Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1863-09-18


maintenance during the year. This is ow
ing to the prices Of all articles necessary e
the convicts have greatly increased, and al
still advancing. The condition Of the coun
| try must be kept steadily 10 view when les
! islating on subjects Of this kind. and "
mact. In regulating appropriations, bear j
mind that all articles Of prime necessit
have increased, and will continue to ia
crease, unless some speedy measures ar
adopted to reduce the redundancy Of til
currency. Besides, the convicts are in
crea sng. and the experiesce Of the las
months warrants the conclusion that tn
number will be uncoMmonly large befor,
the close of the year. The Legitimate off
spring Of state Of war are lawlessness ane
crime, and dnring its continuancs. there
fore, we may reasonably calculate upon al
unsual increase Of conviets There are nov
nearly three bundled aud 6fty confined 10
prison intended originally 70 accommodate,
two huadred and fifty
In previous messages | have earnestly
invited the attention of the Legislature tt
the affairs Of the penitentiary, aad the man
+agement Of the institution and the convicts
have always believed, and still think, tina,
with prudent, judicious and enerjetio man.
agement. the labor of the convicts would
support the institution, and pay hand.
some revenue into the Treasury annually.
I take pleasure in saying, that under the
present superintendent, the discipline and
management is greatly improved I have
heretofore submitted various recommends
tons. in my Communications to the two
Houses, and without repeating these rec
concentrations. will content myself with
calling attention to them. They are acces.
siblc to all, having been published in the
documents OF the past three years. In this
connection. also invite your attention to
the very able report on this subject, pre-
pared by Commissioners Raymond, John
eson aud Campbell This report contains
recommendations and suggestions of much
value and Importance, and commend them
to your favorable consideration.
This is matter Of practical Importance
and requires early attention. The interest
of the State demand that the reforming hand
Of the Legislature should be applied to it.
With regular supply Of raw material, SO
as to keep the convicts constantly employed,
and with an intelligent and judicious appli-
cation Of their labor, we may reasonably
hope that the institution will be self-sus-
tanning, if no more.
] submit the report Of Captain Edward
II, Fitzbugh. now in charge Of the Quar-
termasters Generals Office to which invite
your attention.. It presents clear and
succipct statement of the condition Of affairs
in that office from the organization of the
State .Llne forces TO the present time, and
will doubtless be read with great interest,
especially when it is reeollected that Just
before the State Hine troops were disban-
ded it was quite currently charged that the
entire appropriation Fad been expended
This report show that the sum of Que mil
liontwo hundred aud twenty FIVE thousand
dollars had been drawn from the treasury
for that department., and that since the force
was disbanded, six hundred and sixteen
thousand five hundred and seventeen dollars
aud ninety-two cents had been refunded
leaving the actual cost Of the State Line
forces, so far as that department is concern.
cd, six hundred and eight thousand four
hundred aud eighty two dollars and eight
cents. Other property now being collected,
aud which will be turned over to the Con-
federate Government, will further reduce
the cost No report has been received from
the paymaster generals department.
In this connection, it is appropriate and
becoming that should refer to the dstin-
gushed commander Of the State Line,
whose race is run. whose labors arc ended,
aud who now quietly sleeps with the dead
General Floyd was NO ordinary man. He
was blessed with rare intellectual endow-
meats. He possessed uDcommoo energy
and great physical endurance. His infer
nation wae varied, extensive snd valuable.
As an orator, he bad few snperiors-as q
statesman, he was equal to any Of the men
Of his day-and as patriot, devoted to bis
country aad his country's cause--his servi-
ces IN this war best attest his merits He
was equal to every position to which be vas
called-as Delegate in the General Assem-
bly,, as Governor of this State, as Secretary
of war under the old Government, SIS Brig
adler General commanding the Confeder-
ate troops. or as Major General comman
ding the State Line. When the news OF
his death reached this city, caused the
State flag to be displayed at halfmast. and
the Offices to be closed for the day, in token
Of respect TO his memory.
On the Goth Cay ofAuguss last requi-
sition was made upon mo y the Secretary
of War for 5,34O slaves to work upon the
fprtl6cations around Richmond. Copies of
the papers are herewith submitted to your
consideration; and particularly Invite
your attention to the draft made upon the
several counties The superintendent upon
the counties seems to be entirely arbitrary,
and bears very unequalIy. In some cases
five per cent Of the slaves is called for. and
in other cases less than one per cent Thus,
Amelia, with upwards of : 600 slaves as
sessed with taxes in 1862 is required to
furnish SO, while Allegheny with less than
700, is required to furnish 80 The coun-
y Of Albermarle, with 1861, is called
upon for 200, while Brunswick, with g.
212, is called upon for $50 The county
Of Augusta, with 4 80. is called upon for
80. while the county of Rockingham. with
2.l54, is called upon for 100 Hanover,
with .621, is called upon for 80, while
Prince Edward. with COOS, is called upon
for l50 These examples will suffice to
show how unequally this burden is distrib-