Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-01-23

sioners report that West virginia's proportion.
of the debt issomething less than one million;
OF dollars: This balance is reached by chare-
ing West Virginia with the amount of expen-
gdlture Tor all purposes within her limits. and
Greaitlngsh er with her Interests in the public
buildings, andfother assets named !; also with,
ner snare IN the Literary Fund and Surplus
hund. These calculations have reference to
the date of January i, 1861; II. win demand;
your serious consideration whether YOU will
nowproceed to assume what YOU NAV conceive
to be the equitable proportion, of the rubl;o
debt of Virginia prior to January L. IS6I..or
whether you will. in the light of past events,
await further action on the part of Virginia
DELINQUENT LANDS.
Our laws on the subject ofdelinauent lands
are intricate and not we'll understood bv the
mass OF the people; in fact, few LAWYERS in
the State are well versed in them. The lists
OF these lands returned by the sherifs are Of
ten Incorrect lands have been returned de-
ilnquent in cases where the taxes have been
paid, and even when redeemed before sale.
sherihs have failed TO report the fact to the
Auditor. These causes have necessarily pro.
duced errors In the records of the Auditors
office, aud subjected landholders to expense.
annoyance and great Inconvenience. We're
1T not that a Convention is about to assemble
to propose alterations in our Const tuition. l
would ecommen the appointment of a com
mittee or q commission to revise and modify
the laws on this subject, and to report their
proceedings to the next session of the Lepis.
lature. These laws are calculated to deter
strangers from purchasing lands amono ms
and this tends to check immigration. mas.
much as cases of individual hardship are
known TO exist, allow me to suggest that YOU
authorize the Auditor, upon proper evidence.
to strike out from his record of DELINQUENT
lands all tracts on which taxes have been maid
Also when it appears that the lands have been
redeemed before sale, that he be authorized to
enter this fact on record, and in either case to
charge the sheriff with the amour. for which
he has thus improperly obtained credit. IF
the lands IN such cases have been sold to in
nocent persons, the money should be refunded
by the State, the sheriff being the agent of
the State in making the sale. If parties in
Jured were to enforce the penalties for these
false returns, there would be less danger from
them i'll future.
THE CHESAPEAKE AND.oH1o RAILROAD
from the Ohio to Richmond will probably
nave a marked influence upon the commerce.
OF the Aanawha. The portage from the
head OF navigation on the Kanawha to the
waters of James river will compare favorable
With any in the Union. The probabilities are
that the Kanawha river will cease to he s;m-
ply a local line of trade and travel, and will
become an important chanpel of communiea-
ton between tho west aud the cast, connected
as 1t IS with far reaching lines of water COM
munication.
THE PERMANENT SEAT.
Inc citizens OF Charleston have generously
provided n convenient and handsome buildino
for the State, as Capitol, free of cost. 1t
would seem but a fitting appreciation of their
ilbcrality to provide for furnishing it in an
appropriate manner, and [ recommend a small
appropriation for this purpose.
c~oNTENTTD AND PROSPEROUS.
The attention of capitalists is directed to
our large undeveloped resources and We are
beginning to feel the inspiring touch of COM
merce, and are waking Into new life as a PEG
pie under its influence. With one of the
Leading railroads of the country in successful
operation IN the northern part Of the State,
with another in the southern portion that
promises a like success, already partially
opened and soon to be completed, we shall
not only have outlets to the markets east and
west, but our territory will become the tho
roughtare of a full share of the trade and
travel of the country.
A review OF the social and material con.
dltion of the State affords abundant reason
tor profound gratitude to Almighty God for
the many blessings He has bestowed upon US
in the past.
In conclusion, permit me to express the
hope not only that your session will be an
harmonious one and will result in good to all
public interests, but also that it NAV be the
occasion of pleasant social relations which
may ripen into enduring friendship.
.JnHN IArnD