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

examine) will exhibit in detail the VIC y
Of the system, its wants, and necessitid-.
have entertained the fear that possibly VI
we're, under all the. circumstances, pushins
{ the introduction Of the system too rapidly
more so than the condition Of the State anC
the people would justify, but | devoutly
hope that my fears are unfounded and tina
ways and means may be devised to prevent
the misfortune ota check to its growth ano
prosperity for the want of material support
The benefits of the system are universal, en-
loved by all, whether they contribute to its
support or not, but its burthens rest mainly
upon property. Now. it is but right and
lust that all who receive and enjoy its ad-
vantages should i'll some degree aid IN Its
maintenance Our schools are now sup
ported by tax upon property and PEI
capita or capitation tax of one dollar. But
scarcely one half of this latter tax is collect
ed, nor under our present Constitution and
laws is it possible to collect it. And yet
this tax is the mos; universal in its applica-
ton Of all our taxes. and if collected would
yield half the amount necessary to be raised
by the State for she support of schools. And
[ am decidedly Of the opinion that it Is not
only right and just, but that it is our duty
to devise some means for the effectual col
lection of this tax and I am also of the
opinion that it ought to be doubled in
amount. To this end I respectfully recon-
mend the amendment of the Constitution so
to provide for the levy and collection annual
ly of capitation tax of two dollars only, to
be devoted exclusively to the support and
maintenance of schools, and prohibit any
and every citizen from voting at any cleo
ton who does not pay this tax. It would
be the most thoroughly-collected tax i'm
posed, would yield larger sum than our
present capitation and property tax together,
and would be constantly increasing from
year to year. Thus property might be re-
lieved entirely from taxation by the State for
the maintenance of the system, and its bur-
thens be more equ lily and equitably distri-
buted among its bene6ciaries In this con-
nection I desire to speak Of
THE CONGRESSIONAL LAND SCRIP.
1t is a subject Of regret to me that I did
not Immediately upon the organization Of
civil government in the State, proceed I'M
der the act of 1867 to obtain and sell this
scrip and invest the proceeds in State or
other solvent bonds Had I done SO, be-
lieve better price would have been realized
than is possible now, and the interest on the
sum obtained would have amounted to
twenty or twenty-five thousand dollars =
But at that time, however, I thought it ad-
visable to refer the subject to the General
Assembly and by it authority was given
to obtain the scrip and hold it subject to the
order Of the General Assembly See joint
resolution, p. %, 1S69-70. Instead of
providing for the immediate sale of the scrip
and the investment Of the proceeds in inter-
est-bearing securities, the attention of the
General Assembly became absorbed with
the question as to what institution or insti-
buttons ought to receive the fund, and the
result was that nothing at all was accomplish
ed. The scrip is still on hand, subject to
the order of the General Assembly, and I
trust there will be no further delay in its
conversion into State bonds or other six per
cent. interest-p paying securities. AS to what
institution it shall ultimately be given can
be determined aiterward But in this con-
nection | beg to reiterate the recommended
ton made in my message of the 9Th of
March, 1870, as follows II would sug-
gest, as subject worthy Of the serious and
profound consideration of the General AS
sembly, the propriety and feasibility of divid-
ing this fund-appropriating one portion of
it to that one of our colleges which, in your
judgment, you may designate, and the other
portion to college or high school devoted
exclusively to the education of our colored
people. The colored people of our State
are, equally with the white, clothed with
the elective franchise. In order that they
may intelligently exercise that right the
opportunity for education should, and under
our Constitution must, be afforded them. -
This cannot, however, be accomplished by
any system of mixed schools. Each race
must be provided for separately. have in
years past, and under the most favorable
circumstances, witnessed fair and impartial
trial of the experiment, and it proved an ut
ter failure. The true interests of the color
ed people themselves demand that they
should be provided with separate schools.
While they are entitled under our Constitu-
ton to an equal participation in the benefits
] of free common-school system, would ex-
tend to them inducements and incentives to
advancement in mental development by the
establishment of college or university as
above suggested, wherein shall be taught
all the higher branches of useful knowl-
edge" ss.a
FINANCES
On the 9Th of March, 1870, submitted
to the General Assembly very full state
ment of the public debt Of the State, its orr.
gin, nature, and amount, together with my
own views of the proper policy to be pursu-
ed. The opinions then expressed were reit-
Grated and endorsed in my last annual mes
sage; and l desire now to say that much
study and reflection since that time have
served but to strengthen and confirm my
convictions of their soundness. While most
Of the recommendations were in time sane
toned by the General Assembly, yet the
efficacy and usefulness of some of them were
somewhat lessened by the delays in their
adoption. The liability of this State for
the whole debt contracted prior to the late
war, and the duty of West Virginia to as
sumo her just proportion of it, and pay that
proportion into our treasury, to be by US
disbursed in liquidating the principal ofthat
debt, finds uneouivocal sanction in the Or
ganio act authorizing the organization of the
State Of West Virginia and the Constitution
adopted by her, as we'll as in the Constitu-
tion ratified by the people of this State in
1869 and now 10 full force. But the course
pursued by West Virginia, and the proba-
Bile delays of a settlement with her, together
with the intimidation, if not direct assertion,
of her authorities 'hst il would be unwise