The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-04
RATES OF ADVERTISING,

9N3 az NSuSlautly increasing and deve1
oplng, ana entertain the confident hop
that Virginia will yet become the great ed
lcstlng State of the Union. Her climate
her facilities of communication, as well e.
her geographical and historical position. VIII
all contribute to this desirable result. All
|, ready our higher institutions of learnin:
/ are frequented by students from more tina.
thirds of the States of the Union. ans
the time is not far distant when our Uni
yersity, if fostered and sustained as it de.
serves to be, will reckon among its matri.
c9latesthe graduates of every college in the
United States. The work Of educating and
eievating the people should be the highest
ana most patrio &c aspiration of the Chris
tan and the statesman. Universal suf.
rage is now an established and
fundamental principle of our government,
Sno It's modlfication or restriction, even ii
desirable, is beyond the pale of reasonable
probability. With this indubitable fact
staring US in the face, our duty becomes
plan and unquestioned. If, as has been
SAID, and believe truly, that ''the safety
OF the Republic depends upon the virtue
ana intelligence of the people," that virtue
should be elevated, and that intelligence
increased by every and all lawful and le~
gitimate means and influences at our COM
mand. THAT country is best governed
which Is least governed" and shat gov.
eminent ID the best, which is best admins.
tered, I" are political maxins the practical
realization Of which can only be attained
through the education and consequent men
tai and moral elevation Of the people.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
The act of March 10, 1872, providing for
the submission to the people, at the election
IN May last, OF proposed amendment to
the constitution Of Virginia in relation to
the clause in respect to and entitled
4" usury," has been fully executed, The
amendment was adopted, and proc.
lamation by the Governor making known
the result, as required by the fifth section
OF sad act. was duly issued, copy of
which is herewith submitted. The adop.
ton OF this amendment strikes from the
Constitution the inhibition contained in the
last clause of tho tenth article Of the Con.
stitution. and RENTS the whole subject of
the rate OF interest upon money to the con.
troll OF the Legislature. The little interest
ielt by the people in this subject was evil
denced by the fact that less than one
fourth OF them voted upon the subject. ana
that of a total poll of 6o,492 votes, &c, 329
were against the adoption of the amendment
Two other amendments to the Copstitu-
ton were recommended in my last annual
and events which have transpired.
not only add force to the reasons then
urged for such action, but suggest others of
equal or greater cogency.
Tho shameless pollution of the ballot
which has recently been witnessed in soma
OF our sister States forces upon us the grave
consideration whether the very foundations
OF our social and civil fabric are not being
sapped by corruption, and whether the ball.
Iot, instead of being the palladium of our
liberties, is not becoming the instrument Of
their destruction. Certainly every guard
and protection should be employed to pre-
serve and maintain the purity of elections
and the free, untrammeled expression of
popular sentiment. The imposition of an
annual tax OF two dollars upon every citi-
zen OF the Commonwealth Of twenty.one
Years OF age and upwards, TO DO devoted
exclusively to the support and maintenance
VI our common schools, and prohibiting
my ono from voting until he exhibits
roper certificate of the payment of this
Ak, would not only very materially lessen
ne burthen Of taxation upon property, but
you'd also throw an additional safeguart
round the ballot-box.
An amendment providing for the cleo
ION OF all our State officers in Nav
lstead of November, | still urge upon
our attention. and for the reasons stated
J my last annual message.
That our fundamental law requires mod
ication and improvement in these and
ome other particulars, our experience has
Ally demonstrated; but whether this can.
OF be accomplished without the intervep-
on OF aConvention as promptly, and with
'r less expense, is a subject of great grav-
y and importance, and should receive this
lost deliberate and profound considera-
on.
FINANCES.
have heretofore laid before the General
Lssembly my views upon the subject O.
lr public debt, and the proper financial
olicy to be pursued, SO fully, that deem
unnecessary to repeat them again here.
ome Of these views have been partially
by legislative action, but none of
lem fully. They all constituted general
an or policy, each part Of which was es.
initial to the completeness and success of
70 whole. The failure to adopt all, to-
ther with the modification of some, and
o repeal OF others in part adopted, and
e substitution of something else in
cir stead, has so mutiiated and
storted the original plan rs to
nder it hardly recognizable, and in
lived the whole subject in confusion and
tficulty, from which it will require both
isdom and courage to extrcate it. Taxa.
On and finance, at oil times difficult and
,licate subjects to deal with, come before
~ at this time under endorsements and
implications more numerous and trouble.
me than ever. To deal with these sub
cts wisely aud well they must be grasped
their entirety, and broad and compreheu.
ve measures adopted and adhered to. A
lifting, uncertain, teinpoiizing policy, al
avs and under almost all circumstances
sneful and demorslizing, when applied to
objects of such overshadowing Importance
these, ntiict injuries fully commensurate
it'll the importance Of the subjects involve
!. What we need is wise, comprehen-
re, just and permanent policy upon these
bjects, and without it confusion, distress
q diShoror will be the inevitable result, |
asst that you will approach the considera-
N of these important subjects with
I'm, dispassionste, but determined purpose
so far as possible, equitably and properly
just our system of taxation, restore the
baA &c Al