The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-12-04

! now hold, when say that both are ready
to come so soon as our financial difficulties
are satisfactorily and honorably settled. Il
is not to be expected that they will come
before.
For six years or more the heavy incubus
Of business depression has rested upon the
bosom of the entire country. Now there
is a revival spreading with rapidty and
with cheerful influence. Let haste be made
to welcome it, with its rich freight, Within
the borders OF Virginia. Our finances are
still unsettled, and much OF the aid that
was coming may pass us by. proclaim to
the world that Virginia does not intend to
repudiate her debt; that she spurns the
mean and horrid crime. The response IS,
let her people prove it.by their works.
May they be gifted with<wisdom in this
day Of the States trial and peril. Discard
ing anger, self, and unmeaniDg passion,
may their representatives, in every depart
ment OF the government. think only OF
bow they can preserve her past rcnown
and provide for her future. md, | hope,
fast-coming greatness! May we remember
that her credit and good name are indis-
pensable In whatever scheme may he de-
vised, and that without them the structure,
however imposing in its architecture or
skiliul in its device. is built upon the sand
and will not be able to stand the test OF
scrutiny or time.
l submit the reports Of the Superlnten-
dent OF Public Instruction, the Treasurer,
Second Auditor, the iutant-Genera, Su.
perintendent OF Public Printing, and Com
missioner OF Agriculture. to which | ask
your attention. l submit also the various re-
ports OF the asylums and institutions OF learn
ing and peniteniiary, and ask your consde-
ration of the suggestions Of their superin-
tendents, presidents, and boards. Captain
Charles D. Mccoy, the most worthy and
efficient Superintendent Of the Asylum for
the Deaf, Dumb and Blind, has died sluce
the adjournment of the last General Assem-
bly,. The Board Of Visitors OF the insIitu-
ton have elected Professor Leonidas
Poyntz to fill the vacancy caused by his
death. 1t is also my duty to inform You III
the more recent death Of DR.. Robert
F. Baldwin, Superintendent OF the West
ern Lunatic Asylum. When elected few
years ago be was an eminent physician in the
full practice Of his profession. He entered
upon the discharge OF his duties at the aSy-
| lum with high sense OF the responsible
ties which belonged to the Office, and so
bore himself as very soon to win The conf
dence OF all BY his ability. fathiulnesS, and
diligence in the discharge OF the great trust
Hi, death is loss to the institution and to
the profession of which he was so honorcd
a member. The vacancy has not been
filed.
4 law was enacted at the last session
"providing for the inspection OF CATTLE"
and the Governor was ordered to appoint
inspectors at certain places. | have had
great difficulty in filing the appointments.
and as yet some OF them are vacant, either
because no suitable pelSon resided at the
point specified, or because | could find no
such person who was willing to accept.
The James River and Kanawha canal re-
pairs have been completed, and the cOnvicts
from the pcnitentiary have been transferred
to the Clifton Forge railroad. The work
upon tue canal, under the supervision Of
the very energetic and cnterprISing presI-
! dent, has been well and substantially done,
and though the expense TO the State has
| been large, the benefits to the Valley have
more than compensated for the Outiay-the
canal being The only means Of communlca-
ton, and, without the repairs, would soon
| have been total wreck. The time for the en-
povmcnt of the convicts has expired by linn
ilalion OF law, and application will he made
| for their continuance till the completion OF
| the Clifton Forge railroad, which is expect
ed 10 be a great feeder Of the canal. Under
laws OF the same session some OF tue con-
yicts have been assigned to work on the
Bristol |. and G. y. q. railroad, and some
| Oh the New River railroad. There are still
number Of laws authorizing the assign
ment OF conyicts to other works; but the
supply OF that labor is not equal TO the dc
mand.
| At NY request the Superintendent Of the
| Penltentiary reported TO me a list OF inc
conyicts who have escaped from the various
companies having them IN employ. or
dered him to hand it to the Attorney
| General for attention.
Soon after the adjournment OF the Legs
laturc last spring, Hon. George W. Lewis,
Judge oil We>tmoreIand and Richmond
counties, departed this life; under law, l.
appointed Thomas Jones, Esq, OF Rich
mond county, to fill the vacancy. Some
time after, Hon. E. II. Lane, Of Louisa
comfy, died. and assigned Hon. John l..
| Cochran, Judge Of Albemarlc county, 10
hold the courts till such time as the Va
cancy could be filled by your honorable
bodies. Both these judges thus taken away
! were gentlemen OF high character, and dis
charged the duties OF their responsible
| Office with ability and integrity. Hon.
Ningeid Griffin, Judge OF Roanoke coun-
", havln. been elected prosecuting attor-
ncv. resigned his office, and l assigned
Jud"c John Gardiner, OF Montgomery
| county, 10 discharge the duties OF his of1ce
| till the vacancy could be filed according to
law.
Since the adjournment OF the last General
Assembly Major Samuel Fl. B0rkin, the
most excellent and popular Register OF
the Land Office, has died. | appointed
Colonel Randolph Harrison to fill the va
cancy.
call your attention to the report OF the
Fish Commissioner, and to the valuable
work he is doing for the State. This >cien-
titc and energetic officer is laying the loun-
da;ion OF system which, ii carried out,
will ill our streams with fish and develop
source OF immense wealth. His efforts
are the more rraisew orthy as the office Is
without salary. | hope the General Assem-
bly, will soon be able TO find the means OF
extending the usefulness OF this bureau,
and. giving pay 10 the Commissioner, cna-
@icS to the work.
| In the month OF October lat meeting OF
| the citizens OF Yorktown and the nci"hbor-
! bood was held for the purpose Of inau"u-
rating proceedings looking to celebration
i'of the centennial anniversary OF the sur
render of Lord CORVALLIS. subsequently
there was meeting OF the governors OF the
| original thirteen States at Independence
| Hail, in the city OF PhiIadelphla. having the
| same object in view. There they were nc.
| ceived most cordially by the Mayor OF lhat
CITY and by the Governor OF Penn>YlFana
and proceedings were had by which all or
the States would be participants and the
4 lsn