The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-02

So that, after paying full interest on the
public debt, we have in round numbers a
balance of SS74,O00 for administering the
government, and for educational purposes
an amount greater by S2SG,00O than was
necessary for these purposes twenty years
ago.
Retrcnchment OF State expenses, which
would improve our morals and revive ana
inyigorate material thrift throughout our
borders, even If there were no pressing ne
cessity for economy, is ut once the pathway
of honor and OF safety. Have we the nerve
and the manliness bravely to demand it and
push it through! In pursuance OF TINS
policy it. may be necessary to abolish I'M
necessary offices and so compel their
lazy incumbGntS to productive INDUS
try; to revise with extreme riSor our
criminal code, which, rs at present
administered, offers premium on crime,
and comfortably quarters on the scant earn
ings OF honest toll rogues and scoundrels,
who might be punished far more suitably
and effectively at the whipping-post; to
abate somewhat that profllse and sumptu-
Gus charity which is standing invitation OF
the yagrant and the idler to the alDlShouse:
to reconsider, particularly in the light of
recent Developments. the claims OF that spu-
roils and intermeddling philanthropy indl-
genous to other ATTITUDES which has Of late
moved with its silly sentimcntaliSm the
once sober and staid old Commonwealth
to offer, with the wretched plea OF poverty
on her lips, to every boy, white and black,
within her limits, free education from the
alphabet up to the calculus, and through all
the walks of literature and science.
Our Legislature for the last several years
has seemed to strive most strenuouSly not to
pay. profusc appropriations, not demand
ed by the public necessity, have been freely
voted. The annuity TO the University or
Virginia has recently been doubled to pay
the tuition lees OF studentS-an act which
changes the distinctive character OF the IN
stitution, which in the end will injurlously
affect its instructions and impair the tone,
manhood, and self-reliance OF its matrlcu-
lates. The Blacksburg college, founded on
4 Federal grant, with the distinct under
standing that it was not to burden the trea-
sury Of the Commonwealth, has several
times appealed for large appropriations, and
not once in vain. The appropriation to the
Virginia Military Institute has been raised
for term of years-ln all probability 1or-
ever-trom $4,000 to $4,000.
The laboring man, battling for existence,
is taxed in an amount for the support OF
thieves and paupers-ndti conssunere tru-
qes-far larger than he can alIowfor his own
wife and children. And although our eX-
otto Constitution creates great many more
offices than the public necessity demands,
yet our Legislature has added othcrs-sonle
OF which are valuable admit and worthily
filled; b,,tall OF them certainly might have
been postponed to time when we could
equip and run them with money Of our own.
Assuming against appearances that our
professions are sincere, that we arc really
anxious to save the credit OF the Common
wealth, l will indicate in my next article,
which trust will be my last, some changes
that should be made to cut down expenses
that would he at the same time powerful
stimulus to industry and q beautiful tonic
to our morals. C1VlS.