Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-02-18
STATE FINANCES.
Messa age from Governor Walker.

\RICIIMoND February l7.-Governor aIker
today sent special message to the Legislature
upon the finances OF the State, Ill which be re-
ters to subject, the real merits OF which, he
said should be :canddy and impartially dis
cnssed and wise and patriotic conclusions reach
ed. This is subject which embraces Two prop
nsitions distinct in character but harmonious
in result. They are First, the ASSUMPTION
and payment by the Government or all the
nreseut legal Indebtedness OF the several States;
and second, to prevent occurrence OF the neces-
sitv tnrasimilar action hereafter, and the Soicmn
agreement by and between the States to abstain
from contraction Of any debts in future, except
such as may be found necessary to the leglti-
mate aud effective execution OF their govern
mental function, or as may be required by sud
den and great emergencies. The former OF
these propositions must be accomplished by al
act of Congress, while the latter can be achleV,
| ed only through 40 amendment to the Federal
| CONSTITUTION, which will require the concur-
| renee Of thrcc-fourlhs OF all the States.
The Governor says these Propositions may be
opposed because Of the great Inequality III the
amounts OF the debts of the several States, aud
the consequent Unequal distribution Ut the
hpne6ts and burdens which might flow fiom
] .their aiop,ion. But this difference Is more
annarcnt than real, and especially II the pre-
! srnt market value OF State accu!l;Ies be taken
I A. the basis OF computation; aud further, While
s,me of the States owe large debts anu others
/ eamrarativcly little or nothing, set When the
a,uouut which each State contributes 10 the
! Eedaral revenues aud the great impetus which
| relief from a large portion Uf the State taxa
| finn would give TO cOnincrce. manufactures
! and productions Of all kinds cvcfy whcre
throughout the country, arc taken Into couslu-
era.in,,, il will be found that this Objection
dwiudlcs TO little lnipartarc@ and these con-
siderativns to souc extent Apply 10 another
and more potent Objection which may.
i, raised, viz the incrc,sr ii the national
d.ht which the assl,uIpJIoil u The State debt
would cause. aud tic dclctcr'us effect upon
our national credit which might DC thereby
produced
The Governor II Nt submits Il detailed state
meut of the total Indebtedness OF ali the States
which if assumed by the Fed raj Government;
would increase the national debt three hundred
millions OF dollars if taken IL par, but IL taken
, a, the market value it woud be nGch less
} This sum, lit five per cent. lute!cS'; W'ull hN'
pually require iitt:cii luil;ous to pay the nc
c1,,ipg interest ami 10 hlsrNcnt, anu 10 more
; woula the burthcns or the Federal lrcaSui! "
Increased.
The Governor claims that this comparatively
small sun would cau:c no embarrassment, u"i
uec1ssitaie any Increase # frrio:al 'ax1t!"n as
: the prescut revenues Of ;ht Gvucrai upv2rn
mcut arc sufficient to meet al current cxPlnsc,
! including the interest on the public debt, ana
leave balance of nearly one hundred u!ullon:
~ nav the principal Of the na!lonai debt, auC
c that TOO before maturity.
$ The adoption yt these prop"-lto"s Instead o
= ;riuru., viii enhance our national credit by
y the Withdrawal Of all State securities irouI thu
: markets Of the world leaving the na!lonn
iGsnds the sole American security known. l
! would check the growing danger II REPUTATION
d and place the national debt upon - secure
y basis that in few years 1t might be funded
into bonds bearing higher rate of llht"res
j. than the debt OF England, reducing the lntcres
4 upon the public debt, aud lower rates ol inter
: - 400" a! Other securities. H. wealth. .
n opement OF It's resources rather than Ill spccu
= lating upon its necessities.
u The Governor says he kpows Of no measure
u which could. be devised Of more general advan
tage to the people or more beneficial to thci
well being, nor one which would lend III III
equal degree to unite and halmonize the wEo
country, aud obliterat= the last ves!iges OF liza
:, tional differences and antagonism.
. The Governor recommends the General As
sembly TO- invite the co-orperaliou ofall the State
to secure the adoption of these propositions.
: Resolutions were introduced in the l., gisla
J turc TO carry out this recommendation.
t PRINCE WILLIAM IrrMs.-OId Reb, thu
I property Of +. NJ. Lewis, esq, died at Rose
, epizootic Rcb was about ~ years of aye, ant
was horse that had some valuable traits q
character. Old as he was he had more HE anc
spirit than some colts Of the present day. lie
r was brought to this State from South Carolina
aud was wounded in the sccoud battle of Bull
, Run, near Groveton, and was found on the
field with his leg shattered. He was no doubt
) loved and pelted by his former master, and 10
his remaining days honorcd and esteemed by
; his; owner
Mr. L, W. Hutchens living on the farm o.
p 3. Stillson within half mile Of Manassas,
states that he planted u plumber OF fruit trees
last year, and that some Of the peach trees
show a growth of thirty inches. This for a
dry season is certainly remarkable growth.
Mr.. Hutchens' mode Of planting is to plow a
trench the full length of the rows with three
horse pillow running five times i'll each trench
with heavy weight on the beam Of the pow.
He thinks it would be better to plpw trenches
each way as it would have t@ndrucy to keep
up moisture.
Our English ftow-cit;zens are in luck Mr.
Thomas Priugle subject Of her majesty, but
for long timo resident Of Prince William
county has been awarded $5G4 in gold 10y the
mixed Commission on British and American
/ Claims; Capt A. G. Evans from below the
run" is also claimant, and On Tuesday last
his counsel, Judge Me i, was taking the ncccs
sary evidence before United STATES ComHiis-
sivnor George G. Round at Independent Hill.
Our sporsmcn had better hurry UP and,
kill all the foxes they eau a. at the ueX. meet
ing of the Board the crdrr for paying for ihcln
will doubtless be repealed Those caught
before the repeal Of the order Of course VII tc
paid for.
A very pleasant donation party was recently
given at tie house ct Mr.. Ash for the benefit
OF Rev Mr. NIutcrbaw Of the NJ. f. Church.
The sum Of SIT was realized and presented to
| the minister