Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-12-15

lected therefrom. Authorize the counties
and municipalities to levy and collect along
with their local levy. and by their local Of
fcers, the amount Of State taxes thus re-
quired. and hold each responsible for the
amount thereof, to be paid into the State
treasury at such time or times as may be re-
CURED by law, By the adoption of this
system you would avoid all delinquents-
wouldedlspense with considerable machinery
and many officers, and save very large
item Of expense to the State This plan is
in operation in some Of the other States, and
if it can be adopted under our Constitution
| should certainly be its earnest advocate.
Upon the subject Of the assumption and
payment by West Virginia Of her just pro.
portion Of the public debt contracted prior
to her organization I respectfully refer you
to my last annual message for statement
of the facts as to its then condition, and my
own views and recommendations as to the
proper course to be pursued. What has
transpired since that time has but served tc
confirm my impressions and veiws then en-.
tertained. ~
In accordance with my Recommendation
our General Assembly adopted a joint reso.
luton entitled 'joint resolution rendering
to West Virginia an arbitration for the APP
portionment Of the public debt" which was
approved on the 18th of February, 1871.
On the 18th of the same month trans
mitted tender of arbitration, as authorized
with an authenticated copy Of the resolution
to the Governor Of West Virginia, accom-
panied by request that he should submit
the same to the Legislature of his State.
Some days thereafter | received from the
Governor Of West Virginia letter dated on
the 18th Of February, 1871, enclosing
copy Of joint resolution adopted by the
Legislature Of West Virginia authorizing
the appointment Of commissioners to treal
with the State Of Virginia on the subject Of
The State debt" Subsequent to this time
received another communication from the
Governor of West Virginia, dated the 28tb
of February, 1871, enclosing copy of a re.
solution adopted by the Legislature Of that
State entitled "joint resolution providing
for the settlement of the debt between Wiz.
ginia and West Virginia.
Some time in August last I received q
communication signed by Messrs j. J.
jackson, j. NJ. Bennett, and H. W. Camp.
bell, dated the 9th Of August, 1871, mott.
flying me Of their appointment as commits.
sioners under the last above mentioned re-
solution. To this letter I replied on the
7th Of September following. To this letter
of mine I received reply from Governor
Jacob Of the same date. Copies of all this
correspondence are herewith submitted for
your consideration. They comprise all Of
the official communications upon this subject
of date since my last annual message, and I
trust that they will receive your careful
persual.
The objections to a commission such as
the action of the Legislature of West Vir.
ginia authorizes are very evident, for it is
not empowered to make final settlement
of the questions at issue. The commission
ers could investigate and discuss, but deter
mine nothing, unless to disagree with any
we might appoint.
Now, if the authorities Of West Virginia
an earest desire to make speedy
and final settlement of this matter, why did
they not accept our. tender Of an arbitra-
tion?-a mode Of settlement of such contro-
versies universally recognized by both ma.
ton and individual as right and appropriate
Suppose an equal number of commissioners
appointed by each State, and that they
should meet and disagree upon any one or
all points involved, who is to decide be-
tween them ? And yet beyond doubt they
would radically disagree upon the first and
chief point 10 be se.tled-viz., the basis or
principle upon which the settlement should
be made. But suppose that the commits
'ioners should finally agree, does any one
suppose that their finding would be ratified
oy the Legislatures of the two States, disa-
sreeing as the people do radically upon the
merits Of the question at issue ? Of course
lot. A commission means simply aud indie
mite postponing of any settlement, and ex-
,ense to the States in the way Of per diem
md expenses of commissioners nothing
more and nothing less. ''The better course
o be pursued is for the two States to sub.
nit the whole question to arbitration. Let
zach State select one disinterested arbitrator,
md the tvo thus selected select third, to
whom the whole subject shall be submitted
md their finding to be final and binding upon
he two States. This is fair and equita-
lie mode of adjustment, and if rendered by
'ou cannot but believe West Virginia will
accept it II she refuse, you will
lave the satisfaction of knowing that you
Exhausted all honorable means to obtain a
ettlement, and will then be amply justified
n seeking your remedy through the only
nstrumentality remaining to you-the Su-
irene Court of the United States" This
anguage was used by me in mi last annual
and the conclusion expressed is my
pinion pow
ELECTIONS.
One of the most serious objections to our
Constitution is the number and frequency
f elections which it prescribes. We now
ave annually two regular elections-one
n the fourth Thursday in May, and the
Their on the first Tuesday after the first
Ionday in November. Aside from the loss
f time to the citizen in attendance upon
e gistration and the polls, and the excite
nent of feeling and disturbance of business
Incident thereto, very heavy expense is
ntailed upon our people which they are lily
BILE to bear and there is no necessity for
t. There ought TO be not mare than one
eotio4 in each year for State purposes
congressman are elected every two years
md President every four years, and by a
aw of Congress the latter election must be
,eld on the Tuesday after the first Monday
n November and I am clearly of the opin.
on that it is advisable to hold our congress.
;ional elections at the time now prescribed
~ law. But ! am very decidedly in favor
# SO amending the Constitution as that all
State, county. municipal, and township