The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-12-04
Tho Governor's.Message.

..E =.
Ancora,nv, 4, Scustom, we present . run-
ming analysis Of the Governors message
which for want Of space we omitted yessef-
day. 50
The frs paragraphs Of the message are
devoted to glance at the condition OF the
State during and at the close Of the year
since the meeting Of she last General Assem-.
b,y. The events have Impaired good not
unmxed with evil for the future Of the
Commonwealth. The laws have been peace
fully executed; crime has sensibly d'mln'
ished. while those OF the higher grades have
been Of rare occurrence. 1.-THE fanatics ana
hypocri.es who thought no good could come
out of Nazareth willa Observer The ability
of the Government to maintain iorder has
been Recognized and trusted By all races.
On the other hand, The material interests
OF large portions Of the State are profoundly
depressed. The "money faminen prevails
still; labor has not been properly rewarded;
commerce has been retarded, and special
taxation by the Federal Government has OPP
pressed the State. 81
BY laborious struggles, says the message,
Virginia is emerging from the war, and by.
reason Of her natural advantages she will at
some future day "embrace as great wealth,
prosperity, and power, as any other equal
"area in either hemisphere of the globe"
The next matter discussed is the public
debt. On this poiat we commented yester.
day. The Governor farors the bondholders'
scheme Of raising annually enough money
by taxation to pay four per cent, and of re-
funding the accrued interest Of two per cent.
after ten years in four per cent. bonds He
also thinks with some notifications the Eng
Iish bondholders' proposition. to recapitalize
the debt at four per ceut. may be agreed
upon. The Governor deyotes few lines to
recitng his Views of the " funding bill" sys-
tenn, which he says Is not satisfactory to
bondholders who hold the coupons receiva.
Bile for taxes, which, 1t is argued, care fast
"beeoning mere pabulum for vicious specula.
"tiop and stock:jobbing among our own peo-
Nple.'' He paints the funding bill as worse
than anything save reputation, and OBJ
structiYe OF enterprises Of magnitude, be.
cause 1t alarms capital by continued tinan-
cial throes. ..
The message says " a golden opportunity
invites" the Legislature "to bring the pay
s. ment Of the public debt fairly within the
"ability of the State; to substitute the policy
"of permanence, stability, and repose for
"that OF vascillaton, uncertainty, and
I" strife"
The message makes general reference TO
the proposed amendments in the tax-laws
suggested by the Auditor and Treasurer.
They relate to the manner of assessing per-
sonal property-proposing an assessment in
proportion to realty, as in other countries.
1t is proposed further to levy additional and
new tsxes on wines and liquors as means
of relieving the Treasury. 1t is further re-
commended that authority be given to en-
force the due assessment and collection of
taxes.
The Governor suggests, as has been be-
fore suggested, the propriety of imposing
the charges for criminal expenses upon the
counties as way to increase the rigors Of
the administration of criminal laws, and add
to the aggregate amount from fines, as the
best mode Of tightening the burthens upon
the counties, to the benefit of order and the
great dimlnution of the charges on the Trea-
sury.
The message next refers to the recent de.
falcation In two Of the basement Offices. 1t
advises, in view Of the diversity of the public
funds, the appointment of general con-
troller with power to unitize the financial
operations OF the State. And it further
makes the very wise suggestion that it would
be economy to attach such salary to the
Office as would command the best order OF
ability.
The message briefly refers to Mr.. Hum
TER's (s!ate Treasurer) plan for ga consttu.
tional State currency" The Governor COM
mends it to the Legislature as means Of in
ereasing the. paper medium with the re-
mark that less skilfully-matured plans have
"been adopted by other States within the
"past few years, and are said to have work.
~ed benefcially."
The Governor. calls attention to the coudi-
Hon OF the question of boundary between
Maryland and Virginia, and the frequent oc-
currence oItrouble growing out Of the un-
settled state OF the question. He urges that
the Legislature extend to citizens of Mary
land the privilege of taking oysters in all the
waters claimed by both States, and expressly
including Poccmoke river and sound and
bay, until the boundary liae is settled, and
upon condition that Maryland affords like
privileges: TO citizens of Virginia. ~
The Governor also asks for such addi.
tional diplomatic authority AS may be needful
In maintaining the peaceful relations with
other States in emergencies. t
More certain means provided by law are
asked for In the matter of preparing facts
upon which applications for pardon are based.
At present such facts are often fraudulent
and incorrect, and are often calculated to
mislead the Executive.
The Governor urges the establishment of
bul eaus Of statistics and neutrality-suspicious.
necessary in all civilized and tolerably popu.
bate lands. 4
Tue penitentiary Is glanced at. 1t does not
pa! expenses, but has suffered from the pres
sure. OF two contracts hiring out convicts,
one was revoked, the contract admitting it,
and the conyicts relet to same contractors for
double the prices paid under the first. The
Governor recommends that the board of