Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-01-14
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

The message of Governor Mathews, sub
mitted to the Legislature yesterday, and
published in full in our columns this morn
ing, will be regarded as very thorough, in
structive and satisfactory review of the cons
Germs of the State. The condition of the f.
nances of the State shows that the contagion
for bankruptcy, in these times of debt and de-
preston, has not yet taken hold of our State,
but on the contrary the balance in tho State
Treasurery at the close of the last fiscal year
was larger than during any other year since
the creation of the State. More than this,
says the Governor, the people ''have paid
their taxes, apparently with unusual ease
and creditable puctuality. The sheriffs have,
with commendable promptness, paid their
collections into the public treasury"
And "there have been fewer.failures of bus.
mess men than in any other State of equal
area aud population" This is certainly
very gratifying and exceptional condition of
things at this particular time, and speaks
we'll for the administration of the govern
ment of the State in all its departments
All the public institutions of the State are
in u creditable condition and we'll admins
tered. with the exception of the Insane
Asylum. The capacity of this institution is
insufficient to accommodate the number of
patients that should be cared for, and that
the State is in duty bound to make provision
for. It is already crowded with over hum
dred more patients than it is designed to, or
can properly, provide for. Besides this
there are now laying around in the jails OF
the State, eighty-two other insane persons
that can not have tho benefit of treatment,
and who are, by this delay, out off from
hope of recovery. The reference of the
message to operations of our Free Schools is
both complimentary to the State Superinten-
dent and shows very satisfactory results in
the management of the finances and increased
efficiency in the work of the schools. The
Governor joins very heartily in the general
demand for oodifoation of the statutes,
and in this connection presents some specific
and very cogent reasons why the work should
not be deferred. No other part of the mes-
sage will be read with more interest than the
discussion of West Yirginia's liability for
portion of the anti-war debt of Virginia.
The Governor reviews the history on the
subject and shows the amount of the liability
that would result FROM q settlement under
each of the several propositions heretofore
advanced. Under the ordinance of the Con-
vention to recognize tho government of Vir-
ginia, assembled in Wheeling in 1861, it was
provided that "the new State shall take upon
itself just proportion of the public debt of
the Commonwealth of Virginia, prior TO the
first day of January 1861, to BIO ascertained,
&C." as therein set forth. The first Consti-
tuition of the State also contained provision
to the same effect. Acting under these pro-
visions nd the authority conferred by resolu>
ton of the Legislature of 1871, commission
ers wero appointed to treat with the author
tiles of Virginia on the subject of the pro-
posed adjustment. They failed to obtain
conference with the authorities of Virginia,
but adopted as the principal or basis upon
which the deht-sheuld- adjusted, q. the
| benefits conferred on the two States by the
| proceeds of the bonds which represented the
| debt, and arrived at the conclusion that the
| balance due to VirginiR was 1888 $50 So
| If, however, the rule of settlement shall
be that prescribed by the ordinance of the
convention, to which we have referred, it is
stated that balance will be ascertained in
| favor of West Virginia Of 1925, 600. The
| Governor asserts that Vest Virginia has al
ways desired to act in good faith and fairness
| in this matter. and if we are indebted to
| Virginia, the debt should be promptly rec
! ognized, provision made for its payment, and
the matter finally set at rest
Wheeling Register, January ION.
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