The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-12-15

deht- cOnsOI and |
leges and the amounts ordered by law o be paid
1uartery on arrearages due the Public Free school,
fhis balance is S276,964. 49, 49,, .e4
This sum IS applicable TO the interest on the pub
lie debt-oId unfunded and peeer-which amounts,
according to the Second Auditors statement, made
at my request and now before me- TO the following:
Sterling ,565, $685. at five per interest," and
Dollar, Sc, 2925l, Qess the sum of 1880 6S7 CO.
held BY colleges on which interest has been and is |
paid annually as before rected,l at four per cent
interestto loan of SIS, 800 due to the Miller Man
ual School, with interest from November 1S79;-to
the account of arrearages due the Public Free |
schools. according to the auditor, 81 294 4537;-to
amount due the Literary Fnnd, as per report of |
Second Auditor tSeptember 1881, $5l6,32219-and
arrearages of interest on public debt, as per
same report, 50. 565, 331 49,
The Observation-Disclosures Penitentiary reports: y
estimate the net OF the Pen1tentlafy during
the current fiscal year at S25,O00; whicn ne sug-
gests may be increased should certain OF his recon-
idations be adopted must commend the dlll-
gence and efficiency of the Superintendent aided by
an equally efficient and sympathsing Board Oh d.
rectors who, both aided by the revival or business
which has enabled them under the various stat
utes to make contracts for the employment OF the
s.onvicts within and outside of the Penitentiary.
have converted it from an expensive into paying
Thts will make the aforesaid balance more than
$4,000, which, added to the current revenues, will
nearly II quite, pay the interest on the entire
prIncipal of the debt of the state conso peelerand
nnfunded-se the rates of interest it now bears In
the hands Of the holders, whatever may be Its form
full interest TO the colleges, all the expenses of
government, and the amount annually due the
Public Free Schools.
There will be stfl outstanding the above items
OF the Miller School Loan the arrearages due to the
Public Free Schools, to the Literary Fund, and to
the interest upon the debt.
Schools the one is the States property, the
other the states, sprogeny; both TO be cared
for and protected We are bound to support
the Public Free School system part of the organ
ic law The debt is equally and of equal, If not
prior, obligation. make no boast of eminent ser
vice The records will show that the school-sys
tenn has received at my hands every aid IN my pow
en- under ne constitution ana laws, 70 ism
State In the settlement with the creditors or their
representatives, under The 1910 or McCuiloch Bill
by their generosity the schools were preserved in
their entirety The statute, commonly called the
Henkel BILL, which thus provides for the schools,
sun stands In foll operaeon whist the residue OF
the settlement, through which, by consent tho
creditors to receive their diminished interest,
BY this statute the schools are now provided for,
and receive ali they entitled to under the Con-
stitution and laws, amounting annually to up
wards of half million OF dollars out of the State,
and that amount or more out of the county and cor
poration treasures. These arrearages of doubt
fuI and unsettled amount. The present Auditor
has given me the sum above stated. His predeces-
sor fixed the amount many hundred thousand
dollars less and according to what he thought the
correct mode of ascertaining the amount due at
nothing at all, indeed, regarding them overpaid
The Superintendent Of Public Schools differs from
the former Auditor, and has made no estimate
since the latter has been In Office In any event. now
they receiving In full their annual quotas,
and the pressing demands upon the State require
it, the settlement of these arrearages can very well
be postponed till her resources justify it, which
form the present outlook, with the rapid advent OF
capital to midst We believe will be very soon.
As the accumulated interest on the public debt
there various modes in which it could be pro
yided for without any increase in the rate Of taxa
tion which do not think it necessary to urge. MOI
that would not urge to meet the States obliga
tions. certainly would. Taxes are not agreeable
but they the cost of good government ant
everything that term implies.
But this increase is not necessary. The State ha:
several millions Of dollars of assets which can be
sold and applied. All the bonds which bear fv,
and six per cent interest are now redeemable a.
the option of government; this fact alone so chang
es the situation since the LIST day OF July last as
view 1t with more confidence. Hitherto consent o
the holder was implied Now. with resolute de
termination and announcement to meet its obliga
tions the Commonwealth can issue its bonds at
much lower rate of interest, and have them READILY
TAKEN We know that may of the creditors Will glad
ly do SO; which, done, will as have shown speed
lily lift US out of trouble, and preserve our credi
untarnished.
Thus, there is no justification or excuse for Viz
ginia to repudiate or s'eiimnates by force all o
any portion of her debt in the futile effort by sucl
meaus s'to reestablish her credit under mode
presented In the bill of last session. By state
meutof- the Second Auditor, furnished at my re
quest, and before me, Virginia paid as fnteres
upon her debt from the LIST July, 1867 the first DC
tober, 1881, the large sum of S4,272657 40 and sh
is now paying annually more than 81 100000 with
surplus Of at least $4,000 as shown by the Audi
tors report in spite Of the assertions Of the igno
rant or malicious that she has been and is paytn
nothing. The bill to which have just referred re
duces, by 'eliminatien the interest the state Will
have to pay if it pays any, to the sum of abou
$500 000-for. that portion of the debt and the ar
rearages of which the foregoing balance would b
applicable, would by that bill be eliminated.
