The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-06

. patent defects which caused doubts as
when its operation would begin and as t
how It affected preexisting law, yet, bein
Submitted for my approval on the eve
the final Adjournment when no time wa
left for legislative revision and correction
it was deemed wise to approve IL with
view to the amendment Of its details ut tn
tpresent session.
In view OF the uncertainty OF the law
has been considered best not to dispose Of tn
Public warehouse for the future BIZ lease
but to leave that subject open for legislatiy
faction.
The iong-eoEtinued controversy in regart
to the inspection OF tobacco should 81
speedily and finally solved. Almost anl
Ewell-defined system Of inspections woult
be an Improvement upon the incongruou
and easily-eraded provisions Of the IaN
(which I have been called on to enforc'
! heretofore. On taking charge OF this Office
l found that the allowance Of rebates t.
FHIiddlemen at the warehouse, and othel
practices plainly prohibited by law, were
prevalent BY these practices planters and
sellers OF tobacco paid more for IFS inspec.
| ton than was actually charged and received
on that account at the warehouses: and IN
this way expenses, aggregating large
amount, were ncedlessly imposed upon the
producer and seller. It was not for me
TO say whether the requirements OF the
law were right or wrong; but TO exc
| cute them. Without hesitation [ discard
| ed former incumbents and appointed new
! inspectors. pledged to comply with the
law strictly and TO reform the prevalent
abuses. The few who were diSap-
pointed in the dispensation Of Executive
patronage raised an outcry which was mis-
taken through the country for opposition
on the part OF commercial circles in the
cities to the Just reforms thus inaugurated.
! Although those circles really did nothing
! in the premises. yet this clamor OF the dis
satisfied few produced MISUNDERSTANDING
aad jealousies between production and trade
| which bad The effect OF diverting large
quantities OF tobacco from martS to which
! it legitirnatelv belonged. As IN insect is
said to make more noise than hundred
great beeves quietly grazing. so in this in
stance the din raised by the exceptional
agitator was louder and more noticeable
than the actual movements and demands OF
trade, and it led to the injury OF all the real
and meritoriotlS interests concerned. Vs..
| There is no cause. and there ought to be
no DreteXt. for conflict between production
and trade in connection with the great st:l-
! ne OF tobacco. In this, as in all other rela-
| tons. the real interests OF the town and The
country are one; they are indissolubly in
terwoven together. and the progress OF each
| depends upon the prosperity Of the other.
! Our noble and beautiful metropolis is largely
! dependent for it commercial growth upon
| the sales and the manufacture OF tobacco.
! In order TO accomplish its great destiny 1t
is necessary to build up the interests on
Which its growth depends, and legislation
on this subject should be such as to pro-
mote equally and impartially 10th the coun-
try and the town, both production and
! trade, by fostering confidence, cooperation.
i@and goodwill between them.
THE CANAL AMI ITS CONNECTIONS WEST
! -...r wARD!.Y BY RAIL.
The policy OF building railway through
| the great mountain pass between Buchanan
and Clifton Forge is no longer the subject
| OF controversy. About three fourths OF the
work OF constructing 1t Is already done. \
! few months hence, when completed, 1t viii
! be found to have been built IT third OF the
! cost and in third Of the time required for
! the construction OF the canal between the
same termiui. Should the water-line be en-
tended to Clifton Forge, the railway along
J side OF if vii! 50 facilitate its extension in
/
supplies. and otherwise. that it will be
| found to have been the best possible invest
ment in the interest OF the canal. But il
will produce speedier and better results BY
establishing connection between the great
coal and iron-belts, by bringing the best
ores and the cheapest fuel into !uNtapos
ton, BIZ utilizing the incalculable natrra
wealth OF IN important division OF thu
State. and by increasing the business OF the
canal. and thus reiuvigoratlng that immense
but lan@uishiug interest. Nevertheless
prompt legislation is necessary 10 Insure
these results.
The canal has been seriously injured bl
the late calamitous food. While the lnJu
ries are not irreparable, the canal compan,
is without the means and ability requisite
for restoring the property. recommend
that ali the abIe-bodied and dispoS,tble con
yicts OF the penitentiary be employed q
State expense III repairing and improving
the canal and completing the railway tt
Clifton Forge. The State virtually own
the water-lne. The capital stock OF tht
canal company is 80, 100000. OF which th'
State owns S10.400, 600. and OF this last sun
S1,4OO,000 is preferred stock. The stat:
can better afford to feed and clothe the con
yicts, while giving increased value to thi
| largest OF its properties, than to Supnor
them in idleness or in Improbable employ
ment at the penitentiarr.
+ 1t is presumed no objection will be made
to amending the charter OF the railway com
pany 80 As 10 extend the time within which
the road is required to be completed-th
propriety and expediancy OF such measure
/ being sel;-erident.
MISCELLANEOUS.
| recommend al! such constitutional leSiS
lation for the relief OF the unfortunate suffer
crs BY the late food rs may comport will
the future demands OF the treasury.
The able report OF the State Commits
sioner OF Fisheries is commended especially
to your attention.
Where appointments 10 places OF homo
or emolument are conferred at this office i
would seem proper that the appointec
should be selected b. the particular EXecu
! tive during whose term and under who's
supervision they are expected to serve
Acting upon this rule have declined to en-
croach upon the province OF my succesSo
BY choosing appointees to serve during Iii
term, except where the law or the publi
interest plainly dictated different course
Accordingly, have forborne to appon
commissioners to represent the State ct tn
approaching international Exposition, pro
vided for by Joint resolution OF the las
General Assembly, because their service can
not commence for some time after the eHpi
ration OF my official term.
| have declined to till any OF the yacan
commissions OF general and field officers o
militia. What IS known as the reserv
militia is an imaginary organization. no
enrolled. and without existence even upol
paper. The appointment OF titled com
man ders for that mythical army-thougl
authorized. is not enioined By law
cailed for By no just reason and by no pub
lie interest, and it offends the sensibilitie
| abla hoiv NJ he ppr