Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-12-12
Stauntott Spettatur.
T5GesdOy, December IL. 1871.
Gov. Gilbert C. Walkers Message.


Gov. Gilbert G. Walkers Message.
AS soon as both houses of the General As
sembly were organized on Wednesday last, the
annual message of Gov. Walker was presented
and read.-N is Avery long document and
would occupy about nine columns of space In
the Spectator. As it is too long to publish in
full, we give an abstract of it which will enable
our readers to form correct idea of its char
acter and the views it maintains. aIaioTLio a1a 2
1t is avery elaborate document, and treats
at length Of the economy Of the State, its Gnan-
ces, social, political and material condition. In
referring to the general condition of the State
Union, he says: q ..@-'9.-- = I l.t
since its restoration to its rights within the
''We have now the benefit Of nearly two
years experience under the new order of things
originating under the almost unanimous action
of the people In 1862 We were the first vol
UNFAIRLY to lnaugurate the experiment of uni
versal suffrage and equal rights before the law.
Perhaps nowhere else could that experiment
have been SO successfully carried out certainly
nowhere else has it been SO faithfully and I'M
partially tried. Radically opposed to precon-
ceived and Well-considered opinions, fraught,
as thoughtful men well knew, with the gravest
possibilities, yet our experience has demonstra--
ted that under favorable circumstances 1t may
be rendered not only not antagonlStlc, but con-
ducve to the good and stable rebuilding of the
government. Certain it is that since the resto-
ration Of civil government in our State we have
enioyed degree of peace and good order, ODE
dience to the laws and respect for authority,
euuailed by few and excelled by none OF our
sister States. While it is true that this IS due
in large measure to the law-abiding character
and moral sentiment Of our people, it cannot
be denied that to a certain extent every cltl-
zen, no matter what his previous or present
condition is, or may have been has been fully
protected in all the rights and immunlties of
citizenship. -slsiaa-rs.1o9 e.9e1 d
The subject of immigration he treats at
length and sums up the wants of the State II
one sentence: 5agaa .sf5ao|
''The great need of Virginia to-day is CAPT
tai and population. . s..s,ta.l5 s-sse W 4
He recommends the equalization of taxation
as subject germane to that of immigration.
In reference to education he says: lT
1.-THE success of our school system, inaugu-
rated under the laws passed by the last Legls-
lature, has surprised its warmest friends. 1t
demonstrates that our people appreciate the
benefits and advantages, as we'll as the necessl-
ty, both in material and moral point OF view,
of educa ion. When people, oppressed with
debt just beginning to recover from the devas-
tation Of war, which devastated some of all and
all of portion Of their property, rally to the
support of free schools, no fear need be enter
tanned for the success OF the cause OF free edu-
cation" a-a as ta3s
In regard to finance, the present funding sys-
tenn adopted by the last Legislature is warmly
approved of as the wisest attainable at present.
His language in approval of the basis of settle
ment for restoring and establishing the credit
of the State is very emphatic. He says:
This action of the General Assembly was
amply justified by the pecuniary condition of
affairs, and met With my cordial approval, and
so far as | am informed with the appreciation
of our State creditors both at home and
abroad, and of all honest men everywhere who
understood and appreciate the snbjecl. 10
aside from the complete vindicatlou OF the
honor of our State and our people, which some
affect to sneer at, but which in my. opinion is
of the most vital Importance, the benefits, in
material view, of the restored confidence IN
the integrity OF our people and government,
arising from the enactment Of this law, cannot
be measured. Not only was the credit OF the
State involved, but also the credit of every
county, every municipality, and public and pri-
vate corporations, as we'll as every citizen IN the
Commonwealth. a.l s.efa3 a1a@ sEAtti f
He estimates that the total debt of the State
on the 1st of July last, fundablc under the law,
was $47, O9O, S66.43, two-thirds Of which is
$3I, 1913 910.96, which is the portion assumed
by this State, and on which the annual interest
would be 81, 1865, 45O90, or 1892 725.45 semi
annually. OF the whole debt the amount fund
cd on the 1st Instant was $26, Clio, 69l.S5, on
TWO thirds of which, viz, ST., 740, 46l. %. ia
terest will be due and payable January 1st,
1872. 1t is safe to estimate that By the lst of
January, 1872, $50, 900 of the old debt
will be funded, and that consequently $40, 000,
900 will be the sum on which interest will have
600. The Governor claims that sales of the
States interest in railroads will soon reduce
the debt to $50, Isl, 43l47, of which sum Vir-
GINA should be liable for $26. lO0,954 81. An
additional reduction by the collection of certain
claims and by amounts lost or destroyed will,
he thinks, further reduce the total debt to
about $27 600 000 bearing an annual interest
of 81, $4,000 which must be realized from
taxation. lie estimates the necessary expenses
of the State Government at 100000. He
says:
add to this sum the annual interest of ST.
100000, and We have the sum of 50 220, 900,
which it will be necessary to realize annually
from taxation, aside from what may be appro-
priated for school purposes. The Treasurer
reports the receipts from all sources the last
fiscal year at 81, 7Sl, ISL "a, and the expenses
for all purposes at 81 1853, 1872 o. showing
balance of receipts over expenses of 1928, 699.-
Sc. [ have shown that the expenditures, aside
from the appropriation for school purposes,
can be reduced to 100000, and add to this
the amount expended for schools--viz,, 1882
O00-it would only make the sum of 1882 1000,
which would, on the basis of last years reve-
nue., leave balance of 81, 799, ISL. Ga sum
amply sufficient to meet the interest upon the
public debt. But / do not suppose that the
receipts of the last fiscal year are correct cri-
terion by which to judge of the present or next
year. The Auditor estimates the total receipts
from all sources the present fiscal year at ST.,
2l3, 322 o. and the total expense at $3,020,
900; but 10 the latter estimate he includes
100000 OF interest upon the public debt and
100000 of current expenses of Government,
1887, 064. As for school purposes, in all 81, 49,,
O6445 more than | do, and of that sum $780,
900 may be thrown out Of our calculations pro-
vided the recommendations herein made are
adopted by the General Assembly. ts
He makes some additional comments to those
already given in relation to the debt difficulties
Lo.--oo, U;ro;n;o I'D VIoet y;uc;,;o :; xrL;aL