What will be done with the 100000 thus selimina
TED annually from the Just creditors The con
for that best she can at the bar OF Public Opinion
1t is with profound interest call your attentio
to these matters. They involve the destinies OF Vii
ginia. Those destinies are In great measure COZ
hded to you. More precious have never been Ell
trusted to any legislative body A pr0uder hfstor
has never been made by any people or State Not
blot has yet fallen upon single page Of that rec
Eshed her own fame but have been built into tn
fabric, and now constitute much of the Republic
glory. They are birthright, and cannot and mus
not be sold or hartered.
History tells us much. But know Of our ow
knowledge what,a part she has played in the las
quarter of century She upheld the cause of Cor
stitutional Freedom In the Union; she upheld tn
same cause out of the Union, when she believed
TO be assailed she gave much of the blood of he
people, and nearly all of her wealth, to vindicat
her acts; and when the cause went down on the feel
of arms, to which the final appeal had gone, an
she surrendered her sword which among the State
has been more faithful to her renewed allegiance?
When the battle over, she did not sit down il
despair among the ruins. She gathered up tn
wrecks and went about to restore her desperate ol
tunes. She recognized the Constitution of the Unto
10 which, and its amendments, she had again pledg
cd her faith. A Constitution framed for hel
with machinery fitted for wealthy and populou
State She accepted II, and, Notwithstanding he
fmpoverishment, has faithfully kept its provision
TO the utmost of her ability. Embarrassed with
heavy inherited debt, she honestly acknow ledge
it, and yet made provision for the admission of he
enfranchised people to equal political rights, an
burdened herself with school system, years be
fore the required and appointed time that cost NOR
than the amount necessary for the support OF gov
eminent, that the young of both races might EMO
lis benefits and be qualified for the responsib1iltie
of citizenship Among all the noble works tina
have been done by our fathers in the old time be
fore u.s. none have surpassed this act OF the peOpi
OF Virginia, In rescuing and restoring once NOR
her autonomy, standing amid the ruins of her form
er self and assuming burdens that would have az
palled the most heroic.
No accusation has been brought against Virginia
from respectable-soarces, that she has ever beel
wflfully faithleSs TO any OF the provisions Of tn
Constitution Of the State or Union. Questions o
construction have arisen, andalways will arise un
til language be reduced to mathematical Ger
tainIy. But lam sure, If State should be &C
cused of having deliberately and dishonesty at
tempted to avoid or evade any of those provision
against in favor of of her citizens, there II
not member of either of your honorable bodie
who will not den9unce 1t as miserable SANDER.
Nor considering that she battlefield 70
four years. and lost SO many valuable lives and 81
much properly, has any State surpassed her in en-
ergy and material development. The improvement
has been steady but in the last few years. since tn
revival OF business, more than four hundred ant
nfty miles of railroads have been constructed, ant
larger number are in progress, penetrating ant
opening up vast regions of untold mineral and ag
ricutural resources Foreign pital is seeking in
vestment within her borders, and courage and viz
tue will soon make Virginia as remarkable for ma
terial power she has been for political influence
All these are subjects with which party has moth
ing to d. have sendearored in my discussion O
them to rise above its spirit and address you rep
resentattves, and, through you, all the people o
utterances during my whole official term will bea
witness that not one word OF bitterness or cr1mtna
ton has been written or spoken by me- nor in an,
public deliverance the name of either an!
party dropped from my tongue or pen. From tn
written and spoken to y1rginians for Virginia, and
ignoring party, have thought only Of her honor an'
welfare
1t has been alleged that the Federal Government
has not been moved by this principle in its dealing
with us.eIt has been chargedthef fact will pass in
to history and will show-7that this great Govern
ment has invaded the limits of our State, and b,
power, patronage. and money has controlled its al
fairs. If this be true, it will at once be admitted
that departure has been made, without preceden
In our annals, threatening disruption of the fun
damental principles OF our system OF government
and fatal blow been struck at the liberties of tn
people.
Virginia has been accused of attempting the meal
crime of repudiationa 1t has been charged-th
facts here have gone into history and will shoy
that the Federal Government or the party direct
ing its destnes has used its patronage, power,
money to hurry her along that rugged and disrep
utable way r.
If this be true, then If there be any stigma, 1t ha
been taken from our Commonwealth and fastenet
upon the Republic, and will be with difficulty, 1
ever erased. The transfer WILL not hide It, 1t viii
not disappear, nor die; but will bloom out soonel
later in unmistakable disasters. Representative
governments like ours are based in consent ant
good faith; that faith once broken, the slow ant
deadly poison penetrates into every department Q
the governm ental, social and domestic being. 1
there be any property especially sacred under sucl
government, 1t is Public Bond. 1t has the i'm
press OF the States the Republics seal, and 1T
solemn promise to perform. When broken, thu
virus of the breach goes like Damascus blade t
the seat of life Parties cannot either the Stat
the Republic guilty of that great crime as wei
folly. II uprising of the people does not cal