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

! above stated. .............".... Soo'fou CT
| And The surplus OF revenue would be S349,556 &c
| The amount Of old unfunded State bonds held by
the Dawson fund, 4 donation by Martin Dawson
for The benefit OF Aaemarle and Nelson counties Is
| S34,1s7.6l; on when The annual Interest now
Irald under act Of Assembly is per cent and paid
fSnded under The act of Mai CHI os, 1879, one third
I'll .395.s7 Of the above. PRINCIPAL would be de-
Quoted for Yves! Virginia's portion. leaving as prn
cipal Of State debt. 1922 79l IA; on which annua
| interest al 8 per cent. is S6S3.75.
Deducted from the int
| rest paid 1t per cent.
| would leave saving to
the State Of. ........s 1867 81
| Which added to TIE sur
| plus last stated above. ..349.036 6S
| Would make the total
| surplus. --- 90 oo.3St ! =
These balances can be greatly added to by
the proper enforcement OF the revenue laws
without any increase Of the rate OF taxa
ton. There ere very large amounts OF per-
sonal property as is well known, not reach
ed, and If reached not properly assessed.
| This ought to be done rigldy, so that the
burdens shall be equally borne by every
class of tay-ravers. There are other sub
| iects to which Invited the notice of the
| General Assembly in previous messages,
and which. If utilized, would yield a con-
siderable revenue. And | beg leave more
especially to call your attention TO the
"Moffett liquor law" and most respect
| fully to urge the adoption Of measures 10
secure its proper enforcement; and If this
| is not possible. then its repeal, and the
abortion OF some other system that can be
effectively carried out. ! have been ut some
pains to gather information abont this law,
and the universal sentiment is that IL pro-
perly enforced it will yield more than double,
perhaps treble, the amount it yields now !;
indeed, that it will more than pay the whole
interest on the State debt under the present
settlement. Among those to whom l ap-
plied for information was Hon. George l..
Christian, the able and diligent Judge Of
the Hastings Court OF the city OF Rich
mond, who, by reason OF his official posi-
ton, is better able to form an accurate opin-
ion than any one in the State. In a paper
now before me. in which he discusses fully
the whole subject, he says 81 am perfect
" satisfied from my experience that there
is smine OF wealth in the system If it
can be enforced, and verify believe that if
fully carried out in the Commonwealth it
could be made to pay S1,000,000 annually
without its being felt by those paying it.
The investigations before me showed that
the net profits on all drinks sold were at
least one hundred per cent, and frequently
t,co, and sometimes as much as three nun
dred per cent. those on alcoholic drinks
varying from .fue to ten cents, and those on
malt from tuco and a half to three cents on
every drink sold. So that you will see that
the subject will really bear considerable
burden"
] am quite certain your honorable bodies
will. as your predecessors. do everything
in YOUR power to economiZc the resources
Al Ckofa ST nt h..
make them effective for the three great OBJ
iects to which, by the Constitution and
laws, they are dedcated-the support Of
the government, the carrying on OF the
public free schools, and the payment OF the
debt. Whatever may be the views OF some.
l feel that should the present funding bill
by any means be stopped in Its execution
it would be great misfortune. 1t has been
regarded by tue world as fair and honor
able settlement between the Common wealth
and her creditors, and though the funding
under it has progressed with remarkable
rapidly, considering the impedments that
have been thrown in its way, we nave every
reason to believe that had no opposition
been manifested, and lis repeal not been
mooted, the bonds by this time would have
been we!lnigh all brought in to be funded
under its provisions.
am not Of those who, entrenchcd in
the assumed infalIlbility Of their own
opinion, believe all others to be wrong,
and actuated by impure motives or de-
l,,dcd by ignorance. Human Judgment IS
faIlblc, and | give others credit for integ-
rty OF purpose and purity OF Intention as
I claim both for myself. | do not cam
not, believe that the members OF this Gene
raj Assembly, however bitter may nave
been the contests for their seats, or however
profound the feelings aroused in the >trug-
ole, have now in their bi9h places anythlng
but the good OF Virginia at heart, or Will
knowingly allow one asptrslon, not TO say
one wound, to be inflicted upon her wei
fare or her fame. Different views are en-
ler,aincd of how this debt question ought
to be settled. This must be, when
there are so many different minds; it
may be viewing the question from so many
different standpoints. But in subject OF
srcb difficulty, surrounded and interviewer
with so many troublesome and intricate
uroblems, each cannot expect to have his
own peculiar views adopted to the eXciu-
sion OF those of every other. There must
be Cancellation and compromise. The pres
| eut law was the result OF the operation OF
| Just such motives.
Sure | am, that the first thing-the pole
star, as it were, OF any path along winch
we NAV travels the constant and ever
| present claim of the States honor aud good
name; and though men may in moments OF
excitement or forgetfulness treat them
lightly, it comes back when calmness ana
| memory have resumed their place with
thousandfold power to assert their SUI
premacy.
Never was there time in Virginla's his
tory when such spirit was more urgently
demanded OF those who have her destlnleS
in hand than that in which we hive. Amid
the elements in play about us, nlled "lth
fearful forces, it becomes those VINO are
entrusted with Office, and who through II
will fix her fate for veal or for woe, TO dis
card prejudice, to forget self, and to thlps
only OF how the Commonwealth can Dc
brought safely through into the frnltion OF
the peace and prosperity which her people
once enjoyed and which made them SO re
spected and so powerful. Selfishness, pas
sion, and prejudice have no business will
thou