Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-12-14

~ WIG 0Ot
the whole amount was $30,478, 746 40
OF which there has been
retired by operation sof
the sinking fund. ...... 989, 42011
Leaving as Interests
bearing debt -. $29;4S9, 1926 3S
To which add interest
in arrears. ......... 3,5IO,S34 IS
Total debt. 1888, 600, 100 70
If from this sum be deducted Ger
tain available assets, amply secured,
the grand total of the debt is $780,
022,942 so, and this total is Virgil
MAS full portion OF what was contrac
ted by the original State, not only
before it's Acknowledgement, but before
the late war began. Not dollar OF
it has been contracted since the be-
ginning Of the war, nor has it under
gone any increase whatever except
accumulation of interest arrears
Considering that, since the funding
act took effect, the debt has borne in
.erest to the amount of $S, 932,237 o.,
! and that we have so far met and kept
down the accraing interest that the
entire outstanding debt of to-day Is
only 80, Ala "a larger than it was
five years ago, when newly assumed
under that act, and remembering tina,
/ these results have been accomplished
in period of depression and embar>
rassment such as State rarely ever
had to endure, we have every reason
to take heart and rssolutely 60 for
ward to the task of restoring the pub
lie credit completely and at once.
The Indebtedness of the State is lese
than one-ienth of its assessed values,
which are being slowly but steadily
Increased by the energy of the people.
With unshrinking and reasonable pre-
paration now the State will hence
forth carry its debt, with a financial
strength which will render the burden
lighter with each succeeding year.
The Governor denies emphatically
that any portion of the school fund
has been diverted from its legitimate
use, every possible precaution having
been taken to preserve that fund in.
tact. 1t is not denied that there are
arrears due the fund, but they have
! accumulated without the knowled ge
of the board, the auditor and the sup
erintendet of public instruction. They
are a consequence of the faulty
method by which the funds accounts
have been kept, and which be remedi-
ed by the Legislature.
ARMED INTERFERENCE WITH ELECTIONS
IN VIRGINIA.
On the 4th of November last de
tachment of the regular army of the
United States was quartered in the
city of Petersburg, under orders BEAR
ing upon the elections then about to
take place, and on the same day
issued proclamation to the people.
The posting Of band of soldiers
close to the voting places of that
city on the eve of the elections was
as unexpec ed as thunderbult out OF
cloudless sky. The entire common
wealth was in condition of pofound
peace. No indication OF apprehension
Of any possible disorder existed, and
this government was ready and able
to protect the rights of all its citizens
in every contingency. Not even a
private quarrel, leading to any single
case of assault and battery, had
occurred for months in the community
in which the armed force was thus
stationed.
The reason assigned by the Pres
ident of the United States for sending
troops into another State is contained
in the following extract from the
official order he issued in that ms, ance:
"Under the constitution the govern
ment has been called upon to aid with
the military and naval forces of the
United States TO maintain republican
government in the State against re-
sistance too formidable to be overcome
by the State authorities. You are
directed, therefore, to sustain Gov.
Chamberlain against domestic violence
until otherwise ordered"
Although this order comedies that
such employment of the army within
State by the President would be
unlawful and unconstitutional, except
for the causes and upon the call
therein specified, yet those grave
considerations were wholly disregard
ed when the civil authorities of a
city of this Commonwealth, including
its local police force, were summarily
superseded ard thrust aside, as in this
case, by military power Emboldened
by the presence of these troops, an
inferior ministerial officer ofthe United
States appointed large number OF
special deputies for service at Peters
burg on the day OF the elections and
these appointees. including in their
number recent malefactors, aud wear
ing the insignia of national authority,
assumed to direct and control many
votes of particular class. The
effec. of the intrusion of national
force was TO ,ntimidate voters, to. con-
troll an election for partisan purposes,
and to overthrow within certain
territorial limits the freedom of the
elective franchise. l record for your
information, but | forbcar to discuss,
the particulars connected with revival
of pretorian power which imperils our
institutions and our liberties.
The State board of canvassers were
restrained by plain provisions of law
from going behind or beyond the
returns of the elections held under
these circumstances. Their powers
and duties are First, to see that the
returns are made, signed, certified and
attested in the manner prescribed in