The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-04
GOVERN oR's MESSAGE,
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA. 1
EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS,
RICHMOND, Dec. 4, 1872,

During the year now drawing to clos
the people Of this Commonwealth hay
been blessed with peace, good order
thorough administration Of and ohe5;sno
to law, and reasonable degree of nros
perity. p''s
The prevalence of severe drought owe
the Northern half of the State serionsl
damaged some OF the crops, while almos
universally throughout Southern and South
west Virginia the crops were superior t,
any there grown since the war,
The condition ofthe people has general,
improved, and better and more hopeftii
spirit prevails. 1t cannot be disguised
however, that their future we'll being. q
well as that of the Commonwealth. j
largely dependent upon your action durins
your present session. We have ESCAPED
many perils during the past seven and {
nall years, but others environ us, which
VIII require great wisdom. caution, ant
comprehensive craftsmanship to avoid, A
firm and courageous adhesion to the plair
and fundamental principles of right under
ell circumstances, regardless of selfish O,
demagogic appeals OF denunciations, will
conduce to the correct and conscientious
discharge of every duty.
bespeak for the varied and important
interests of tho Commonwealth your care.
ful, deliberate and conscientious considera-
ton and action, assuring you of my hearty
cooperation in any and all just measures.
having for their object the promotion of the
public veal and the development and adj
vancenent of the State.
EDUCATION. .a.. .-
The cause Of education in our State dr.
ing the past year has met with the most
gratifying success. The number of our
common schools has increased to over thir-
ty-six hundred, and tho attendance Of pu-
pills to over one hundred and sixty.six
Thousand, and there has been marked
Improvement in the excellence of the
schools. This is strong evidence of the in
creased perfection Of our school system.
and the growing interest and desire of the
people for education. The system, how.
ever, IS not yet perfect, nor is public senti-
ment IN its behalf as far advanced as is de-
sirab!e but the success of the past ia the
sure harbiDger of "better things TO Gomez
We may confidently hope that the day is
not far distant when the opportu-
mites for free education will be af.
forded every child in the Common
wealth. Our common schools are the source
from which our colleges and higher institu.
tons OF learning must draw their chief sup.
port and these again will contribute to
the University the larger number of its
students. We have in proportion TO popu-
latlon larger number Of colleges than any
State OF the Union, and their superior ex-
cellence is ettested by tho fact that they are
all prosperous. Our University stands in
the front rank Of the literary institutions of
the country. 1t is University in fact
ss well as in name. Founded upon the
true theory Of University "a school in
which all branches of learning are taught |
1T has kept abreast Of the advancement |
d the age, and to-day affords facilities for
ne acquisition Of sound learning, equal to, |
not greater, than any institution of the |
The recent addition of school |
II Agriculture and Industrial Chemistry |
supplies growing want, and will largely |
,onduce to its usefulness and prosperity. |
{ Is o State institution, founded, owned I
nd controlled by the State; all the people
\ which ever have, and trust ever will,
herish just pride in it's well.earned and
veil sustained reputation. commend the
eport of its Board of Visitors to the care
III consideration Of the members of ,he
General Assembly.
The report of the Board of Visitors of
he Virginia Military Institute. another
tate institution, makes most satisfactory
xhibit of its condition and prospects. The
apid recuperation of this institution from
IS almost total humiliation during the late
7ar has been remarkable, thus affording
he highest evidence of able management
no q. established reputation and popularity.
since your last session another State ed
cational institution-.the Virginia Agricul-
lral and Mechanical College-has been
lily, organized and put in operation, with
n able corps of officers and professors and
fair attendance of students.
On the LIST of May last the Board of
ducatIon 1.-THE Rector of the Virginia
agricultural and Mechanical College and
le President Of the Hampton Normal and |
agricultural Institute being present and S
'sentlng theretol sold the land scrip t
onated by act of Congress at the price Of /
nety.five cents per acre, which | am in. !
rmed was higher price than any State ,
I'd obtained for its land scrip at that date. 2
be terms of sale required cash payment t
date OF sale, and the balance in three t
stalments, at two, four and eight months, t
OF which have been made except the d
st, which falls due on the lst proYjno. r
rom the sum total of $685. 900 realized v
ON this sale, $4,000 has been set
lde by the request Of the Board of Visi. v
RS OF the Virginia Agricultural and t
echanical College to be used in the d
lrchase of a farm for that institution, aud '
g balance, as received, has been and is {
ing invested in the bonds Of this State. s
100, 900 having already been purchased. i
trust that the General Assembly will il
'omptly place this investment upon the 8
me footing as like investments of the 9
her educational institutions in the State, '
he Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical b
ollege ID almost wholly dependent for its S
pport upon the interest accruing upon O
is investment, and unless that interest be v
'omptly paid much embarrassment will g
sue, and sooner or later its doors will 8
we to be closed. While originally doubt g
& the wisdom Of organizing an indepen. g
mt college for the purpose of realizing the Il
'neiits of this trust fund, now that that ii
urse has been adopted, am extremely c,
Ixleus to have. the experiment prove q t.
mplete success and to have this institution a
nply and satisfactorily fulfill the special tt
lrposes OF its organization. 1t should O.
instantly be borne in mind. however, by
!, that the proceeds derived from the sale 81
the congressional land scrip constitute el
ecJal fund for snecial n,,rnocao ond tha& II