Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-01-11
Message Of Gov. Cameron.

RICHMOND, VA, Jan. 6.-The fol-
lowing message VAS sent TO the General
Assembly today by Governor Cameron:
! Commonwealth Of Vir7iuia, Governors
Office, Richmond, Jan. 6, iSS2.-To
the General Assembly OF Virginia:
/ Pursuant TO notice Of my election BY
the people, received through COM
mitee Of your body, l have taken the
oath prescribed by law and hase en-
tered Hpoa the Office Of Governor. The
constitutional duty OF communicating
to each session of the General Assem-
blv the condition OF the Commonwealth
has already been per formed by my
predecessor in the transmission to you
Of full reports from all shs ebds Of
departments, but the Governor Is also
r, quirrd to recommend TO The ohsider-
alton Of the General Assembly such
measures as he may deem expedient.
This latter mandate l proceed brieh,
to discharge, 10 firm faith that the
principles and purposes which have re.
ceived emphatic endorsement from the
people OF Virginia will not fail 70 CON-
mand the support of their retresen-
taiiyes. In the use of the authority
intrus, Ell 70 me have no othtr aim
than to maintain the true honbr and
foster the substantial interests Of the
State. In pursuit Of these objects l
know no better guides than the con-
.litutiOn and that will which the sover-
eign will of this commonwealth has
declared at the ballot-box.
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
In regard TO the public debt, Fecom'
mend tie adoption OF measures Fithout
unnecessary delay which shall provide
for the discharge Of our public Iobliga-
ton, upon The basis set forth III he act
passed by the last General Assembly.
and known as the RIDDLE berg% bill.
No Greater boon can be given this peo.
ple ihpn a spet dy, equitable anf mai
settlement Of all controversy conf etning
tho STATE debt. Great misapfrehen-
.;or sxists "a u the purposeslof the
people OF Virginia in this regard
70, Nic,;no cau.es Of legislation 70 the
mast. and stat, meuts as 10 theI public
revenues sna resources, proved 10 be
erroneous by subsequent events have
tended 10 confuse the popular Dbd, land
to produce gross discrimination tftween
the seyeral classes OF Vireinia's Pbliga-
|bon,. though 10 law and In equity The
whole should have been homod eneous
and Of equal value.
NO JUAT OBLIGATION TO BIZ REPUpI-
ATE0.
understand the views and will of
the people Of this State. they dolnot in
tend to repudiate any just obi CATION.
bn, 10 assume and pay that pro portion
of the principal which IS Properly
Ichargesble to the present State II Viz
GINA. and to restore 10 all clsssf Of the
creditors the plane ofequali,v. I've are
at no loss 10 determine the proportion
OF the ante .bellum debt which THIS Con-
mon ealth should assume, pr the
Supreme Court OF the United Staes has
ladiudicated that question, With tue
sanction Of that high tribunal 10 he pro-
position that two thirds OF the original
sum is the just share thereof 10 He borne
nv Virginia. Tie true indebted ess Of
this State can be automatically deter
lmiued-frst, nv computing full interest
to The date of settlement from the period
when Virginia lost control ofand ceased
Ito draw revenue from the territory
lembrsced 10 West Virginia; secohd, by
Icredi;ing against the sum total }f prin-
cipal and interest go obtained the &C.
lknowledged payments on both accounts
made by Virginia since the lpartition Of
her territory. If this shall be done, and
lprovisiOn made for the liquidation of the
amousr so found to be due, no charge Of
IrepudiGtion can be rghtfullv laid at the
door Of the peopls Of this Common
wealth. In the scheme 0! the settle
linen; above referred TO, different rates
OF iundlng were prescribed Tor The sey-
leral classes OF bonds. This was neces-
sars TO the equitable application OF the
payments heretofore made and 10 pre-
serve the well-astsblished principles Of
law. That equality Is equity among
Icredltors Of equal dignity.
lTHE RATE or INTEREST TO SE PAID
"A 10 The rate Of interest which
should be paid on the principal 80 sscer-
tain,d ard assumed, all psrues in this
Estate ate Agt,e ed that tie prcscui rate
lot taxation Cannot he increased. Com.
lmnn consent - this point, in connec-
ltion w'h tie late sssessu eut. deter
lmincs, then. tie sssoGnt Of tbs
Ipnblic revenue. This revenue il Prln1
Ic'paliy applicable TO the support # The
Ignsertment, upon The n,sinlenndcs OF
Which rests ihe only hope thai auy
jpubIic obligation VIII be provided Sos or
idiachsrved. The constitution 10 i'm.
lucrative that cne-ifth Of all tax upon
property shall b. appropriated 70 the
lpublc Kee-school system. The chart
ltah!e institutions of this State impose
upon the body-psilt!ci obligations and
responsibilities Of dignity and priority
which the ycsce cf humanity cannot
Iqutstion. With these demands upon