National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-01-07
GOVERNOR CAMERON,
THE YOUNG EXECUTIVE OF VIRGINIA..
His First Message TO the Liberal LesislOture--The
Debt QucstioR-Important Recommends
tlons.-The Colored Mau and Ills
Rights TO citizenship.

RICHMOND, VA, Jan. Ex-Governor Cameron sent
In his first message to the General Assembly to-
day. In IL he recommends tho adoption without
unnecessary delay Of measures which shall pro-
vide for the discharge OF the public obligations ON
the basis set forth in the act passed by the last
General Assembly and known as the "Rddleber-
ger bill" Great misapprehension exists, he says,
as to the purpose Of the people of Virginia In re-
gard to the final settlement Of all controversy
concerning the State debt As he understands the
views and will of the people, they do not intend
to repudiate any Just obligation, but to
assume and pay that portion of the principal
which is properly chargeable to the present State
Of Virginia and to restore all classes Of creditors to
n plane ofequalty The true Indebtedness of the
State he says, should be determined by computing
the full interest to date of settlement from the
period when Virginia lost control OF and ceased to
draw revenue from the territory embraced in West
Virginia second by crcdtlng against the sum
total Of the principal and interest so obtained
the acknowledged payments Oh both accounts
MADE by VIRGINIA
since the partition Of her territory. Il this shall
be done and provision made for liquidation of the
amount 50 found to be due, no charge of renudin-
ton can be laid Mt the door of the people of this
Commonwealth. As to the rate Of Interest which
can and should be paid on the principal so ascer-
inined aud assumed, the Go error says all parties
in the State nro agreed that the present rate Of
taxation cannot be increased and that careful est-
mates establish the proposition that per cent is
the largest rate ofntercst that can be provided for
with certainty. The Governor continues: I'VE
arc supported in this conclusion not only by the
| financial experience Of many years, but also by
the cttha the proposed interest is as great as the
PAID BY THE DEBTOR
class of the world public securities Mt the pres
| ent day." Those views are advanced in the firm
| conviction that the settlement based OH the gem
eral principles indicated above to be applied with
| such details Of methods ne your wisdom will sup
Ply, would meet the sanction Of the people which
in, the eventual benefit 70 the bond
holders. In that part Of the message de-
voted to public schools he alludes to diversion
In the past of considerable portion of the funds
dedicated by the constitution to educational OBJ
serve the school fund from future invasion and to
restore to 1t as speedily rs practicable the amount
| lishmcnt Of colorcd normal schools and says the
education OF this class of our community is duty
Tch we owe not only to them but to Tie Sa tie
| spare no effort to
FIT THEM FOR CITIZENSHIP.
| The question of mixed schools requires no discus
| sion No class Of citizens desires them, and am
satisfied that chnngc in the present arrange
mcnt would operate injuriously. We are encour-
aged to hope Tint nt no distant day we shall re;
| ccive substantial assistance from the national
| Government Oh the suffrage question. lie believes
| public sentiment overwhelmingly in favor OF the
parliament OF capltation tax as II prerequisite to
voting. As a revenue measure 1t is q fail
IRE Snd in principle is rN wTopg;
of the registration laws and fnvors new general
registration of the voters of the state In the inter-
est OF full ana free expression of the popular Will
The Governor recommends the passage of manda.
| tory provisions for the appointment of judges of
election from opposing political parties, with PEN
| nltiGs attached for failure in the appointing
| power to observe the requirements of the law and
permitting the presence of representatives OF
Is being received, canvassCd counted, and certified
| The Governor refers to the dangerous tendencies
CONVERSATIONS AND MoSoPoIIEs.
| The government should enforce n practical
recognition of the fact that the paramount obiga-
| ton of railways * 10 the people. He commends in
this connection the laws of other States, notably
| within their borders. The Governor concludes
| by concentrating the General Assembly upon the
| peace existing within her borders, and the preg-
nant signs of more amicable relations between all
| sections and all people OF our common country.
He says: THE assumption is not unwarranted
that recent events in Virginia have served
70. give an emphatic impulse to the
Liberal sentiment throughout the land.
That better era dawns upon us is
well atested by the fact that for the first time in
| nearly quarter of century the President of the
United States in his annual message to Congress
nor is there any. point at issue between this Com.
monwenlth aud the government OF the United
States TO call for the discussion in this paper of
Federal relations. Responding to the approach of
MORE PERFECT UNION,
| Virginia, always in the van of great national
| events furnishes grave upon her soil for the
yexed question Of color line In politics. To-day
| Virginia stands before the world offering all the
blessings of free citizenship, and of absolute Free
dom in politics and religion to those who may
| seek her borders; appealing for n harmonious sis
terhood Of States in which sectionalsm shHll
| be unknown, and in each of which shall
be illustrated spirit of Americanism broad as the
| limits of the continent She points the way by
leading il and by pleading tolerance TO every
tolerant creed Of party or church" The Governor
| did not complete the preparation of his message
until two p m, and when he sent 1t to the two
| houses, one-the house of delegates-had adj
| journed. The message, however, was received by
| the senate and read in that body.