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

costly proceedings in the course 81 theT.
conviction. Such cases ought to pc shoul-
dered by the State. While tho count'ee s''
being left to the costs Of mtsdemehnors'
wonld be sure 10 take care to restrict theif.
cost and take measures to deter men from
committing them. ,...,s.-,..s -
tIere is a fine opportunity to introduce
the whipping-post and enlarge the sphere
Of it's operations. II would greatly curtain
the number of misdemcanors, as well rs
their cost.1
The Governors recommendation Is eX-
cellent.
TRANSPORTATION OF coNvlcrs--cHARGEs FOR
GUARDING CoNvftTs.
The Governor cNclaims against the
charges for conveying criminals to the
penitcntiary. Ailusion is made to cases
where the number Of guards were unneces-
sarily large, and it has become a habit for
persons in this way TO travel for mileage
and pleasure" The criminal expenses GER
tilted by the courts m criminal cases
amounted the past year to SIT, 940.65, while
the ten years preceding the war, when there
were more people and-more territory, these
expenses only averaged S65,a29.3l. "'s
There is a great leak IN the criminal >ys-
temof Virginia, and the Governor points
out practical way 70 shut it off. !.ss. .r..,
COUNTY COURTS. =! ..,s .sg1
The Governor recommends the restora-
ton OF the old county court OF magistrates.
We heartily endorse this. Virginia had in
this old system one OF the best and most
useful Of tribunals 1t was, as the Cover
nor Quoting one OF the wisest OF States
men) calls il, g the shcet-anchor Of our lib
critics." What q blessing for Virginia the
restoration OF that old court would be. '''
STATE BOARD OF ASSESSORS. -.
Governor KEMpER advises the establish
ment OF State Board OF Assessors,to Sc
cure the equalization of the assessment OF
lands. The Auditor says under the present
mode OF assessments the State receives not
more than one third of the revenue TO
which it is entitled from lands. This is
evident from the fact that in some counties
the loss By the late fresh is estimated to be
more than the entire assessed value OF the
personal property. .a-.. 81
OYSTERS. .is
The message asserts the right OF the State
to derive a revenue from the oyster-beds.
II they are not to be tspreseryed or taxed !"
the Governor recommends that they be dis
posed OF at once either by lease or sale. '
TUE SCHOOL FUND.
The message explains how the school
fund came TO be in arrears, and completely
yindlcates the First Auditor from all CEN
sure. ,-.... e.. .r~..-".. #l. ~.
TOBACCO. $50 tl
- The tobacco law OF the last session is
spoken of as having defects which should
be removed BY the present Legislature. 81.
TIE CANAL. -... wye. Il.
The Governor appeals to the Legislature
to assist in the repairs to the canal by au-
thorizng the employment o. convict labor
without charge for clothing and food. The
State has too large M interest i'll that i'm
provement to permit it to die. She owns
S1O. 400, 900 of the 1912, 400, 900 of capital stock
invested in il. ,.
THE RAILROAD.
The Governor recommends an extension
OF time for the completion OF the Buchanan
and Clifton Forge railroad, which. he
thinks, will be found to be the best invest
ment in the interest OF the canal.
s-.-,..-, ~ THE FLOOD. 3D..
The message recommends Legislation for
the relief of the sufferers by the recent flood.
- FISH COMMISSIONER. " -
The abe report of the Fish Commissioner
is commended. /, .a., mr. 4. ..--"s. ,r.
r. f. 4. -. ylyA-YuCE VOTING. H.. = .
The Governor cordially commends a re-
turn to Uiua-uoce voting at elections. That
would be almost too good to. be hoped for.
II we went to the polls and heard the votes
cried we should thinkthat, "Old Firsinny"
had come again. May good angels shower
this gift upon us d., '",d Il. s'=...'.1 /
1et THE LATE ATToRNEY-GENERAL. '..:
. The death Of Attorney General DANIEL
is noticed rs a calamity; aud the deceased
is spoken OF as having no superior for
"genius, for learning, for classic eloquence,
"for incorruptibie purity. for shining eff
" cheney and fidelity in official service, and
Sfor proud devotion to Virginia, ..4 ,...
.-..a .' ..4 CONCLUSION. . f.. ....t
The Goycsuor concludes bis splendid
message with a modest paragraph. lie
certainly leaves in this last official annual
communication to the Legislature an endu-
ring and noble monument to his public
services. -.
The legislature
Had no trouble in organizing yesterday.