Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-12-04
trade. and it led TO the injury OF all the real

40 ~ tobacco In this, as in all other rela.
lions, the real interests OF the town ana LIE
country arc one: they arc indissolubly IN
terwoYeu together, and the progress OF each
depends upon the prosperity OF the other'
Our noble and beautiful metropolis IL largely
dependent for its commercial growth upon
the sales and the manufacture OF tobacco
In order to accomplish IFS great destiny II
is necessary to build up the interests on
which its erowtu depends, and legislation
or this subject should be such as to pro-
mote Equally and inlpartially both the coun..
try and the town, both production and
trade. by fostering confidence, cooperation,
/ and goodwill between them.
rrn Canal. AND IT'S CONNECTIONS WEST.
WAEDLY By RAIL.
The policy Of b uilding railway through
the prect mountain pass between Buchanan
and Clifton Forge is no longer the Sublect
nj controversy. 4 bout three fourths OF the
work OF constructing 1t is already done. a
few months hence. when completed, 1t Will
be found to have be en- built ut Il third OF the
cost and in third Ot the time required for
thc construction of the canal between the
same termini Should the Water-llnc be eN-
tended to Clifton Forge, the railway along
side OF il will so Facilitate its extension IN
the matter Of Ara nsporting material ana
supplies, and otherwise, that 1t Will De
iollnd to have been the best possible invest
nent in the intert st OF the canal. But 1t
will produce Speede and better results DS
establishing connection between the great
coal and iron-belt :, by bringing the best
ores and the cheapest fuel into juNtaposi-
ton. by utilizing the incaculablc natural
wealth OF IN important division OF the
State. and by increasing the business OF the
canal. and thus reinrigoratlns that immense
but lanrllishing interest. Nevertheless,
nromut legislation is necessary to insure
these results.
The canal has been seriously injured by
rho LATE calnitouS Hood. While the inju-
rics arc not irrepara Die, the canal company
is without the means and ability requisite:
for restoring the property. | recommen Il
that ali the ablc-bodicii and dispoSablo eea-
yicts OF the Denitcntlary be employees at
state expense in repairing and improving
the canal and completing the railway to
Clifton Forge. The State virtually owns
the watcr-linc. The capital stock OF the
canal company is Sl2.40O.2o0. or "hich inc
State owns $iu, lGn. 900. anu OF this last sum
81, 400. 000 is preferred stock. Ire Stal"
can better afford to feed and cI3tne Tue con-
victS. while giving increased Fai'Le 10 thlS
largest ot its properties, than 10 Supinor'
them in idlcncS> or in unprolltah'e employ
ment ut the pcuitcntiary.
II is presumed 10 objection Will be made
TO amending the charter of the railway COM
many 50 rs 70 extend the time within which
the road is required to be compietcd-thc
propriety and cxpcdency OF such measure
being sci-evident.
MIsCELLANEOCS.
I recommend all such constitutional lngiS
lation Tor the relief Of the unfortunate Srtlcr-
ers bv the late food as may comport with
the future demands OF the treas ury.
The able report OF the State Commits
sioner OF Fisheries is commended especially
to your attention.
Where appointments to places OF honor
or emolumrnt are conferred at this Office it
would seem proper that the appointceS
should be selected b. the particular EXecu-
tive during whose term and under: whose
supervision they are expected to serve.
Acting UPON this rule l have declined to en-
croach upon the province OF my successor
by choosing apnpintccs TO serve during his
term, except where the law or the public
interest plainly dictated a different course.
Accordingly, have forborne to appoint
commissioners to represent the State ut the
approaching international Exposition. pro-
vidcd for by Joint resolution OF the last
General Assembly, because their service can
not commence for some time after the eNpI-
ration OF my Official term.
have declined to ill any OF the vacant
commissions Of general and field officers oil
militia. What is known as the reserve
militia is an imaginary organization, lot
enrolled, and without existence even upon
pu amdcrs for iGT tint Of r fl!e9 Saa
authorized, is not enioined by LAWS
called for by no Just reason and by no pub
lie interest, and it of'cnds the sensibilities
OF that great and honorable body OF the pco-
ole who have served as real soldiers, many
Of whom have won less pretcntious but far
better titles by heroic deeds i'll actual war
The necessity for returning to the ancient
and hOnorcd mode OF voting at elections by
the living voice; for readiusling the means
OF supporting the public schools 30 As, with
out impairing them, to quiet the increasing
conflict between property and public edu-
cation: for prohibiting special legislation
in every case where Il general law is posi-
die to be framed; for cutting down the
overgrown proportions and expenses OF
both State and local %ovcrnmcnts-thesc,
and many other considerations, demand that
the Constitution shall be reformed through
ont, either by convention, OF by commits
sion. or lv the Legislature. The present
Constitution was the offspring OF influences
alien and uniricndy to Virginia, and it is
wholly unSuited to any community whose
population is less dense than that OF the
New England States.
THE LATE VACANCY IN TIE OFFICE OF ATT0R-
NEY-GENERAL.
On the 10th day OF August last. Raleigh
7. Daniel. Esq, Attorncy-Gencral, depart
ed this life; and at IN early day thereafter
appointed james q. Field, Esq, as his
successor.
The untimely death of the late incumbent
was as great calamity as the Common
wealth could then have sustained in the loss
OF a citizen. For genius, for learning, for
classic eIouuencc, for incorruptible purity,
for shining efficiency and fidelity in official
service. and for proud devotion to Virginia,
few equals and no superior survived him.
Let his memory be cnshrined as cherished
possession of the Commonwealth.
CONCLUSION.
Not few Of my predecessors, in closing
their final messages. ayalcd themselves of
what is known as "the privilege OF a part
ing word" It was the sanction OF Il GUS
tom which thus permitted them, upon leav-
ING the Chief Executive Office, to vindicate
or explain whatever in their official action
had specially provoked criticism of their
motives. ] shall honor the custom by de-
libcrately breaking it. Ii my official SER
vice has been worthy OF Virginia, then it
shall speak for itself. II in aught | have
been unfaithful or unequal to the high trust
which generous people committed to my
charge, then no words OF ingenious defence
or apology can change faults into virtues.
All know, and all / dare affirm, is that,
having stood steadfaSt against every op-
poser for what have adiudged to be truth
and the right, shall now deliver into the