American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1855-12-08
proved sbortive. AMI failed to accom-.
plish the end. That tho price Of money

ket will be- regulated by demand aud
supply. aud that any laws ipteunded
to control it are constantly violated. o.
vaded OF disregarded. the tendency DO.
ing to demaializo society by inducing
an habitual disregard Of the laws of the
State. Ii is moreover confidently be-
.lieved that the laws now in force tend to
Increase rather than diminish the rnte of
interest paid, and operate to the preiu.
dice of the borrowers, who are general.
ly the more needy class, and whose in-
tercsts were Intended To be guarded
Aud indeed it is difficult To understand
why the liberty Of the citizen should be
restricted in regard To moneycd traus-
actions. while no is deemed competent
10 tho management and control Of all
other commodities in his possession.-
Without entering further Into discussion
on this subject. would respectfully re-
commend repeal, or such m"dfca-
cations Of these laws as would leave the
citizen free To slipulate for such rate of
interest as may be agreed upon by the
contracting parties.
In my last annual message recon-.
by the commonwealth. should be in.
sensible To the pulsation of the public
heart. as well as my own feelings, if |
failed TO renew the proposition at this
time. The bare allusion To tho tomb of
Washington, with its hallowed shades
and sacred relics, has awakened feel.
ing of reverence and patriotism in the
American bosom, affording unmistaka-
bio evidence that not only Virginia, bur,
most. if not all, her sister States plead
with persuasive elnquence for the res.
cue of tho sacred dnmicie from the
threatened danger of Dissertation & ruin.
The accompanying correspondence on
the suhject is respectfully submitted.
This subject leads 20 a reference to
the Virginia Washington monument on
our capitol square. 1t affords me
pleasure to state that the granite por-
ton the structure has been for some
time completed, and the expenditure
on that account has ceased.
The commissioners of the monument
havrcccitcd from Mr.. Crawford, the
artist, the statues of Patrick Henry
and Thomas Jefferson, and a portion
of other equipments. They have
deemed it best, however, not to place
the statues upon their intended pedcs-
tails until the equestrian statue of
Washington, for which the structure
was erected, is completed, and shall
surmount the whole.
In the mean time, the two statues
have been placed temporarily upon the
platform Of the capitol steps, affording
and opportunity for inspection, crafty
ing to the public. JUS ticc to the gen
ius of the artist requires that 1 should
commend the happy execution of his
task at once securing his fame, accom-
plishing the work worthy ofthe great
names intended to be COMMUNICATED,
and fulfilling the hope and expecta-
tons of the State. But the general
assembly arc aware that those statues
and equipments will not complete the
design, The appropriation already
made has been exhausted, and there
are four statues beside other equip
ments necessary for it's completion.
1t would be we'll to authorize them to
be contracted for at once, limiting the
amount to be expandcdin any year to
such sum as you may deem proper.
Under the act March 3, 1854, for
running and marking the boundary
line between the state Of Virginia and
Maryland, / appointed Il commission
or on the part Of this State, to act in
conjunction with the commissioner of
the state of Maryland, to execute the
object of the act. By his report and
correspondence, herewith commitment
ed you will perceive that the commits
sion has failed, and the reasons why it
cannot be accomplished without furth-
err legislation. The legislature of Ma
ryland asking the appointment of the
commissioners, with a view to the set.
Element of the difference between the
two States both as to the western and
the eastern boundry.
The legislature of Virginia provided
entirely for settling the western boun-
dairy. The commissioner on the part
of Maryland stated that "thc two acts
of the general assembly of Maryland
were regarded by the Legislature as
one object, but the constitution rooui-
red that they should be passed scpa-
rately;' and under these circumstance
es he did not feel at liberty to run one
line without the other. The confer
ence Of the commissioners was thus
al 4 Il II