The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-12-12

for the purpose Of realizing the benefits Of
this trust fund, now that that course has
been adopted, am extremely an xious to have
the experiment prove complete success. and
to have this institution amply and satisfacto-
r:ly fulfill the sIecial purposes Of its organi-
zation. It should constantly be borne in
mind, however. by all, that the proceeds de-
rived from the sale Of the congressional land
script constitute special fund fer special
purposes, and that the State is the trustee of
that fund, charged with the duty of admins
tering the trust according to its prescribed
terms and conditions The Hampton Nor
NAL and Agricultural Institute is doing most
efficient service in the cause Of education,
and that portion ofthe interest accruing upon
the land scrip fund set apart for the use and
benz it of this institution have no doubt
will be judiciously and properly expended.
This brief review of the character and con-
dition of our schools colleges and Universi
ty clearly demonstrates an important fact, and
that il, that Virginia possesses educational
advantages equalled by few and exceled BY
none Of her sitter States. And these advan-
tages arc constantly increasing and develop
ing, and / entertain the confident hope that
Virginia will yet become the great educating
State Of the Union. Her climate, her facil-
tiles Of communication, as well as her geo
graphical and historical position, will all con-
tribute to this desirable result Already our
higher institutions Of learning are frequeuted
by students from more than two thirds of the
States of the Union, and the time is not far
distant when our University, if fostered and
sustained as it deserves to be, will reckon
among its matriculates the graduates of every
college In the United States. The work Of
educating aud elevating the people should be
the highest and most patriotic aspiration Of
the christian aud the statesman. Universal
suffrage is now an established and fundamen-
tai principle of our government, and its mod
iGcation or restriction, even Il desirable, is.
beyond the pale Of reasonable probability -
With this indubitable fact staring us in the
face, our duty becomes plain and unquestion-
ed If, as.has been said, and | believe true
ly. that ''the safety Of the Republic depends
upon the virtue and intelligence of the peo-
pie" that virtue should be elevated, and that
Intelligence increased b. every and all law
full and legitimate, means and Influences at
our command sThat country is best gov
erned which is least governed and sthat
government is the best, which is best admin
istered. and political maxims the practical
realization of which can ouly BE- attained
through the education and consequent men
tai and moral elevation Of the people.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
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 the entitled Usury,' has
been fully executed, The amendment was
Adopted. and . proclamatioa~h the -Guxerns.
or making known the result, as required by
the 9Th section Of said act. was duly issued
copy Of which is herewith submitted The
adoption of this amendment strikes from he
Constitutionthe Inhibition contained in the
last clause of the tenth article of the Consti-
tuition, and remit the whole subject of the
rate of interest upon money to the control OF
the Legislature The little interest felt by
the people in this subject was evidenced by
the fact that less than one-fourth of them vo-
ted upon the subject and that of a total poll
of 60 492 votes, 20 1926 were against the
adoption OF the amendment Two other
amendments to the Constitution were recon-
mended in my las, annual message, and events
which have since TRANSFERRED, not only add
force to tie reasons then urged for such ac-
ton, but suggest others Of equal Or greater
cogency.
The shameless pollution Of the ballot which
has recently been witnessed in some Of our
sister States, forces upon us the grave con
sideration whether the very foundation Of
our social and civil fabric are not being snap
ped by corruption, and whether the ballot
Instead of being the palladium of our liberties
is not becoming the ipsti ument eft their de-
struction. Certainly every guard and pro-
lection should be employed to preserve and
maintain the purity OF elections and the free
I'm trammecd expression Of popular senti-
ment. The imposition of an annual tax Of
Two dollars Upon every citizen of the Com
monwealth Of twenty-one years of age and
upwards, to be devoted exclusively to the
support and maintenance OF our common
schools, and prohibiting any one from voting
until he exhibits proper certificate of the
payment of this tax, would not only very ma
terially lesson the burdens of taxation upon
property, but would also throw an additional
safeguard around the ballot box.
An amendment providing for tho election
of State officers in May, instead Of Novcm-
Der, T.still urge upon your attention, and for
the reason stated in my last annual message
That our fundamental law requires modi-
fcation aud improvement in these and some
other particulars, our experience has fully
demonstrated but whether this cannot be
accomplished without the Intervention Of a
Convention as promptly, and with far less ex-
pense, is subject of great CAVITY and impor-
lance. and should receive the most deliberate
end profound consideration.
FINANCES.
have heretofore laid before the General
Assembly my views upon the subject of our
public debt, and the proper financial policy
10 be pursued, 50 fully, that deem it un-
ne cessarv to repeat them again here. Some
of these views have been partially sanction I'd
nv Legislative action but none of them fully.
They all constituted a general plan Of policy,
each mart Of which was essential to the COM
bitterness and success of the whole. The
failure to adopt all together With the nodi
6cation of some, and the repeal of others in
part adopted, and the substitution of some
thing else in their stead, has SO mutila.ed and
nj fo