Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-10-28

| tee 10 wait upon the Governor and com1nnH-
cate to him the acton Of this body.
The motion was agreed to, aud Mr.. Hoi-
COME accordingly appointed for The purpos'
indicated
Mr.. BENJAMIN WMscN, Of Harrison.-1 bezz
leave TO Offer the following preamble and resS-
lutons:
"Whcreas in consequence OF the constantly
increasing bur:hens imposed upon the peope
Of Virginia to support and administer her g.
vcrnmcnt, it becomes important to enquire
whether any, and if any, what reforms ar
needed in the organic law Of the State, to Sc
cure to the people "thc greatest degree of hap
pincss and safety" and most tf!tctually u
guard against tho danger Of NAL adminstra
ton :" bo it, therefore,
'Kesolved That the Auditor Of Public Ac
counts DO requested to collect and furnish te
this Convention, as soon as practicable, the
following information:
81. The total amount Of money which has
been appropriated to works Of internal i'm
provc!nrnt in each ono of tho grand diri
sonsssi the State sub.dividing the Trans
Allegheny district into the Northwcat and
Southwest.
80 The amount of taxes assessed oil lands
in each district, the amount cf taxes on all
other subjects therein Ior tie year l6aQ, and
the amount cf Assessments returned delinqnenl:
"3 The number Of registered voters in each
dlatI1ct.
II. The nance Of all officers and employ res
residing in said districts, whether they be
Sla!c, colny, or corporation officers their
residence, ant! tho salary, income and fees re.
ceivcd by each fer tho year 1860, or for full
year Commencing or terminating in the year
1890
~. The number and names Of all sheritfs and
| clerks cl courts who have been delinquent in
t.n psyuAnt Of revenue since tho first day
Of July, 1852, ana the number and uames
Of those delinquent for nine years neg! pre-
ceding the first day Of July, 1852.
"G. \ comparative statement OF expenses
incurred lay each one Of tho public Institutions
Of the State for ten years, commencing with
The year 1910. and (nr ten years, commencing
with the year 1850"
Mr.. Wllsox.-I did not design to offer thai
resolution now. prepared it at time when
| | entertained hope that VIC might be able
10 adjust our difficulties. desire that in
this hour of trial, when the State is almost
bankrupt, that the gentlemen who voted to
secct!e from the Federal Union will unite with
NE in al th'Lrt tn place cur State in safe po.
sition.
1t occurs to me, sir, and am partly sus-
tancl in that idea By tho action OF the Con.
ycntion on my resolutions to day, that there is
persistent determination to do that which is
| to cry down the credit Of the State The mil
lion of dollars that has boon appropriated To.
day will cost the State, under the operations
which detailed hero to day, about $3.50, 900.
| Tho State will have to pay q bonus Of about
| 5000, COO to raise the two millioas Of dollars
appropriated by the Legislature aFld this Con.
yention, and yet there seeing to be nc effort
made to remedy this evil. And it would seem
in fact as if no hope is entertained Of keeping
up the credit Of the State, but that rather a
disposition EXISTED 10 allow ruin and disaster
to cone upon every interest.
have heretofore stated that there is rali-
cal defect iD our financial system, and that We
can correct that defect here without costing
Virginia one dollar. If the shaving practice,
to whci. | referred today, is pursued, wan
to know who is responsible for it, If wc are to
DC oppressed and burlened with unnecessary
taxation, | desire that the people shall know
from shat source it comes. We are not disposed
70 seek an unnecessary and cEhoI bitant bonus
to provide means to put our State in proper
condition Of defence / desire, as all my res
nlu;ous have been laid upon tho table, that
this inquiry Ehall be made, and the iniorma.
ton sought for furnished. And i, is little
strange that the very section which voted
| Virginia out Of the Union, il the section which
is now opposed to taking any step tending 10
tho maintenance ofher credit Twill not con-
sent 10 that policy Of indifference in matter
so Important as the preservation of The
credit of the State. We, Ct Western Virginia,
wilI cooperate with you 50 far as the Inair;-
tcuance of the rights of Virginia is concerned
That far We will 60, and no farther. We will
do nothing which Tc-beieyc calculated to iui-
pair and destroy the credit of tho State; but
will rather SEEK to bhd i up and maintain it
at standard bcfitting the resources OF q great
Commonwealth, such rs Virginia possesses
presume that these resolutions Gill meet
the same fate with the one have already of
lered mus: say in all frankncss, that |
would no. have offered these resolutions but for
the fate that my FIRST resolution met. deem.
cd it prapcr TO make another effort so as if
possible, 10 remedy an evil which sooner or
later will result in ruin to the interests of the
State if permitted to continue. There is, rs
ba~e said o radical defect in our financial sys.
teul, and we can easily remedy'this defect
Our bonds arc at ruinous discount by reason
Of the loose manner in which they are hawked
about by spectators and brokers. They are
sent in millions to New York and Philadelphia,
and thorc sold at depreciation which must
operate ruinnusly upon the credit Of the State.
| am anxious that tho honey Juggling opera.
tions which are known to he praclced in this
toTn, and by which our bonds arc deprcoiatad
10 the extent Of 304 per cent below par should
be checked.
! trust it will he ;he pleasure of the Conven.
ton to adopt these resolutions, which, as | have
already stated, would not have been offered if
my first resolution was adopted see to-day
tina. our bonds have hecn sold at 30 conIs on
tho dollar, and this of itself should stimulate
the Convention to take some action which !
you'd prevent this ruinou3 depreciation.
Mr. WIsE.-l should like to know whether
these bonds are sold by the State officers.
Mr.. WILSON bave heard il said III this |
toHn frequently within the last two months,
that member Of the GcntrafAssemhly charg
cl nPon this floor, that in awarding contracts
the prizes allowed under these contracts was
with reference to the deprecated value OF tho |
honia Of the State; and that when the contrpc. |
cor has completed the work in whole or in psrt |
he presents his drafts nt t:c Ircaaui. ,.,.. |
mcnt for payment The Treasurer, however
does not find it convenient to pay tho money.
The contractor manages, through the accolnmo-
tlnlion of 4 friend, to buy thousand dollars
worth nr State bonds, and then receives his
warrant and draws that s 600 out Of the Treas
ur,. As koOn as this is drawn he returns The |
mnne; To the friend and Immediately disposcs
OF The hmniS ta tho brokers At the week S price
The S;ate loses the discount the contractor
having secured himself in his original estimate
oy putting an advance upon the Legitimate
price Of the work to the extent Of the draw
back upon the bonds.
Mr. WlsE.-Will the gentleman ALLOW me
to make remark or two!
When Governor of the Commonwealth |
vas very well aware Of the operations TO
which the gentleman refers, and I called the
attention OF the Legislature to the fact; but
without effect, as no remedy was provided,