The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-04-27
Message Of Governor Hampton.

convened To-Day, says; L cnerhh the
hope that yeu will forget the animosity
sngendered by the political strife and rise
| superior TO the petty considerations OF
psrtissnship and devstipg yourselves
with patriotic zeal to the service Of your
State. You will strive earnestly to re
store its lost prosperity, revive
its wsned industries, reform all the
abuses in its government and promote
pesce, harmony, good will and justice
among all classes and parties. All efforts
to bring about better state of affairs will
prove unavaillng until the finances of
the State are put in u healthy condition
and the credit OF the State established on
the sound and honorable footing It once
occupied. II is due alike to the credit ss
we'll as the future prosperity of.the::Sta
that there should be no question nor
doubt as to our determination to meet
every honest obligation fairly and faith
fully, but it is equally our duty to ascer
tain what are its honest liabilities. The
States obligations, whether four ded or
not should be strictly scrutinized with q
view Of ascertaining which are valid aud
which are not. This should be the con.
dition precedent to the payment OF
interest on any of the outstanding obi
cations whether in the shape of bonds or
other wise, and also 10 the further funding
of Y of the States Indebtedness into
consoiidsted bonds authorized
to be issued under the act of
1873 to reduce the volume of the public
debt. In order to effect this object in
mode satisfactory and equitably alike to
the State and the public creditor, re-
specttully suggest the appo .nthent OF q
commission OF one member from each
House, the Comptroller General and the
Treasurer OF the State, and three Cit.
zens, under whose directions complete
investi cation of the funds and floating
Indebtedness OF the State shat! be
made Obligations, the validity OF which
shall be ascertalned, shall be certified
in such form rs the Commission or Leg.
islature may prescribe, and the coupons
on such bonds alone shall be receivable
for taxes The Commission should also
BE- charged with the duty OF reporting TO
the General Assembly, at the next regu.
lar session the precise character of all
obligations OF doubtful validity or clearly
fraudulent, with the specific facts or tes-
timony upon which their conclusions
are based, the records and books OF
the consolidated bonds outstanding,
with the nature OF the securities,
being withheld by the late
l., 80
with accuracy what portion Of the public
debt has beef converted into consolidated
bonds. and what portion remains TO be
funded, but from the best sources OF n-
formation before me, | estimate the
amount yel to be funded of S3,000,000,
which, at the rate established for fund
ing, will require the Issue of Sl,500,00O
of consolidated bonds, under the
act OF 1873. These bonds bear
date January |, 1878, and the actual tax
provided by the act Tor the payment OF
the interest on the entire debt has been
regularly levied every year, and the
amount unexpended for interest should
be in the treasury to meet the past due
coupons Of those bonds rs soon as issued.
| have no reason TO believe there is
any such expended balance available for
this purpose, and II conversion OF the debt
into consolidate bonds continues as provId
ed, IT will be necessary TO provide tor
these arresr for the interest; the funding
OF these arrears as recommended, and re-
duction of the expenses of the State Is
earnestly urged. Also the establishment
OF such system Of Tree schools
as will place the means of educa
tiOn within the reach Of all, the
present system rs administered
being characterized as mere mockery,
under which children have been imper
fectly taught, teachers swindled out of
their pay and the money Of the people
squsndered. | have now before me II
teachers pay certificate, to which the
Board Of School Trustees, consisting OF
three members, have each affixed his
cross mark s5 his signature. We are
bound alIk9 by every consideration
of true statesmsnship and of good faith
TO keep up in the State such system
of free schools rs will place within the
reach OF every child, the poorest AS well
as the richest, the black as well ss the
white, the ru"anS Of acquiring al honest
and honorable education. | shall look
with confident hope to your aid in car.
rying out the pledges 10 which We are
solenniy committed.