The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-10


I occasion. I would recommend that In every
1 civil case In court OF record fee or ta1
1 of from three to Ave dollars be imposed, tc
| be paid to the clerk ut the commencement
of the suit and before any papers are filed
or issued, and to be by the clerk paid into
the Treasury of the State.
By such notifications of our laws as
have thus briefly suggested it is quite pro
bable that ct least $50, 900 can annually DC
saved to the State in the administration OF
our civil and criminal Jurisprudence.
| ASYLUM FOR INSANE CoLORED PEOPLE.
Soon after entering upon the discharge OF
my duties as Provisional Governor ascer'
tanned that both the Eastern and Western
Lunatic Asylums were filled to overfowing
with patients, and that there were many
insane people (both white and colored) in
the various county jails and other places
about the State, where they could not oe
properly treated or cared for. 1t seemed
| imperatively demanded that some mea'
sure should be promptly provided Tor the
suitable care and custody OF these un'
fortunate people. The propriety OF enlarg-
ing the Eastern Lunatic Asylum was
first considered, but the expense OF such
enlargement seemed too great to JUS
tify its being undertaken ct that time
| Besides, il was deemed advisable that the
insane of the two races should be provided
for separately. Subsequently the property
living Immediately east of the city known
as Howard Grove Hospital, through an ar
rangement effected by the commanding
General, was turned over to the State, and
Il was determined to convert the same into
an ASYLUM for the colored insane, ana 10
remove thereto those of that race who were
Mt the Eastern Lunatic Asylum, thus Leaving
in that institution sufficient accommodation
for the white insane, who, as before stated,
were in different jails and other places OF
confinement in the State. Ihat Arrange
mcnt has been carried fully INTO enecs.
The property thus turned over 10 the ota1 :.
without cost is of considerable value. Il
consists of eighteen acres OF land now unoer
lease to the State for ten years at nm an,
nual rental of 5000, wherein stand severn aa
wooden buildings worth $4,000 or S6,ooo !;
one additional building has been erected
ond some necessary improvements ana re-
noirs made, at the expense OF the ntate.
Reds. bedding, and other necessary articles
Which we're in use or stored on the preml-
COS, we're purchased from the Government
at q nominal price. .,.a
The lease and q plan of the grounds and
buildings are on file in the ohce OF the Au-
d;tor Of Public Accounts. The report here
iii submitted of the Superintendent oil
Public Buildings, who, at my instance, mas
had charge of this property for the past
month. contains statement of the expendl-
TIRES made by the State, the condition and
canacity of the institution, and the number
If natients now under treatment. With
the further expenditure of small sum it
is believed that all the colored insane of the
State can be we'll and comfortably accom-
modated at this asylum for the next ten
wears. I would respectfully recommend
that q low be at once enacted organizing
this ASYLUM upon the plan of the Eastern
and Western Lunatic Asylums, and provi-
ding for the care and custody of all the CO.
lored insane of the State at the same.
Ihave been requested by the authorities
of Randolph Macon College to submit for
YOUR consideration proposition IN writing
for the sale to the State of the property OF
that institution situated in Mecklenburg
county for an asylum for insane colored
people. My great respect for the gentle
men who make this proposition, and my
high appreciation of the ultimate objects
thew have in view in making the same, in
duces me to comply with their request,
although my sense of duty cempels me to
decline to recommend this purchase at this
time.
Having thus called your attention to some
of the most important subjects which de-
mand your immediate attention, and the
consideration of which will necessarily &C.
cupy YOUR time for some weeks to come, l
shall bring this communication to close.
shall at an early day communicate to you
2 statement of the financial condition and
resources of the State, with such recon-
mendations as commend themselves to my
Judgment, and some suggestions for the
ameloration of the condition of the very
large debtor class in our State. Public i'm
provements, immigration, education, and
other important subjects, will be discussed
in communications to be hereafter commu-
nicated to your honorable bodies.
GILBERT G. WALKER.
On motion of Mr.. SNowDEN, the message
and accompanying documents were laid
upon the table and 500 copies ordered to be
printed.
DISABILITIES.
The House joint resolution on the subject
of disabilities was taken up and read for
the first and second times.
Mr.. J. AMBLER SMITH offered the fol-
lowing substitute:
The State of Virginia having assumed
her position as one Of the loyal and indie
pendent States Of the Union, with many Of
her citizens still laboring under disabilities
imposed by operation OF the fourteenth
amendment to the Constitution, be it there
fore
Resolved by the Senate and House OF
Delcqates of Virginia, That the Congress
of the United States be hereby petitioned
and earnestly urged to remove without
delay all political disabilities incurred by
reason of participation in the late war
from all citizens Of Virginia who may ask
this relief over their own signatures, and
who pledge themselves in good faith to
carry out and maintain the Constitution of
the United States and laws of Congress-
Mr.. SNowDEN appealed to Mr.. Smith to
make verbal alteration in reference to
personal signatures. Not that he objected
to the spirit of the resolution, but to its i'm
practicability. 1t would prove q source Of
interminable trouble both to applicants and
to Congress to have the disabilities removed
through personal application.
Mr.. BLAND agreed with Mr.. Snowden,
and thought that general application
would best subserve the convenience OF all
parties.
MIR. J. E. TAYLOR spoke against the SUBJ
stitute,
Mr.. SMITH declined to amend his substi-
tute, as he thought it might have more
weirht with Congress- than o general and