The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-01-16

. lNO0A4oS4 AOA OA4EGTS OI
Tha election laws, also, should be amend
ed so as to prevent, if possible, the re
ception of illegal votes; and to prescribe
more definitely the powers and duties o
the boards OF supervisors as to the exam
lnation and certifying of elections gener
ally, and especially where through vio
lence, fraud or error, illegal votes are re-
ceived, or other illegal acts done in con
Quoting the elections
| In this connection l deem it my duty tc
recommend the repeal of the act passed
| November 13, 1868, entitled can Act to
provide for the forfeiture of property in
this State, belonging to the enemies there
of." This law was enacted during the
war with view to prevent persons own.
ing property in the State from engaging
IN the rebellion, or, if already SO engag.
| ed, to induce them to abandon it. But
1t never has been enforced, either during
the war or since, in single instance, and,
SO far as know, it is not expected to be
enforced Indeed, in looking into its
provisions, it seems to me that it was not
| intended that it should be enforced, mas
much as it makes it the duty of no officer
or other person to see that it is done. Yet
1t declares forfeiture of the property OF
those who participated in the rebellion.
If the property is forfeited, the law
should be enforced or repealed for as
the matter now stands it embarrasses the
business of the State. Especially is this
SO in regard to real estate. The owners
are not allowed to sell, and if they offer
to do SO, persons hesitate to purchase be-
cause of the existence of this law. If
allowed to remain it will continue, as
heretofore, to prevent the sale of prop
erty and to retardth improvement of the
State.
From the Reports of the Auditor and
Treasurer 1t may be seen that
The balance remaining in the Treas
Receipts from other sources to the
end OF the fiscal year, September
~, 2Ol 4l5 IS
Amount OF rreceIpts...... .ssl279s 81
Disbursements TO end of fiscal year. 47S,OO5 81
Balance in Treasury octoberl l, 1865 81, ,798 4s
Estimated receipts for current year. GIL 500 90
Total receipts.:..,.,.;, ,.,.; s7O6, ,20s 10
"schooi r - DOr 30 500 90
Leaving for general purposes. sI95 793 40
Estimated ordinary expenses of cur
rent Sol ,l5O 90
Amount subject to extraordinary
2pProprlaLon-.-. .-..-.-.-----...Sl44,6 ,6i3 ~
In order that this statement may not
leave an erroneous impression to the
prejudice of the resources and revenues
the State, it may be proper to remark that
the last legislature changed the fiscal year
so as to make it end on the Both of Sep
tember, instead of the 31st of December
as heretofore; and as o consequence the
reports of the financial officers exhibit the
receipts and disbursements of only nine
months, instead of whole year as they
otherwise would have done and, in these
nine months, under the law, only one
fourth of the annual revenue is required
to be paid into the Treasury; and by rea-
son of the change the other three -fourths
remain to be accounted for in the sue
ceeding financial year.
1t may be seen from the Auditors re-
port that the value of the personal prop
erty in the State, as assessed for taxation
in the year 1866, exceeds that assessed in
the year 1865, more than % per cent. and
that the increase in the number of per-
sons assessed with capitation tax is more
than IL per cent; and, may add, that
the reassessment of the real estate under
the law of the last session, so far as the
Commissioners books have been return
ed, indicates very great increase in its
value since the last preceding assessment.
These unmistakeable evidences of the
growing wealth and population of our
State-coming, as they do, within so short
time after the terrible conflict through
which we have passed-should be graft
flying and encouraging, not to our people
only, but to all who take an interest in
the general prosperity and progress of the
country,
The Auditor accompanies his report
with a number of valuable suggestions in
regard to amending the revenue laws,
which take pleasure in commencing to
your favorable consideration.
Since the adjournment of the last Leg
islature, Congress has passed an act re-
cognizing the justice of the claim of this
State against the United States for mon
eys expended in paying and supplying
military forces for the suppression of the
rebellion within the State, providing for
its adjustment by commissioners, and
making an appropriation for its payment.
The commissioners have been engaged in
the business con6ded to them, but have
not yet made their report. 1t is expect
ed, however, that they will report soon,
and that payment will not be delayed
very long thereafter.
In my message to the last Legislature,
recommended that commissioners be ap-
pointed to settle with the State of Virgin
ia in regard to the public debt and public
on that recommendation, for the reason,
as understood, that it would probably
avail nothing, inasmuch as, so far as was
known, the authorities of Virginia had
made no provisions for such settlement.
1 now respectfully call your attention to
this subject, and suggest that in my Opin-
ion, it is entitled to your early considera-
ton. And, in order that the State may
be the better prepared to meet any obi
CATION that may devolve on it in this con-
nection, it may be well to take action un.
der that provision of the constitution di-
recting the creation of sinking fund for
this purpose
AS connected with this subject, it may
be proper to state here, that in March
last, few days after the adjournment of
the Legislature, | received an informal
communication from Hon. Alex. 81. 81.
Stuart, of Virginia, enclosing an unof-
fetal copy of series of resolutions,
which, he informed me, had been adopt
ed by the General Assembly of that State,
providing for opening negotiations with
the authorities of this State with view,
first, and chiefly tas understand them,)
OF securing reunion of the two States;
and secondly, of adjusting the public debt
and fair division of the public property.
He also informed me that he and others
had been appointed commissioners to lay
these resolutions before the authorities of
West Virginia, and inquired whether the
Legislature of this State had taken any
action on the subject l had not then,
nor have since, received any other mo-
tice of the adoption of the resolutions, OF
of the appointment of the commissioners.