Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-01-22
For the SPECTATOR.
Letter from Richmond.

RICHMOND, January 18th, 1878.
MESSRs. EDITORS What would the
people of Augusta think of returning to
the old Magisterial system, restoring
the counties to local self-government
through the county justices, including
the public schools; letting each control
its own school funds empowering the
assembled justices with the appointment
of the sheriffs, clerks and other admin
istrative officers, the justices to be recon-
mended by the county court and be
commissioned by the Governor for eight
years, making the justices self-acting
body, as of old. A change of this kind
in the constitution is now strongly urg-
ed 10y membe of the General Assem-
bly, from the Eastern counties, They
camplain very much of some of their
local authOrities-their extravaganza
and Incompetence. The forcibIe read
justers, flushed with success ia their
first and strongest measure, though dis
claiming the purpose in the contest,
have immediately made an appropria-
ton of 1000 to fee lawyers to assist the
Attorney General to itigate before the
Court of Appeals the constituuionality
Of the law just passed. The Attorney
General is of their own party and able,
y ~ - Was sAAOo6AV Wy tAClA w ACQul1O
all array of counsel to present a question
Of law which has been most IDLY ar
gued by the ahlest men of the State, and
is well understood by every county
court lawyer. So they go retrenching!
1t was amusing to see how some of the
memberSwere whipped in ON the bill to
reduce the pay of members and officers
OF the General Assembly by the ayes
and noes. Many were most indignant
aud endeavOred to weigh down the bill
by Objectionable amendments, but they
could not withstand the recorded vote,
after having promised SO much before
the election. 1t remains to be seen
what the House of Delegates will do
with the bill. Some are denouncing it,
and Will ni0st probably add some ab-
surd amendment to it to send it back to
the Senate. All express willingness
to retrench, but few are willing to saw
in what. ?. ,....,r .l,.... -,
The revenues of the State are coming
in very slowly, and it has been with
great difficulty that the Auditor and
Governor have been able to provide the
funds to support the Insane Asylums,
the Deaf aud Dumb, the schools, and
keepthe convicts in the penitentiary.
An increased revenue from the 'Mof.
fetf PuneA." and fetrenpAmeht in the
expenses OF the government, is all that
can save the government from coming
te halt, unless it can borrow. The
banks do not like to lend to the State at
six per sent. when they can get more
and do better by lending to other par
ties. THr eH,0 FrtfE I'D. tt gs.T-. "a
There is avery general anxiety to
know what will be done with the State
debt. Business men are in dread of q
further depreciation CT credit and conf
dence incur people. u 'fT...s - ~
1t is confidently asserted that the
creditors will accept an HONORABLE prop.
osition.y 1t Is reasonably certain that
the subject will be settled by system
Of coersive measures or by tolerably
fair offer, which the creditors NAV &C.
cept. Nothing entirely satisfactory to
either party will pass; and the bills
proposed by the debt payers 90 as far to
think yhcnlq be doua to senuEe sueoess
and an acceptance by the creditors.
OBSERVER.