Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-12-09

We are not yet prepared to do 80, nor can 1t be
reasonably expected Of u.s. What | do most
earnestly urge is that you take immediate &C.
ton looking to the resumption OF the payment
of interest by the State Mt certain day, not
in the distant future. | would recommend
tina. provision be Immediately made for the
funding of tho whole debt, principal aud In
terest, 10 new bonds OF the character men
| toned in my message of the 9th CT March last,
bearing date July |, 1871. The first semi
annual interest will then fall due January /,
1872; and, in my opinion, that is as early
period as it will he prudent to undertake the
payment OF full Interest regularly. "ln my
Judgment, it is far better to postpone the com
meucement of the payment of any interest to
time when we arc satisfied that We shall not
only be able to commence, but continue to pay
it regularly and promptly as II natures there
after than 10 pay part regularly or the whole
irregu!arIy. What We all desire is the speedy
restoration OF the Slate credit, and this can
only be accom- lished by the prompt payment
of tie Interest upon CUR debt when due; par
ual payment will not accomplish it, and when
we shall have ouco resumed payment, any
irregularities or uncertainties will most serious
~ damage, ii not destroy, our credit. In
March last was Of the opinion that we might
safely undertake to commence the payment OF
expenses incident to the reorganization OF the
State government, and the lengthy first session
OF the LEGISLATURE, tho prevalence OF blight
ing droulh in cue section of the State the past
season. and the lcvastaions OF terrible floods
in the James ani Shenandoah rivers, have 40
crippIcd our treasury and our people that am
satisfied postpoGemcnt to the lsr Of January,
1872, is necessary and advisable
The Constitution limits Your present session
10 ninety days and trust tl.at you will be ena'
bIcd to complete all necessary legislation With
in that period. With au impoverished people
on the one hand and anxious, needy, deserving
creditors on the other, II mO,c than ever be-
comes w 10 practice the most rigid economy
10 all departments OF the government. Here
after, our annual legislative expenses ought
not to equal ono half OF the cost OF your last
session. | hope also, under the reforms alrea
DIV Initiated ard to be initiated, to see our
"criminal CHARGES and the expenses OF our
pententiary reduced mere than one hall. In
view of these and other reductions 10 our an
nual expenses. and the Increased and lncreas-
ire subjects of taxation and ability on the part
of the neople to respond thereto, | am salts
fed that We can and ought to resume the pay
ment OF interest as carly as the LIST OF January,
1872 The honor and truo Interest OF the
people demand that We should do this II pos
sib!e. So long as our State credit remains In
O condition of dishonor, it is idle TO hope tor
that prosperity and development, that influx
OF CAPITAL aud population, SO much needed and
so ardenty desired. trust that you will take
this subject into into immediate considerations
and act in a manner commensurate with Its
great importance and the vast interests lnV0v
ed.
MILITIA.
The subject Of the organization OF the State
militia is one that ought not 10 be longer de-
, lsyed. 1t is quite unnecessary Tor me to re-
peat the arguments Ia favor OF Il well-organlZ
ed and efficient militia The past experience
OF every State n the Union amply vlndlcates
their correctness There are peculiar reasons
: which now, more than ever, demonstrates the
| absolute necessity Of an organized militia 10
this State. In case Of riot Or organized resist
ance to the enforcement OF the laws the Exec
, utiye has no torce at his command with which
to vDdcaue the authority with which he is
clothed by the Constitution. In the late mu-
nicipal difficulties in this city, the control OF
single company of we'll organized and equipped
militia would have enabled the Executive to
uucll, in its incipicpcy, that disgraceful and
, most unjustifable Instruction against the
laws of the Commonwealth. But he then had
{ neither officer nor private under his command,
, and he has none now. Even the public prop.
erty of the State is guarded by officers sworn
| 10 as special policemen oil the city OF Rich
mond. and subject to its control. It is true
that employ these guards, AID pay them out
OF the contingent fund, because absolutely nc
cessary for the protection of the public proper.
ty but it is equally true that they are not the
officers of the State, nor technically under the
control of the State authorities.
Uoder the authority Of a joint resolution, ap-
proved February IS. 1870, the superintendent
OF the penitentiory, with my approval, employ
, ed twenty Temporary guards for sixty days
to guard the State prisoners and the penlten-
tiary. In default Of any other provision tor
3 supplying this necessary service, this guard
/ has ever since been continued, and paid fro 10
, the contingent fund. This condition Of things
out not logger 10 exist. Provisions should
be made for the organization OF suitable
, State guard, which am satisfied can be main
tanned at an expense very little in excess OF
the cost of our present guards. And L am In.
clined 10 believe that the State guard should
form part OF the militia organization OF the
State, to be organized armed and uniformed,
and be subject to the sane regulations, and to
receive the same compensation, as the militia
! when in active service
| The ninth article OF the constitution is man
Q 6atory upon the Legislature to provide Tor the
organization of the militia aud under the sec.
ond section of that article. there can be DO
difficulty in framing law which will fully NEE:
f the wants and necessities Of our peculiar stu
alton.
On the oath of March last, in response to a
: resolution of the House OF Delegates, trans
mited to that body communication, from
} which I quote tho following language:
during the late war, by authority OF the
fr,edmen's bureau or other federal authorlty,a
large number of coIored people were settled,
, and have ever since continued TO reside upon,
, plantation known as Taylor's farm, 10 Nor
f folk county, and upon plantation known as
Ceey Smiths farm, in Elizabeth City county.
When the functions of the lreedmen's bureau
, ceased these people were lett in possession OF
these properties, supposing as they claim,
and no doubt honestly, in their ignorance of
t right and law, that they had right to the
/ same because of the authority by which they
: had been put in possession; aRd they were not