Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-02-03
RIcnMoNp, Va, Jan. 8.

RICHMOND, Va, Jan. 30th, 1853
1fsssrs. Editors Of the Intelligencer:
One week more and two thirds of the present
session of the Legislature will have passed
away. A glance at the journals discloses the
fact that nothing of Importance has been done.
Not one bill affecting the great interests of the
State, her finances, her banks, her works of in
ternal improvement, or her educational institu-
tons, has become law.
The question concerning the election of the
Lieutenant Governor, though involving no great
consequences, was debated for weeks, and now
the free negroes are receiving more attention
than all other classes of the State population
| Nearly the whole of the past week has been de-
voted by the House of Delegates to the consider
alton of bill providing for their removal. Tho
plan proposed by this bill is to notify all free
negroes to leave the State before the year 1859.
Ali who have not gone before that time, to be
hired out, and the proceeds devoted to their
transportation and the support of those permit
ted, on account ofinfrmity, to remain; but after
three years more have elapsed, all found in the
Commonwealth are to be sold. This proposition
has already been modified by substituting 1861
for 1859, aad by allowing twelve years from that
time till the period for their sale. An amend
ment was under deliberation to-day, when the
motion to adjourn was made, which gave to the
County Court Of each county the power to
grant any free negro the privilege of residence.
The number of amendments and substitutes
offered and to be offered, some of which
developing schemes having for their object
the African colonization for the free negro
population, will probably have a crush
| ing effect upon the whole subject.
/ To-day bill was introduced authorizing
loan of $4,000 to Bethany College, to be paid
in State stocks, and requiring the amplest per-
sonal security to be given. The amount is not
to come from the Literary Fund, but from the
Treasury, and must be repaid in few years.
| The Senate voted this morning on motion
| To ft,o hills fha order
of the day for next Friday, but it failed by u
! vote of 10 to 13.
Next week will probably be the most impor.
tant week of the whole session. for i'll the House
of Delegates some of the bills giving money to
Railroads will come up, and the result of tho
same character.
The committee on roads and Internal Naviga-
| ton have submitted report on the various APP
plications for money for internal Improvements.
AS might be expected, it favors a lavish expen-
diture 1t begins by alluding to the condition
of the State finances.
"Your committee were satisfied from an ex-
animation of tho report of the First Auditor,
that under the existing rate of taxation, the
revenue of the State will be sufficient to pay
the interest on the public debt and all the or
binary expenses of the Government, and leave
an annual surplus of over $600,000, provided
the Treasury can be relieved of floating debt
of 81 200, 900, arising out of the emission of
Treasury notes, deficiency in the Sinking
Fund, and certain acceptances of the
Board of Public Works in favor of contrac-
tors for work already DONE"
After consultation with the bankers of the
city, they feel assured that this floating debt
being distributed through five years instead of
being discharged in two, as now required, that
there will be an annual surplus during those
five years Of $500, GOO, and at the end OF that
time 5000, 00U They then eXPatiate upon the
bad policy of allowing the works upon which
large sums have been expended and which are
vet unfinished, to go to destruction, especially
when but pittance more would complete them
and enable them to declare such ToMsiRg diyi-
dendS They exhibit the following statement
of the amounts already invested in works in
completed:
S9vingtsG and Ohio S9oSS
HitsandTia, Loudon mpshirc r. H.. 10000
Richmond York River" :.::..:: -. $4,000
.s,o295c0
They then grow eloquent upon the sdvanta-
ges of these roads, and depict Treasury over
flowing from their untold earnings at some Pc
riod in the blisstul future, which Gabriel may
be the first to announce. In conclusion they
recommend that the following sums be given
directly by loan or subscription, to the
6Gy,nstGn Ohio Fn5oAd sSSSS
Norfolk Z petersburg .......'..''.'.'.... SS1eGO
1lsxsndris Hampshire sSSSSS
Extension ofDanviile" 100000
sa50o,Ooo
But there arc some things which the
committee have not stated. They have
not stated that the appropriations which
they recommend, will avail ir,tiing un-
i'unless followed up from year to year with an
additional debt of at least $20,O0OO-n is con-
tracted. They have not stated that admitting
the First Auditors estimates to be correct, there
cannot be more than about SIS, 5000O of debt
contracted, without additional taxation. They
have not stated that Virginia per cent. bonds
are now worth about 90 cents OH the dollar, and
that the issue of 50, 500, 900 more of the bonds
of State with 50 millions of debt, would re-
luce their market value to much lower figure.
/ They have not ated that the railroads would
\ not receive the benefit of $4,000, goo, though
the tax payers pay g, 100000. They have not
stated the effect that hard times may have upon
the estimates of the Auditor. And finally they
have not stated the arrant humbug of all calcu-
ilations of treasury surplusses. Notayear ago.
4 politicians We're quarrelling about the dtstriJu
4 ton of the great amount accumulated in the
Il vaultso of the general government, and now, be-
fore the system to eject its reduction has been
fairly inangurated, those same vaults give forth
a hollow, sepulchral sound.