Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-01-17
THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.

The Legislature If Virginia met at Richmond
and was duly organized on Monday. OSCAR M.
CRuTcHFIELD was elected Speaker of the House
of Delegates, and GEORGE w. MUNFoRD Clerk
HENRY ST. GEoRGG TUCKER was elected Secre-
tary of the Senate.
Of the Message Of Governor JOHNSON, which
vas laid before the Legislature the same day, we
haze the following summary in the Richmond " Dis
patch"
commended to theattnton Of the Legislature being
worthy Of at least portion OF that patronage which is
bestowed SO Literally on internal improvements, schools,
&C. Much has bep tone, thus far by individual enter
prise and the on Of private persons especially in
lower Virginia, wlfr, lands last year assessed at
$77, 100000 which in 1888 assessed at only
300 ooo,OOo Buu patronage of the Legislature would
undoubtedly produce great benefits here IL has done
in some of siseiStates, and in England and other
countries Of Europe The election of an agricultural
chemist IN compliance with the act Of last session. is re-
commended.
attention is cald to the laws the subject of pri-
mary schools which far very defective and il is
stated that the hgherschoos such the university and
military academy, are in fiourshng condition Fave
rable notice is taken the institution for the dumb and
blind OF the lunatc .syums, sc. The banks are re-
presented as in sou condition. The Superintendent
OF the Pententary ha found that the shortening OF the
terms OF prsonenihas occasoned great increase OF
crime, and great falling off in the revenue derived from
the labor Of the conv In consequence of his repre-
sensations, return tohe old system is recommended
free negro population which is increasing rapidly and
threatens to become a.erious evil.
" The State credit generally good. State bonds are
selling at the reasuryat three per cent. premium The
rise in State stocks wing the provisions in the new
constitution to Drevs mproydont appropriations. The
former restrictions np State stocks have been removed
with great benefit, and tie coupon bonds are thought
be much better in every respect
''The debt Of the State was, on 1st January, 1852
ST. OBS 3d. to be extmguishd under the operation
of the Sinking Fund in thirty years by the proy
sions of the Constitution. All newdebts made this
sion, by the provisions, be extinguished in
thirtyfour years This will requr an increase in the
revenue from taxation of at least fly per cent unless
the public improvements shall yield than they do
No more money should be appropriated improvements
which pay dividends The State above 900 00O
productive and than S. OOO OOunroducve stocks
and it is not wise to add to the latter. The dividends
and interest the productive Stocks viii the bonus
bank capital, is equal to the interest 100000.
The deficiency OF the revenue of the preent fiscal
will be- according to the estimate of the Auditor 5S 600
if per cent the debt contracted and to be
traced prior to the ls January next be SIT apart out
the of this fiscal year. As this dbt will have to
be thrown the future it is advised pay only the
current interest Of the year. heretofore and satisfy the
acquisitions of the Constitution relative TO the Sinking
Fund out of the revenues of 1928, witch will come
into the treasury in December Ii that the
deficiency in the treasury the ls 0ctoer will be
only about 1872, 600
The Governor enters very largely ino the subject Of
internal improvements He is opposed t. making appro-
priations for improvements until the old lines shall
have been finished
cence be possible, in the Compromise measures He
closes with auson to the state of Europe, and
hortaon not to forget the policy of Washington with
gard to entaigling alliances"