Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-12-12

Its support upon tie interest GeclHlng
upon this Investment, and unless that
interest be promptly paid, much en-
b&rrassment viii ensuse, ard sooner CT
later its doors will have to be closed.
" lille originally doubting the wisdom
cf organizing an Independent college
for the purpose Of realizing ..ne benefits
Of this trust fund, now taat course has
been adopted, / am extremely anxious
to have the experiment prove a coma
p exc success, and to have this institu
ton amply and satisfactorily fulfill the
specis purposes Of its organization. It
shozla constantly be BONE IN mind,
however, BY all, that the proceeds de-
rived from the sale Of the congressional
land scrip constitute special fund fer
special purposes, and that the State is
trustee of that fund, charged with the
duty Of administering the trust accord
ing to its prescribed terms and CON
ditlons. The Hampton Normal and Ag-
ricultural1nstitute is doing most efficient
service i'll the cause of education, and
that portion OF the interest accruing up
on the land script fund set apart for the
use and benefit Of this institution,
have no doubt will be judiciously and
proper Y expended.
This brief review Of the character and
condition Of our schools, col eyes and
University c early demonstrates ~ i'm
portant fact, and that is, that Virginia
/ possesses educational advantages equal
ed by few and excelled by none Of her
sister States. And these advantages are
constantly Increasing ard developing,
5nd / entertain the confident hope that
Virginia viii YET become the great cd
ucating State OF the Union. Lei climate
her facilities OF communication,
as well as her geographical and his
t0rical position, viii all contribute to
tits desirable resu t Already cur
higher institutions Of learning are
| frequeLted b. students from more than
two-thir1ls Of The states Of the Union,
and the time L not far distant when our
University, if fostered and sustained as
il. deserves to be, viii reckon among It's
.patliculates the graduates Of every
Ec9le9e III the United States The work
q educating and eley2ting the people
f8H0pid he the highest and most patriotic
Fa~f.A'ation Of the Christian and the
statesman. Universal suffrage is now
an established and fundamental principal
Of car government, and It's modification
q restriction; even Il desirable, is
beyond the paie Of reasonable probab;li-
81. With this indltbitabie !, ct staring
Us in the face, our duty becomes plain
and unqueStionsll. It, as has been said,
and ! believe t1u ), that the safety Of
the I,epublio depends upon the virtue
and intelligence OF The people" that viz
tao should De elevated, and that intelli-
gence increased by every and al lawful
aud Legitimate means and influences at
our command. THAT country IS best
governed which is the least governed, "
aad that government Is the best, which
is best administered, are political max
inns the practice! realization Of which
can only he attained through the edoc,:-
Sion and consequent mental &rd moral
elevation Of hepeoPie
to.,srIrurIoNAL AsltEDsIE1;rs.
The act of March 10, 1872, providing
for the submission to the people, at the
election in May last, Of i proposed
amendment to the Constitution Of Viz
oinia in relation to the clause in respect
to and entitled ''Usury, has been fully
executed. The amendment was adopt
ed and q proclamation by the Governor
making Iuowa tie u suit, Is required BY
tie iltJn SECTION Of said act, was day
issued, copy Of which IS herewith SUB
nitted. THE adoptiou Ct this amend
ment strikes from the Constitution the
inhibition contained in the ast clause Of
the tenth article Of the Constitution, and
RENTS the whole subject Of the rate Of
interest upon money to the control OF
the Legislature. The little interest felt
Icy the people in this suhitct was evil
deuced by the tact that ess than one
fourth Of them voted upon by the sub
iect, and that Of total poll Of 6},49z
votes, 1896 were against the adoption
Of the amendment Two other amend.
memts to the Constitution were r3
commended i'll my LAST annual mess. .29e,
and events which have since transpired,
not only add force to the reasons then
urged for such action, but suggest others
Oh equal OF greater cCgenoy.
The shameless pollution Of the bal OF
which has recently been witnessed in
some Of our sister States forces upon Us
the grave consideration whether the
very foundations Of cur social and ciyi!
fabric are not being sapped by eolrup-
| tor and whether the ballot, instead Ct
! being the palladium Of cur libeities, is
noG necoining the instrument OF thej.
destruction. Certainly every quarry and
| protection should he employed to pre-
serve and maintain the purity Of elec-
| tons and the free, untranlneled cx-
| preston Of popular sentiment. The ifn-
position CT IA annual tax of two dollars
upon every citizen oftAe Commonwealth.
! Of twenty one years of aye and upwards,
to be devoted exclusively TO the support
and maintenance OF our common schools
and prohibiting any one from voting
until he exhibits a aroper certificate OF
/ the pas ment Of this tax, would tho only
very materially essen the burthen OF
| taxation upon property, but would also
throw an additional safeguard around
the ballot box.
And amendment providing for the
election OF ali our State officers iii May,
instead OF N9yember, still urge upon