudence aud wisdom Of the Legislature,
have doubt.
1t is now reduced almost to an axiom that the
greatest commercial prosperity in the Atlantic
States, is only attainable by a connection with
the Valley ofhe Mississippi and hence, from
Massachusetts to Georgia, we see almost every
State along the sea-ooast, competing anxiously
and earnestly with each other, for the shortest,
cheapest and safest communication.
The commercial ascendency OF Virginia was
at one period of our history undisputed her ma
iural advantages of navigable streams, climate
and soil gave il TO her Trusting 10 these, we
could alone secure it TO us permanently; and
therefore the commerce, which once whitened
with its sails our seaporls, has almost disappear
cd from our waters The example set us by our
neighbors at the North is one of wisdom, and
deserves our most earnest attention. In spite OF
d bleak climate end sterile soil, they have. by a
udcous policy afforded snch facilities to inter
communication and trade, that Commerce with
her golden tides have filled the land with plenty
prosperity and wealth Our natural advantages
remain still the same; they are unequaed by
any Atlantic state; and whilst il is now proba-
bly, TOO late 10 divert the commerce of the At
lantc cities from its present channels still it is
in the power of demonstration to show that a
vast deal OF what we have unwisely lost, can
be regalned; and that we can still secure a fair
division OF that commercial wealth and power
which isnow monopolized by the North
Situated about midway between the northern
boundary of the United States and the Gulf OF
Mexico, we escape in a great degree the rigors
of the northern winters, and the scorching heat
OF the South Our eastern border upon the river
Potomac and the Chesapeak bay, is dotted with
harbors unsurpassed i'll safety and capacity
The fleets OF the whole earth could ride safely at
anchor within them. Our western border ISL
washed for several hundred miles by the Ohio
river and at other points along it, the rchregion
of Kentucky and the fertile valley oithe Tennes-
see are Of easy access Besides this, the country
between the eastern and western boundaries, OF
which speak, is unsurpassed for It's fertility
and the variety of lis products Minerals OF
every description are to be found Of the most
quality, and in qualities absolutely in
whilst the earth in which they are
unlike other mineral regions, isof the
character for husbandry. Let this
country be penetrated by improvements connect
ing our seaports with the Ohio, with Kentucky
and the valley OF Tennessee, and it will ininse
spirit of enterprise into the population, which
must, in short time, fully develope all of Our