The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-12-13
NO.36

ND the existence of the government, and all
that was left he turned over to the school
fund. What else was he to do? II at that
time he had paid over to the school fund its
quota in full no sufficient means would have
been left for continuing the existence of
the government. Was he to treat the school
interest as paramount to all others, to sur
render to it the balance in the treasury, and
thereby cause the lnnatics to be deprived OF
food. the inmates OF the penitentiary TO be
turned loose among the people, and the en-
tire machinery Of the government to be
stopped? In an issue of life and death be-
tween the State and school system, is it to
be said that the State must perish and the
schools survive? Does the bond of the
Constitution so nominate and exalt any one
of the departments over all others that it
may, whenever the letter Of the bond is for
felt, cut its pound OF flesh from the body OF
the State nearest its heart, even at the sac
rifice of the life OF the State?
The charge that this action OF the Audi
tor was in any sense diversion of the school
fund is unwarrantcd and gratuit0us. To
divert y public fund is to turn it aside from
uses which are legitimate to other uses which
are Legitimate. If, under the circumstan-
ces the Auditor had responded to the de-
mands of the school fund sooner than he
did, he would have perpetrated a criminal
diversion of funds primarily liable as we'll as
necessary for maintaining the existence of
the government.
The Governor commends the Buchanan
and Clifton Forge Railroad, and in speak
ing of it, in connection with the Canal,
says:
The canal has been seriously injured by
the late calamitOus flood. While the injtl-
ries are not irreparable, the canal company
is without the means and ability requisite
for restoring the property. | recommend
that all the able-boded and dsposable con-
victs of the penitentiary be employed at
State expense in repairing and improving
the canal and completing the railway to
Clifton Forge. The State virtually owns
the water-line. The capital stock of the
canal company is $l2 400, 900, of which the
State owns $40, 100000, and of this last sum
81, 100000 is preferred stock. The State
can better afford to feed and clotfe the con-
victs, while giving increased value to this
largest of its properties. than to support
them in idleness or in Improbable employ
ment at the penitentiary.
1t is presumed no objection will be made
to amending the charter Of the railway COM
pany SO as TO extend the time within which
the road is required to be &C mpleted-the
propriety and expediency OF such measure
being self evident.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The necessity for returning to the ancient
and hoEored mode of voting at elections By
the living voice; for readjusting the means
of supporting the public schools so as, with
out impairing them, to quiet the increasing
conflict between property and public educa-
ton; for prohibiting special legislation in
every case where a general law is possible
to be framed; for cutting down the over
grown proportions and expenses OF both
State and local governments-these, aud
many other considerations, demand that the
Constitution shall be reformed throughout,
either by convention, or by commission,
or by the Legislature. The present Consti-
tuition was the offspring OF influences alien
and unfriendly to Virginia, and 1t IS wholly
unsuted to any community whose pcplla-
ton is less dense than that OF the New
England States.
CONCLUSION.
Not few OF my predecessors, in closing
their final messages, availed themselves OF
what is known as ''the privilege OF a parting
word.'' Il was the sanction of custom
which thus permitted them, upon leaEiag
the Chief Executive office, to vindicate Or
explain whatever their official &C. ion had
specially provoked criticism of their motives.
| shall honor the custom by deliberately
breaking it. If my official service has been
worthy of Virginia, then it shall speak for
itself. If in aught have been unfaithful
or unequal to the high trust which a gener
Gus people committed to my charge, then
no words of ingenious defence or apology
can chang faults into virtues. All know.
and all | dare affirm, is that, having stood
steadfasl against every oppcser for what
have adiudged to be truth and the right, l
shall now deliver into the hands of my sue
cessor the crown of Virginia's honor with
out stain or spot or blemi:h snllying its
Durtv mr. IFS traditional Glory