Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-12-03
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.


sent into the legislature on Wednesday,
and is nine columns in length. The Exc
cutive evidently does not believe in brevity.
lie points to the slow but sure improve
ment in Virginia as cause Of thankful
ness to God.
Tie Governor says by slow and laborious
processes Virginia is emerging from the
ruin wrought by the war. During the fis-
cal year which ended with the 3Oth of Sep
TENDER last. the gross receipts of the trea-
sury amounted to s2,s47. 7sOo5; deducting
the sum raised by temporary loans durin g
the year. $4,000, the revenues proper are
shown to have been $2.517 ,790.O5.
The annual aggregate of interest pay
ments on all accounts is $2,O35, 036.34, and
the amount paid on interest during the
last wear was 81 AT 1854, showing def
cheney to be provided for of $617 ,69O.93.
Other savings to be accomplished by re-
Gently adopted constitutional amendments
will bring the deficiency down to 1882. 900,
which the Governor proposes to raise by
widening the range of taxation, including
a tax on spirituous liquors. a rigid oyster
tax. and law limiting the exemption OF
church property bya uniform maximum OF
50 900. 1t is suggested that rich vein ct
increased revenue is to be found by reform
ING the present most Intellectual systemfor
assessing and returning personal property,
which it is declared holds out continual
premiums Cor frauds on the revenue.
The entire State debt, including principle
and interest, is placed at $S2 ,295, ass 81, OF
which sum So, 7sl ,O3O SO bears no interest.
The Governor makes no account of The
third of the original ante-bellum debt
which was assigned to West Virginia, and
which he emphatically declares is mot q
part of the existing debt Of Virginia" But
as to the debt proper of Virginia, which
his predecessors newly and expressly as
sumed by the terms of the funding act the
Governor says:
sour obligations are clear and plain.
Even if it were conceded that the federal
government, by destroying the entity OF
the original State, became liable for the
debt, nevertheless, by the terms of the
funding act and by the subsequen sealing
and delivery to creditors of the lords it
provided for, Virginia has assumed new,
Independent and inviolable obligations for
their payment. These bonds constitute
our debt. and in respect to their payment
it is due to the honor and credit of the
State; it IS demanded by every material in.
terest of our people, tn at the voice Of the
government and of ca CHI of its depart
ments shall give forth no uncertain
sound"
The Governor earnestly recommends
retrenchment and reform in the admins
tratiQn of the State government, and re-
ferring to the tend ency to extravaganza
in national and State affairs, expresses the
opinion that ''unless a great political re-
voiution shall arrest the alarming tenden
cies of American government, and bring
it back to its original republican simple
ity and purity, it will become standing
reproach before the civilized world.
The Governor recommends the abolish
ment of the secret ballot system, and a re-
turn to the 'shonest mode Of voting by the
living voice. on the ground that the Sc
cret ballot ''holds out protection and in
ducements to hypocricy and falsehood, y
The revision by the Legislature of the i'm
migration laws is urged; among the amend
ments urged being one authorizing the ex-
emption from taxation for limited time
of the property OF immigrants, and of
capital invested in manufacturing enter
prises. The Governor says Immigrants
from whatever section or country, casting
their fortunes permanently with ours, will
not fail to receive kind and honest welcome
and treatment on settling in any part of
Virginia. No political or religious test or
prejudice shall hinder, or has ever hindered
their success or well-being."
In regard to the tobacco inspection laws,
the Governor says the legislation ssshould
be such as to secure positive protection to
all classes equally and to restore goodwill
and confidence between them"
The extension of the James River and
Kanawha canal to Clifton Forge is urged, ,
and the employment of the convicts is
urged on liberal terms.
The Governor concludes the message
with the following reference to the nation
al centenr ial: 81 earnestly recommend
that the sum needed for a full exhibition
Of our resources be appropria ted at once.
The occasion is fit for acquainting the
world with the vast and varied advantages
with which nature has endowed Virginia.
A failure to occupy the space reserved
would result in injury to ourselves in every
material and political sense. And will it
not be becoming in us to honor at Phila
delpha-what we have ever and consist
emily honored elsewhere-the principles Of
liberty conceived and promulgated by our
fathers OH that spot a hundred years ago?"
A BISHOP SILEN CHG CHOIR. during
the session of the Virginia Methodist Con-
ference at Danville last week, the choir
was silenced by the presiding Bishop, Nc
Tyeire, iii this way, as related by a CORES
pondent of the Richmond s'Dispatch:7
They started new and difficult tune,
and one in which neither the Bishop nor
the congregation could join. He stood it
until they got through with the third verse,
and he then, turning to the choir, said in
calm, gentle and dignified tone of voice,
MY friends. sit down. That may be very
good singing, and all correct for aught