The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-04-07

AS w EDIS EBCDa MoN
war, have not found it compatible with the
dictates of-their consciences to subscribe to
the oath required by law, and the services
of such have been lost to the State.
My definition Of loyalty to the Govern
ment has been more comprehensive than
the one adopted by some political lexico-
graphers, who would restrict its application
to those, and to those only, who were will
ing to pledge themselves to vote for this or
that candidate for some high Office, the
number of the loyal thereby being in
versely pr9portionate to the number of can
didates. eGa -aeai rna7r
That mistakes, and that some improper
selections have been made, cannot be de-
MED this, under all the circumstances
and restrictions, was to be expected, and in
time can be partially remedied.
That those deemed not the most fit, wor-
thy, and competent, and their friends,
should be disspprobative, disappointed, and
dissatisfied, is natural. The hostility of
such is to be anticipated, but not to be
feared or dreaded. z4 - 1o.
The State executive officers who went out
under the requirements Of the joint reso-
luton Of Congress have not yet been re-
placed. .1-ss.- ..4
The officers have been by. me con-
sidered as the civil staff of the Dis
trict Commander, through whom, and
by whose advice and assistance, the
civil affairs Of the State must necessarily
BE transacted, and upon whose Judgment
and integrity he must rely. Ihave, there
fore, considered it due to my successor
(whose arrival has been daily expected) to
give him the opportunity of making his
own selections, and not hamper him with
selections Of persons made by myself.
have, in doing this, been assured by those
who know that the interests Of the State
and of individuals would not suffer
thereby.
The annual expenses Of the State have,
during my administration of affairs, been
considerably reduced, and had it been
considered polite, would have been reduced
still more. -...-... -.-.,.....-,
The monthly expenditures from the re-
construction fund appropriated by Congress
last session have averaged $l,863.5O per
month and Of the amount appropriated,
s99 900, after paying outstanding indebted
ness due when I assumed command, and
the current expenses since, there remains
on hand at present S77 ,249.39. s~ @
The authority in the District Commander
has been exercisedto prohibit corporate au-
thorities from increasing the indebtedness
of corporations, and thereby adding to the
taxes Of an already oyerburdened people.
The financial condition Of the State is, all
things being considered, as good as could
be expected; it's material interests are not
prosperous, and its political situation speaks
for itself. 81
The only claim Of any Importance against
the State which has been ordered to be paid
was one for reporting the proceedings Of
the constitutional Convention. Some doubts
were entertained as to the propriety Of or
dering its payment, but inasmuch as its
business and correctness was certified to by
the chairman of the Committee on Public
Printing, the secretary of the Convention,
and by the President Of the same, and as
its payment was urged by the Register in
Bankruptcy and the Commonwealth at-
sorney for the city of Richmond, the pay
ment of the claim, amounting to SO ,050, was
finally ordered. 1t has been intimated in
some of the journals that the money OBJ
tanned was used for improper purposes at
the late Petersburg Convention. Whether
or not such be the case | cannot say, and
those most interested are the best able to
decide.
The general quiet and good order that
has existed throughout the State since my
last report, and even now exists, is, under
oil the circumstance, worthy Of special
notice and particular attention.
The only two cases Of disorder Wor-
thy of mention. and which warranted
military Interference, are the one in
Lee county, in the southwest corner
of the State, point running down
between the two States of Tennessee and
Kentucky, and the other near Norfolk. The
first was caused by the conduct Of set Of
fugitives from justice from Kentucky and
Tennessee. Orders were issued to secure
their arrest. They left the State, and quiet
Was restored. .G
The other was caused by misconcep-
ton on the part of the negroes living on
some farms abandoned during the war by
the owners. The negroes were made &C.
quainted with their duties, and no further
trouble with them is anticipated.
Several questions connected with the in
ternal improvements in the State have pre-
sented themselves for consideration, and
have been settled, if not in accordance with
the wishes Of all concerned, it is to be
hoped the results will be for the best inte-
rests Of the companies and Of the State at
large.
All schemes and propositions looking
towards the sale Of any Of the States inte-
rest in either of the railroads have been
discontinued, and the principles Of consoli-
dation or cooperation established by the
last Legislature of Virginia observed and
continued. n :"
In the administration of civil affairs the
fact has not been lost sight of that civil
law still existed in the State, and that the
courts Of justice were open to all alike nor
of the other fact that the people Of Virginia
were still citizens Of the United States, and
as such were amenable to the laws and en-
titled to their protection.
In the performance of the delicate, re-
sponsible, and troublesome duties assigned
to mel have observed, and have endea-
vered to follow and carry out, the principle
that all governments are, or ought to be,
instituted for the best interest Of the 60
verned, to engender as few antagonisms
as liberal construction and faithful ad-
ministration of the laws of Congress re-
quired, to harmonize conflicting elements,
and to do justice to all.
How successfully this endeayor has been
accomplished, it remains for results and his-
tory to determine, and for those over whose
interests have had temporary controltc