Evening star., 1867-06-04
Interest and Debt of Virginia

gina, in letter just published, addressed to
the president of the First National Bank of
Richmond, states the public debt on the nth
OF April, 1861. at $34, ,293 IS, from which he
deducts SLIPS, us 81, that being the amount
to be extinguished by the sale of the States
interest in the several railroad companies
named, for State bonds at par He also de-
ducts S2.000,GC0. the amount OF the sinking
fund which Is invested in the State bonds.
The deductions leave the amount of the pub
lie debt as shown by the auditor S2l 691 $40 s4.
The act OF Assembly passed at the late session
provide for the payment of interest Of the
debt at the rate Of four per cent. per AMMAN.
upon the reduced debt at this date the interest
will amount to 1885,, ,663.l6. Adding to this the
sum necessary for the operation Of the State
government, Legislature, salaries, &c.,) say
81, 1857, ,66316.
The tax bill makes an assessment of thirty
cents on the hundred dollars value OF property;
taxes, will produce an annual revenue OF over
S2, COZ 0OO. From this ded uct the annual liabil-
tiles, 81 367, ,663l6, and we have At least S632.-
1864 as an annual surplus to form a sinking
fund for the gradual exiting uishment of the en-
tire debt, provided that existing laws are not
changed, and provided the States interest in
now directed by law. After the State debt is
reduced to S21. .09I, 9s4 in the manner now
proposed. the Commonwealth will still hold
in other railroads, and IN the James river and
kanawha canal, interests whose par value is
S16 676, 5S1 SIS, besides large and valuable IN
terests in other public properties.
I'm con CIQSlOn, says the aQOltOT, 81 may Do
pardoned for remarking that there is nothing
in the future, SO far as can foresee, to induce
the suppositon that the interest on the public
debt OF the State will not be regularly and
punctually paid. The debt itself will doubt
less be reduced by an exchange Of the interest
OF the State III the roads aforesaid for it's bonds
this letter or by authority granted to the board
OF public works to dispose Of the same with a
view to its extinguishment The Richmond
Enquire adds that the payment Of the July
able in Europe will certainly be punctual, as
it is understood that the treasure has alre ady
arranged to remit sterling within few days
for that purpose"
MARYLAND CoNsrITuTIoNAL CONVENTION
The Constitutional Convention yesterday
made temporary disposition Of the sui bject of
negro testimony. The order of Mr.. Al cher,
recommitting the report of the committee on
the legislative department, with instru ctions
TO report an additional section, "that no person
shall be incompetent as witness on account
of race or color, except hereafter so declared
by act OF General Assembly, was adopted
without amendment. That portion of the Both
article OF the Declaration of Rights which was
identical with the above instruction was then
struck out, and the article adopted in a form
so as to relate entirely to religious liberty and
secure the right to be witness or juror TO those
otherwise competent, provided they believe in
the existence OF GOD. moral accountability 10
Him, and condition Of rewards and punish
ment, in this or the world to come. That por-
ton OF the 37th article OF the Declaration of
" tuc loE ouucts
requiring ''declaration OF belief in the Chris.
tian religion was struck out, and substi-
tule was adopted. which declares that there
shall be no religious test other than belief in
the existence of God, and that the Legislature
shall prescribe no other oath OF Office than that
prescribed by the constitution. Thus, with
the clause heretofore inserted in another ar
Icle against retrospective oaths, the people OF
Maryland will be protected in that regard as
far as may be by their civil government; while
at the same time no possible civil disability
Will result to any one on account Of religious
creed All the other articles of the Declaration
OF Rights, as reported by the committee, were
gone through with