New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-07
prisoners who had purposey captured for the
laesacre in raids on neighbOring tribes
GOVERNOR CAMERONS MESSAGE.
vlRGINIAN INTERESTS DIsCUssED-THE STATE FL
NANCEs

NASCES
RICHMOND, Jan. Ex-Governor Cameron
sent in his first message to the General Assembly to-
day. He recommends the adoption. without unneces
sary delay, OF a which she'll provide TOT the
discharge OF public obligations upo the basis set forth
in the act passed by the last General Assembly. ana
known as the Riddeberger bin" Great misappre-
henson exists he says TO the purpose OF the people
OF Virginia in regard to the final settlement OF all con-
troyersy concerning the state debt They do not ntena
10 repudiae any just obligation but to assume and pay
that portion OF the principal which Ia properly charge
able to the present state Virginia. and to restore all
classes of creditors to plane of equality He says;
"The true Indebtedness OF the state should be deter
mined first by computing the full interest to the date
OF settlement from the period when virginia lost con'
troll of and ceased draw from the territory
embraced in West Virginia second by credng against
the total of the principal and interest so obtained
the acknowl payments both accounts made by
Virginia since the partition OF her territory. III TINS
shall be done and provision be made for the liquidation OF
the amount 80 found to be due charge Of reputation
be rightly laid at the door of the people Of the COM
monwealth."
As to the rate OF interest which can and should DC
paid on the principal ascerained and assumed, the
Governor says All parties IN the state agreed tbst
th present rate of taxation cannot be increased and
that careful estimates establish the proposition that
Ia the largest rate OF interest that can be pro-
vded for with certainty We are supported IN tnis con-
cson not only by financial experience Of many years,
but by the proposed interest is as great
the average paid by the debtor class of the world
on public securities at the present day. These
views are advanced in the firm conviction that n
settlement based the general principles Indicated
above applied with such details OF method as your
wisdom will supply, would meet the sanction Of the
people which essential to any settlement would sat
isfy demands OF honesty and result IN eventual ben
eft to the bondholders."
In that part OF the message devoted to public schools
he audes the diversion In the past of considerable
portion OF the funds dedicated by the Constitution to
educational objects and recommends immediate action
to preserve the school fund from future invasion, and
restore as speedily practicable the amo mt which
has been diverted aHe favors the establishment OF
cOlOred normal school, and says:
"The education of this class Of our community is a
duty which we owe not only to them, but to the State
Self interest II higher motive, dictates that we should
spare no effort for citizenship all upon whom we
have conferred s privileges and responsibilities The
question Of mixed schools requires discussion NO
class of citizens desires them, and am satisfied that
change in the present arrangement would operate in
jurlousy. In contributing literally as Is consistent
with our revenues to all educational institutions
we are encouraged to hope that at distant day we
shall receive substantial assistance from the National
Government"
On the suffrage question he believes that public sent
ment s overwhelmingly in favor OF repeal OF the
cOnSttutOna requirement. vi Nho P1J hoH' VI
the capitation tax rs prerequisite to voting
As revenue measure it is failure; in principle it ia
wrong. and in practice debssng He recommends
careful revision of the registration laws and favors
new general registration OF the voters OF the state IN the
interest of full and free expression OF the popular WILL
He recommends rigid scrutiny and purging OF the cleo
ton laws many provisions Of which subyersive Of
the end professedy sought Popular content and con
dence are secured when the people are satisfied that
having freely sought the ballot their votes have been
recorded and returned according to the truth.
The Governor recommends the passage OF mandatory
provisions the appoin OF judges of election from
the opposing political parties with penalties attached
for failure IN the appointing power to observe the re-
quremens and permitting the presence OF representa-
yes Of party m dp seqn SsEd %e the
The Governor refers TO the dangerous tendencies OF
combinations and monOpoes, which call for silfu yet
vigorous treatment The Government should demand
enforce practical recognition OF the TACT that the
paramount obligation of the railways is to Virginia
and wholesome checks should be imposed upon the
various lines OF transportation so as 10 secure Tor the
producers and manufacturers of the state proper rates
aud full facilities anu guarantee TO tle cles OF te
those advantages to which, by reason or their
6e laws of other States notably California and Georgia,
regulating the railways within their borders
The Governor concludes as follows: 81 Inc assuInp-
ton ia not unwarranted that recent in Virginia
have served to give emphatic impulse to the liberal
dawns upon is well attested by the fact that for
the first time IN nearly a quarter OF a century
sage to Congress- finds occasion to alude sectional
differences nor there any point at issue between this
States to call for the discussion in this paper OF Federal
relations. Alive and responding 10 the approach OF
more perfect union, Virginia, always IN the OF great
national events furnishes upon her soil fer the
veXed ques ton of the coor-line in politics To-day Vir-
ginia stands before the world offering TO all the bless
ings Of free citizenship OF absolute freedom In politics
and religion to those who may seek her
ing for q harmonious sisterhood OF States. In
which the sectional shall be unknown, aud in each OF
which shall be illustrated a spirit of Amerlcanism
as broad as limits of the Continent She points the
way by leading 1t and by pleading tolerance to every
and prescription. The laws of Virginia guarantee equal
of the have ordered that all departments
OF the Government shall the letter and spirit Of
In