Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-12-16
Letters from Richmond,

ICndlC 1U-us = ALts $500 II
OF Privileges aud Elections, reported that that
couuittee had examined the credentials OF Mr..
". II. +. Lee, aud found them correct.
Gcncrai Johnson presented a JOINT resolution
exercising sympathy for South Carolina and
dencuuc,1g the reosot outrages perpetrated 10
t,at Stalr.
The resolutions arc as follows:
Whereas the good people Of the State Il
South Cafo:ina, after years OF opprcssluD a"I
corrup; government, did succeed, on the "a
# November last. Ia electlu2 d Governor and a
LEGISLATURE IF houcst and reputable representa-
tive men, who euioY the cou6deuca OF the State
aud Ut The whole country; aud whereas tue
choice Of her people has been legally confirmed
by the State Court of highest jurisdiction; aod
whereas the Federal Executive, through the
machipaIions of disappointed office seekers Ia
the State, and Dy The employment OF the mli:-
;ary power Of the Government, has sought TO
suppress the voice OF the people uttered at the
pol(s. to subvert aud overthrow the constituted
authorities Of the State, aud to toist again upoa
it a set of corrupt consplratorS, alien 10 their
syupathies and whom the popular verdict had
rejected aud condemned; and whereas a Federal
Judge, ty a startling usurpatlon OF Juulclal au'
ihority, withou; precedeot or warrant, has
aided. abe. ted and sustained the said conspl-
ra1nrs in their wicked work, therefore be IT.
RESOLVED, by the General assembly Of '"
anna /. That the Freedom OF els ctlons, ano
| tue supremacy OF the civil! over the military
power, are absolutely essential TO the preserve
| ton Of republican governments; and that We
| have Witnessed witt, mcrtiticaton and abhor
renee the lawlczs efforts OF the Federal author!'
ties to prostitute the election 10 South Caroli
GA to ~partizan purposes and to erect a military
! drspovsm Ia that State upon the ruins OF pop
ular rights aud civil constitutions.
=. That the hr,n, manly and patriotic asSer-
| tiou Of their rights by the people OF South
| C~aroilua, by their chosen representatives, apd
by their wise, prudent, and courageous Gov.
-ruur, Wade Hampton, who have With mode
| ration and forhearauce borne the outrages CON.
| ui;ted upon them and the CONSTITUTION ard
laws OF their State, ADD appealed with calm
eopilsrcc to the legal tribunals of the STATE
add to the enlightened judgment of the Amer.
lean people, have excited the admiration aud
5, upa,hy OF the whole c,uolry, aud have wou
fer them the respcc. acd gratitude Of all lovers
Of liberty.
3. lha. on behalf Of the people Of Virginia,
W., her representatives, do tender 10 the peo
! NE of South Carolina, aud to bis Exce!leocy,
Wade Hampton, Governor of the State, on!
| thanks as American c,tIzcns fer the exalted
patriotism, pru1eucc, torbearance, aud hero,
is,, which they have exhibited under clrcum'
stuuees Of must cruel provocatioo spd s:eraest
trial, and our heartfelt sympathias IN the sui
tcriugs they have experienced III upholdlng
the principles Of Tree government as embodied
10 the Con>tii ution Of the Uaitad States; and
that we unite with them 10 The abiding t.
tina, Justice and truth will triumph in the
through the peaceful processes Of law. az s
By the hands OF honcst ministers, and ~assot.i1
bv The pubic spiri. and patriotism OF Il free
people.
i. That a committee o. be appointed
by the President OF the Senate and the Speaker
of the House of Delegates to convey a copy oil
these resolutions TO His Excellency, Governor
Wade Hampton, aod to request that he com
muuicate them to the Legislature OF the State
and It's people.
The resolutions we're laid over.
In the House Of Delegates joint resolutions
OF thanks to W. w. Corcorao, for his recent
donation to The University, with a bill concern
lug certain State bonds douated by him, were
reported from committees.
The Speaker laid before the House a com
municatioD from the Governor in response to a
resolution offered by MIR. Lacy.
The Governor says 10 his message:
IA knowledge OF the present system and It's
operations will make it manifest that, Ii the
enploye es of the Government we're protected
against interruption, intrusion and needless
waste of time, and If the hours of the othce
work were increased to anything ike the num-
Der usually prescribed for daily. public and Drl
vate business elsewhere, then hall the clerical
force at the Capitol would easily accomplish
twice the present amount OF office business.
"My response to the second branch OF the
resolution Is, that the separate salarled offices
now myiutained at the Capitol, which iu my
confident opinion can be advantageouslY abol'
ished, are those OF AdjutaDt Gcueral, Superiu'
tendeDt of Public Printing, Register Of the
Land Office, and Second Auditor.
1T the future duties of the Adju.ant-Gen
eral are to be those of the last six years then
there is clearly 10 necessity Tor its continuauce
as a separate ufice, aud its present Temporary
footing ought to be made permanent"
1.-The office Of Superintendent Of Public
Printing is one of recent Invention, Dot sug
sestcd ny the experience OF the past, and II
but serves 10 Increase this braoch of expendl'
ture to the exteut OF the salaries of tue super.
intendent and his clerk Without any cores.
ponding advantage.
THE duties OF The Register OF the Land
Office arc the last feeble sands Of a business
almost exhausted. 10 a State settled two hun
dred aud seventy years ago, with a large pro-
portion of its mountainous territory recently
severed from it, the uogranted and vacant
lands ure of little value and but rarely found.
Every controlling reason which created and
preserved the Office of Second Auditor before
he war has ceased to exist. Then a great sys-
tenn of internal improvements, often involving
an expenditure OF several millions OF dollars 10
a single year, as we'll as the keeping Of coupli.
Gated current accounts 10 connection with the
debt, pacessifated The maioteuapcs of this Of
fec and made its duties responsible and labcri-
Gus. But what was formerly the main bust
uess Of the Office has been ex.iuguished by the
Constitution. The Government can 90 longer
construct public works or contract new debts.
The need for greater reforms than | now
propose is shown by a comparison of the cost
OF supporting the Government at this time
| and that of the period of ten years prccediog