Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-02-22

~ crr,.,;lr g ROGER A. PRYOR, EDITORS
co ..o.y noNNINCs, FEBRUARY -.
INIT or TIE COMMITTEE OF FINANCE o.
illU -.;r irorSg OF DELEGATES OF VIRGINIA
II 1W- conclude the publication of this mp"r'' "''
i =; il :o.days paper. All who have reao L '""s'
~ .,. :, = = paucr ol unusual ability anu tilat "S
..;,, must hov- COS, considerable labor, stuuE
d We suppose that IN ihe'r u'''"e
i ,u. the committee patiently and E-niy sc"''''''
W subrct that could by possibility % '"'''"e'eu
,rooerly coming within the .aage "i Their h'''''-
eq vision, and ,ha. IN then report Inc S"H'.' ""'
~ exhausted they certainly deserve "eu' i'' '"e
Il ,,-v ,yhi.h has marked their laoorS er 'he 'aiA
i1 . oS their recommendations ana tor Inc many 'n-
| aud ,.sI,abIr facts which :hey have COM
60, ,be ,,,ss nf materials submitted TO them.-
,,er Investigations, tie committee have apparently
2 and very little worthy ~ cuuimendation, anu out
H. little more thar they seem TO be even salts
! with Therefore, they propose many reforms and
,,-.s Of past and present usagcs which tothe un-
III ,.,sd" may savor less of utility than OF simple
,,r-a. We are frank to confess that we cannot
! -,,rr;b. 20 severa! recommendations in this re-
- .i5;p,, because We are not satisfied or con-
s,ca5 bv the rsasonings of the committee
Il .i,a same time. we unhesitatingly subscribe to
A.ss iuiicicus aud highly desirable. The sale
D.,,L stocks. owned by the State, we regard as
1.s,. mot o;ly "a financial but in political
, -, ,-ru,ncu, Of ours can add strength to
which has been presented by the comhttee.-
communications of the committee, IN reerence
Al ,s collection o: the public revenue, and tho times
n.yin !; into ;e treasury, arc als" worthy oi tue
~, ,sr,o,s consideration, and, it may be, are the
;Ae, could under the circumstances, be made.
rSs sane remark il applicable 10 the proposl''oa to
-oyl 10, the large deficiency in the revenue, blythe
s.,a oi ,ra.,, u.s for 800, 900, which are to be
4.edeemed N ir~s :, ars. OF course, we are TO be
1unierstooi a. approving this recommendation ot HE
conni:tee, under tie supposion that 1t Is co"Ht-
.s:5sul u-asa7". b: the Constitution OF the uufed
SAFES the ssue vi 'bs Of credit" by the States s
prohibited. Some coa;cnd that the treasury notes.
recommended By the committee, arc n''ai"s more
nor less than bills OF credit" Willie the cohu'ee
,.;., ,b,t sprb is not tn. case. Some mode mus
,,s.,;,,. Iv;.d for meeting this large dehclency
al; s,-;Las .s tina. the plan advised by the com
90, g he constitutionai-is about as good and
oo,vs,iax as any other, and therefore, we shall not
o o.bwise than pleased ii the consitu'ionality OF
,, essure shsl! be placed entirely beyond doubt.
nan ;ace, we should infer that the measure Is in
Hcordauce With the Constitution rs any other in-
Ference would imply the violent presumption that q
committee composed OF 50 much legal acumen would
make an unconstitutional recommendation. II, how
;yer, has been thus characterized, and We do not
9oirs. 10 be able 10 decide the question.
We we're sorry 10 see that the committee felt it
g be their d.y advise reduction Of the receipts
Vi the Literary Fund Under tho present law, the
s3g- ot the cagi:at:on tax-amounting to about SIX
" i.a2. an; doars-is paid into the Literary Fund,
end j. doubtless proitably and well used. The COM
mi:;ye however, propose that only oue-half Of this
tax shall 20 to the Literary Fund, and the other half
be paid into TIE general treasury; or in their own Ian
rlase 40 restore to the treasury for the present and
lex: ,wo fiscal wears the half of the captation tax
which The constitution assigned to it, The constl.
'.om mar have "assirned To- TIE treasury one-half
~ Sa!;.;to tax bGt, il il did, the language EN-.
.yy.G. > 81 say the least, not very Imperative or
uoey ot h- capi,a,ion tax upon white persons shall
be applied 10 the purposes of education in primary
and Tree schools What is ic ba done with the other
e:Gal l.o:-!y oI iat tax the constitution does not
ncu aGd are, therefore, to infer that it is TO
t@ disposed oi rs the General Assembly may deem
proper and as one General Assembly has thought it
bestto have it applied the purposes of education
4 tl,x
present Assembly could act more wisely than to con-
NHe" H. APPLICATION To the salue audable and excel
eH' p.rpo...
!"e Change which the committee recommend in
'-c il1ie .! keeping the accounts in the public Off
'e' ls in humble judgment, totally unneccssa-
T.ai will scarcely be productive Of the results
FlHPai=d b, the committee. If we were not fully
''ed to the contrary, reaaE @: ti.is part Of the
eP"Ft would ieGd Il, 10 the opinion that the commit
90 haa eVerS strong pariiaty for the Auditors Of
lce' ana al equally strong prejudice against the Sc
,and Auditors. Why can, tho .sba,, o,,.,c md
he ''stocks and bonds of co,or,.,;.s .,,a ,,. a.,
stale" be AZ We'll managed in ,h, SECOND ,,,,I;,.,,
Is in the Auditors office! Aud why o,,,,, ,,,,s
expenses of the Second Auditors ofic.n la ,,.;,
ls they always heretofore have heeu, w;,hor,
he agency Of the Auditors oiiicel The S.cor1
Auditor issues his warrants for the io,.rss,
due upon the public debt and for all claims ur-
'u the internal Improvement fund. If it be safe to
n:rusi him with these important and large items, we
.annot imagine that much additional risk will be in
,urred by permitting him to retain the very sGal
ower 10 issue warrants loT le e1penses' Of his Of
ace. As to the matter Inconvenience and simplicity
't accounts, we presume that nothing worth the
change could be effected by it. The only probable
practical result would bs an increese Of the clerical
Orce in the Auditors Office, and large addition to
he very heavy duties that are already imposed upon
'nr worthy and efficient Auditor of Public Accounts.
We think it more than probable that the object Of the
committee could be accomplished much more GER
's'h!f and win iess labUr if the accounts in the
lreasurers office through which all the receipts and
expenditures Of every kind and form pass-were ar
ahged under tho different heads Of education inter-
' Improvement, interest. redemption Of the public
s"'' &C. &c The people naturally look to the re-
' lie iIiasu.eT Tor the condition of the finances
u Tue State and il his accounts were modelled after
A., SSs'n'"s, they would, at u glance, ascertain
'v"''''o''' and, besides, his accounts, thus ar
o.. "ou'a serve more eflectuay as chec!; upon
y" 'eip''s made BY the two Auditors. Moreover,
COULD be done without any increase or re-dis
vi 'he Clerical force, without any additional
'' anu Without throwing upon any one depart
"'0fe thaniis proper share of labor or response
recommendation Of the committee that State
" exchanged for drafts which have been &C.