Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1864-12-16

reply is easy It's known that our State
banks have a large amount of specie on
hand entirely unproductive, not even con
tributeing to sustain their credit. and
source Of constant anxiety to the officers IN
charge of them. In this state of things,
the banks, | have no doubt, would cheer
fully surrender their specie to the State up
on her obligation to return it at the end OF
the war, and tho assignment of tho tax III
kind certificates to the Confederate Govern
ment, issued to the State from time TO time,
for the currency which she might require.
The faith of the State with this collateral
security, would I am persuaded, be entire
" acceptable to the danks under the cir
cum stances which imperil US. Should we
triumph in our present struggle which l
doubt not, the security would DO ample;
and should we fail of course the security
would be valueless and all would be lost
except in the diffusive benefit to the people
FROM the circulation Of the coin now exclu-
ded from all useful purposes.
coNrIscAT1oN OF THE PROPERTY OF yoLUSTA-
RY ABsEETEEs.
I earnestly recommend the passing Of a
law authoring the issue of a proclamation
warning all citizens of Virginia now in for
eisn parts to return without delay to the
State-failing in which, besides personal
penalties, their property of every descrip-
ton should be con6scated and their fami-
lies sent into the enemy lines.
There are some persons whose fidelity to
the State is much questioned, and who, if
arr ssted, can rarely be convicted in conse-
quencc of the difficulty of having the testi-
mony present when the day of trial arrives
They very generally escape from want of
evidence, although there is the strongest
moral assurance of there guilt. hope
that you will give the subject your atten
ton, and pass such law as this condition
of things requires In this conne,tion, I
would respectfully cali attention to the
Code, page us, in reference to the arrest
of suspicious persons. The sixth section
should be enlarged, so as to comprehend
all foreigers as we'll as citizens with au-
thor.ty to remove such as may be thought
fit beyond the limits of the State. There
is great necessity for some such measure,
and | hope it will engage your early a.ten-
ton.
| have now, gentlemen Of the 4 Assembly,
frankly, presented to you my views upon
all measures to which I deem it necessary
to invite your attention. | cannot hope
that you will concur with me entirely; but
20 measure has been suggested which, after
careful consideration, does not s;ron ely
impress me as either necessary to the i'm
provement of our condition or calculated to
strengthen our hands in the fearful strug-
gle il which we are now engaged. Our
national life depends in no slight degree
upon the separate action of the several
States Of tho Confederacy; and I would
not have our beloved State, in any of her
departments, to betray a want Of nlrest aud
highest heroism in her official conduct
Let US, gentlemen, remember, in the elo-
quent language of our Court Of Appeals,
that 'the obligation of the citizens to rem
der military service is a paramount social
and political duty" and pass all laws which
are necessary to give military organiza-
ton to our whole people. If. in any pro-
posed measure, we doubt our power or its
propriety, let US remember that it is a well
established rule of construction, "that all
grants of privileges and exemptions from
general burdens are to be construed liber-
ally in favor of the public, and strictly as
against the grantee"