Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-12-02

b0r-and he performed it with thoroughness
and uncommon ability. The mat ter of his
compensation is submitted to the General As
sembly, with the recommendation that it te
made fairly to correspond with the magnitude
aud value OF his services
The report dlscloses an additional item Of
loss 10 connection with the late dcfalcatioD, and
1t discovers lusuticiency in the manner in
which some Of the accounts of the government
have beeu kept: There is no reason to doubt
the integrity of any officer now charged with
the accounts referred TO- But every branch
of the receiving and di>bursug business OF the
government should be provided with such
checks and precautions as will carry it safely
through the contingencies of all coming time.
The object OF we'll arranged checks ard halan-
ces III the accounting system Of the government
is TO guard against the inhrmties of human
nature, aud to make 1t impossible that mistake
or de!atcotlou should ever occur without be-
Ing followed or rather attended, by quick de-
lection. The present system for receiving and
disbursiog the general revenues is believed to
be as nearly perfect a. practicable; but the re-
port points out defects, relating to the public
debt aud to special funds, which call for
reform.
10 view Of the diversity Of the public funds,
and the liability to error and deraDgemcut III
the several management OF such numerous and,
TO some extent, disconnected operations, some
officer OF the government ought to be charged
with tbc duties of general comptroller, with
power to unilize all our financial operations.
1t would be true economy 10 attach su oh
salary to the office as would command the best
order OF ability.
PLAN FOR PROVIDING STATE CURRENCY.
The plan iUr providing constitutional State
currency, prepared By the treasurer at my re.
quest, is submitted for your consideration. Il
is believed It's carefully guarded enactment
would relieve one of the most grievous wants
OF our people.
It is 10 eaiu we are told that supply of ma
tional currency can be obtained by first COM
plying with the requirements Of the national
banking law. Such counsel is as Intellectual as
tie advice toa starving aud destitute man to
bus bread for cash. 1t Is impossible for pao
pie, stripped Of their means and loaded with
debt, 10 procure national bonds, TO be eXchaug-
cd for natlonal currency Auong the people
Of the Interior, 10 many portions of the State,
the business OF society Is transacted on the
most primitive priuci plies Of barter.
Ii the State currency should have less ten
deucy than naiioual bank notes to flow off and
he swallowed up by commercial c4utres, outside
the Commonwealth it IL supposed that iucon-
veulcnce night be successfully endured.
Ii may be safely asserted that the proposed
scheme lDtrlngeS 90 law or constitution, federal
or State. Less skiltulIy. matured plans have
beeu adopted by other States within the past
few years. and are said to have worked beue-
ticia!iy
THE MARYLAND BOUNDARY LINE.
The arbtrator- chosen to fix the disputed
iine Of boundary netweeo Mary lard aud Nlr-
| 4 L.,
bul | am not advised of their further progress
iu the important business of the arbitration
As difficulties have arseo, aud are constantly
liable 10 arise, between the citizrus of the two
States, withlo the areas claimed by both 1t is
greatly to be desired that the pending arbltra
ton be brought 10 close as speedily as may
be convenient and practicable.
Or the eleventh OF September last. a party
Of clliZanS o! this State. understood 10 be the
posse of az Inspector, arrested several cItl-
z.us of Maryland on Pocomoke sound, OF
the charge OF taking oysters therein, 10
violation OF the laws OF Virginia. lu con-
nectlOo with the arrest. cltlzeo OF Maryland
was shot, and he has Snce died Of the wounds
then received. The circumstance is 90 all &C.
couots deeply to be dtpiored, the more because
il is alleged that the unfortunate man was uu-
resisting when fired upon, and was lett 10 drift,
winds aud waves The other persons arrested,
or most Of them, we're lodged in the jail OF ac-
comac county aud held Tor trial.
Under the construction which, 10 accordance
with the opioiou of the attorney general, |
gave to the tweuty-Secopd section OF the act
approved Arr 18th, 1874, known as the oy>-
ter law. it was Improper 10 arrest citizens OF
! Maryland for taking oysters 10 the waters OF
| the PccOmoke. " bile 1t is conceded on all
sides that the act extended to citizens OF Mary
land the privilege of taking oysters in POGO
luoke river, it Is nevertheless contended III
support OF the arrest that the sound Is Got ln
Guided 10 the term river. and that. couse-
quently, 10 privilege was given to cltlzenS vi
Maryland 10 take oysters 10 that part OF the
waters of the Pucymoke kno@n as Pocvmokc
souud But the further fact is also admitted
on all sides that 20 oysters exist IN that part
o. those waters locally designated a> Pocouoke
river and oone exist in those waters at all, tx.
cept 10 the sound, or as it has been sometimes
STYLED, the bay Believing that the Legislature
did not intend to confer upon citizens OF Mary
land the empty privilege of taking oysters 10
waters where oysters never existed, bu that
| the privilege had reference 10 that part OF the
| waters OF the Pocomoka wherein alone oysters |
can be tak.u. | acquainted the attorney tor the |
commonwealth 10 Accgmac county with ny |
construction Of the Law, and, while abStanlne |
from auy interference with the freedom and
perfect independence Of the judicial depart
meut, | used all the advisory means could
lawfully command to procure the release and
discharge OF the Imprisoned citizens Of Mary
| land. Nevertheless, the trials proceeded 10
| the couliy court Of AccoDac, aud resulted 10 |
| the conviction Of several OF the defendants,
who we're sentenced TO pay each a fine Of i've
hundred dollars, besides the forfeiture of the
boats, and thcreupon thsy We're held ir prison
for non payment OF the 6nes As the execu-
tive power OF pardon does not ex:eud TO the
release of any foe or forfeiture, and as be
further prosecution of the proceedings was ca
cuIaicd 20 t1meut most unfortunate excitement
between the people OF the two states On that
| border. the attorney general repaired, at my
| request. to Accomac couoty and judlciously et-
tected an arrangement By which the prisoners
| were released and the boats restored TO their