The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-25
A Rcformer Speaks His Mind.

GoOCHLAND, September 10, 1877.
Editors Dispatch: Please allow me,
through your valuable paper, to express
the views OF plain farmer upon the debt
of Virginia and. in his opinion, the Surest
way to its payment.
I have read many opinions and suggcs-
tions, and several pathetic disquisitions on
the widows and orphans, poor and needy
because they could not get the interest on
their bonds; and one extremely pathetic on
the poor bondholder. Allow me to say, all
that Is 8: too thin" and no good cause needs
such means to sustain it.
Every honest man wishes to pay the debt,
no matter who owns the State bonds, and
the question is, How can it be done? ,...
l suggest that the Legislature pass an act
providing for State Convention OF forty
members-one from each senatorial dis
trict-to meet at Richmond at the earliest
time possible, each to have salary OF fifty
dollars and mileage, to make Constitution
for the State better suited to her condition.
AS it is so hard to make conventions and
legislatures deprive themselves Of the
chances for getting into office, think the
people ought to elect men that are fully IN
structed and committed to make Constitu-
ton providing for forty members for the
House OF Delegates, one from each senate
. rial district as now laid off, with salary OF
/ three hundred dollars for each biennial ses-
sion, and a Senate composed OF one member
from each congressional! district, with 4
salary Of four hundred dollars for each BIZ
ennial session; to reduce the Governors
salary to three thousand dollars, and all
other State officers in the same proportion
to abolish entirely the office OF county super
intendent Of public schools; to tax all State
bonds and all other property in the State
except one thousand dollars exemption on
all Church property; to abolish the office OF
county Judge, and substitute court OF JUS
tees of the peace with entire county juris-
diction, subject to an appeal to the circuit
court for all sums Of twenty dollars and
upwards, and to give to single Justice ju-
risdction of sums OF one hundred dollars
or less, subject to an appeal to the county
or circuit court, as the prosecutor may
choose; the justices to be appointed by the
circuit Judge, to hold office during good
behavior, their compensation to be the office
of high sheriff-one each year, beginning
the next oldest each year until all have been
high sheriff, and then to begin in the same
way continuously, and the present fees for
all private business done for citizens; all
cases Of petit larceny to be tried by single
justice, unless the person charged should
desire more than one, and such offences to
be punished by whipping or confinement
in Jail, or both, at the discretion Of the
court. "
ALI causes in any of the courts OF the
counties of the State shall be required to be
tried at its second term, giving the parties
the right to take and file dispositions in all
cases where the witness is too feeble or too
sick to attend the sessions Of the court.
These I think the leading items to form a
Constitution for the State which will lead
us to prosperity, and of course to the ulti-
mate payment Of the State debt.
All must see the great saving to the State
in the administration OF the State govern
ment; in the better legislation which will
result from a more enlightened and wieldy
body Of legislators, and less local legisla-
ton; in the enhanced revenues Of the State
to at least three hundred thousand dollars.
II the holders OF State bonds will meet us
in spirit of compromise and liberality we
will soon see the time when our beloved
State will again be the mother Of statesmen,
if not States, and draw to us the so much
needed immigration to much-nceded devcl-
oDment Of our industries.
Then we can claim with confident hope
honor from all the world. II. DAVIS.