Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-12-10
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Gentlemen Of Ike Senate and Hcuse OF
.Dslegltes:.

HN ScNioS "a shS NV NldW
lug to close, has been marked with
events which import good, not unmix.
ed with evil, 10 the future OF the Com
monwaalth
Everywhere the laws have been
peacefully executed. Crime of most
kinds has sensiblv diminished OFF N
ces of the higher grads have been Of
rare occurrence. Exciting political
contests have occurred, and yet no sin.
gle collision between races or opposing
parties has interrupted the general
peace. The stability of this govern.
ment, its capacity, aud its will to main
tain order, to enforce equal jnslice ard
protect personal right, have been habi
tually recognized and trusted 10y all
races and conditions of the people. The
general health has correspondent with
the rare salubrity Of our climate. The
interests of public education have con
tinued to prosper AS far as executive
authority can extend, unnecessary ex~
penditures are being Topped off. and
Just administrative reforms advanced.
Such changes in the body Of the organ
ic law, as may respond to the demands
ofexperience, will complete the efiici.
ency of the domestic government.
On the other hand the material in
terests Of large portions of the State
are still profoundly depressed. In
many sections .ricnlture has again
contended with unfavorable seasons.
and proved unremuIerative. The Ia
boring classes have not yet reaped the
prosperity their tolls deserve The
growth Of our cities and towns, and the
revival Of trade and commerce, are re
tarded by the same causes which de
press the productive power of the State.
A money famine still prevades most
departments OF bnsioess, and they suf-
fer from the want Of a circulating med
ium sufficient 70" readily moving crops,
effecting sales of property, and adjust
ing current transactions of internal
trade At the same time, dispropor
Tomato and enormous revenues, in the
shape OF special taxes upon several Of
leading industries. are being drawn
from the State by the Federal Govern
ment. and they drain, some of the sour
ces of her prosperity.
1t is in the face of these and other
obstacles, within and from without,
and it is by laborious struggles, that
Virginia Is emerging from the disas
tiers Of war. In view Of our genial
soils and climate, our unsurpassed ag-
ricultural. mining. manufacturing, and
commercial resources, it cannot be
questioned that at some future period,
either near or remote, this state will
embrace as great wealth, prosperity,
and power, as any other equal area IN
either hemisphere of the globe. The
full development Of those resources
depends greatly upon the wisdom and
exertions of our own people. 1t is in
large measure, f3r ourselves to deter
mine, by the policy and the Practice
beth Of the government and the people,
whether the coming era of prosperity
shall dawn upon the present or only
upon future generation. Undishear-
tened by past cs'amities or present
endorsements cheered aud strength
ened by the virtue OF a people whose
courage and honor haze endured with
out hurt the sternest proofs; above all,
relying firmly on that Providence with,
ont whose help our utmost labors are
vain, let as address ourselves to the
task of deyising all the relief which
good government can afford an impov-
erished State
FINANCES
In the proceedings of The late confer
ence with bondholders, herewith trans
nlilted, viii be found an elaborate ex
position Of the debt, taxation end finan
cial condition Of the Commonwealth.
which ! addressed to that body As
repetition of its conteats here would
serve but TO consume time and to de
plicate labor reference is made 10 tha,
paper for such detailed statements and
suggesiions. inrelation to the finances,
as would otherwise appropriately APP
pear in this message. The reports of
pub ic officers for he last fiscal wear,
submitted herewith. furnish all the ad
ditional information requisite for a clear
comprehension OF the condition of the
pubic finances.
When the contents of all these paper
are considered, it will become manifest
that the most guarded economy in ev
cry appropriation, and the striclest care
of every possible source of revenue, are
necessary in order to carry the State
successfully through the difficulties of
tAe new fiscal year.
CONFERENCE WITH BoNDHoLDERs.
The conference, convened pursuant
to the authority conferred at your last
session, was weH attended, and, of the
debt held both mthis country ard in
Europe, large proportion was either
directly or indirectly represented.
AS this was strictly business meet
ing between the agents ofthe State md
the, bond-bolders, convened TO consider
so delicate and sensitive as the
public fate and credit, to inquire into
entangled finances and adjust the dis
cordant interests of different classes OF
it was deemed best; and So
determined by the conference itself.
that the freedom Of its consultations and
discussions should be disembarrassed of
needless restraints by being conducted
ia private; but no creditor was exc.ud
ed, and members Of The General Assem-
bly, and heads of departments were In
vi,ed to join IN its deliberations.
The action of the conference was I'M
animous, and it WAS as satisfactory as.
he most sanguine Of its originators had
predicted or hoped for 1t has done
much towards viniicating the integrity
If the State. and to Introduce conf
iel &c, coed feeling and spirit OF 60