The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-01-12
Governors Message.
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,
GOVERNORS OFFICE,
RICHMOND, January, 6, 1882.

RICHMOND, January, 6, 1882.
u h4e 'Gegerat ASsem5ty # pfrgtnfa:
Pursuant to notice Of my election by the people.
received through committee of your body | have
taken the oath prescribed by law and have entered
upon the office of Governor.
The constitutional duty of communicating to each
session of theGeneralAssemblyo of theCommonwealth
has already been performed by my predecessor in
the transmission to you Of full reports from all the
heads of departments But the Governor is also
required to recommend to the consideration of the
General Assembly such measures as he may deem
eXpedtent
This latter mandate 1 proceed briefly to dis
charge in firm faith that the principles and pur-
poses which have received emphatic endorsement
from the people of Virginia Will not fail to com
mand the support Of their representatives
In use of the authority intrusted to me have no
other aim than to maintain the true honor and fos
ter the substantial interests of the State, and In
pursuit OF these objects l know better guide
than the Constitution and that will which the SOW
ereign voice of this Commonwealth has declared at
the Dallot-boX
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
recommend the adoption of measures, without
unnecessary delay which shall provide the dis
charge OF our public Obligations upon the basis set
forth in the act passed by the last General Assembly
and known as the Rtddleberger bill. No greater
boon can be given this people than speedy, eaui-
table and final settlement of all controversy con
corning the State debt. Great misrepresentation
exists to the purpose of the people Virginia in
this regard. Conflicting courses of legislation in
the past and statements as to the revenues aud re-
sources proved to be by subseqent events
have tended to confuse the popular nina and to
classes of Virginas obligations though in law and
in equity the whole should have been Homogeneous
and Of equal value. As understand the views and
will of the people OF this State, they do not intend
to repudiate any just obligation to assume and
to pay that proportion of the principal which is
properly chargable to the present State of Virginia
and to all classes of creditors to plane Of
equality. We are at no loss to determine the proper
tion OF the nnte-bettum debt which this Common
wealth should assume, for the Supreme Court of the
United States has ad1udcated that question
With the sanction Of that high tribunal to the
hat fVn h frjan
the just share thereof to be borne by Virginia the
true indebtedness of this State can be mathemati-
cally determined;
First By computing full interest to the date of the
settlement from the period when Virginia lost con
troll OF and ceased to draw revenue from the terrific
ry embraced in West Virginia.
Second By crediting against the sum total OF
principal and interest so obtained the acknowe ged
payments on both accounts made by Virginia since
the partition OF her territory.
II this shall be done and provision made for lou-
dalton of the amount so found to be due, no charge
Of reputation can be rightly laid the door
people of the Commonwealth. In the scheme of the
settlement above referred different rat es of fund
ing prescribed for the classes of bonds
This was necessary to equitable application Of the
payments heretofore MADE and to preserve the well
established principles of law that equality Is equity
among creditors OF equal dignity.
AS TO the rate of interest which and should be
paid on the principal so ascertained and assumed,
all parties in this State agreed that the present
rate of taxation cannot be increased. Common con-
sent this point In connection with the last
ment determines. then, the amount of public reve-
nue.. This revenue is principally applicable to the
support of the Government upon the maintenance
of which rests the only hope that any public obiga.
tons will be provided for discharged. The Con
stituton is imperative that fifth of all the tax
upon property shall be appropriated to the pubic
free-school system The charitable institutions of
the state impose upon the body polite obligations
and responsibilities of dignity and priority which
the voice of humanity cannot question.
With these demands upon fixed revenue the on
ly question Is what rate of interest with certain
ty and promptitude be paid upon an already ascer-
llSl the DrODOSttOn that ia tha lara
rate that can be provided for with certainty of
meeting the semi ANNUAL payments and with safety
supported In this conclusion not only by the fnan-
ca experience OF many years. out also by the fact
that the proposed interest is great the average
rate paid by the debtor class of the world In public
securities at the present day.
These views are advanced In the firm conviction
that the settlement based on the general principles
indicated above to be applied with such details OF
method as your wisdom will supply, would meet the
sanction of the people (Which is essential to any
settlement), would satisfy all demands Of honesty
and result in eventual henefit to the bond hold.
Germain to the debt question Is the subject of
the
PUBLIC FREE SCHOOLS.
This system is the object of special provision by the
Constitution. 4 cons1dera BILE portion OF the fund
dedicated to educational objects by the Constitution
has been by the course OF past legislation and
minlstraton diverted to the great deriment of the
school system. This course mas been pursued upon
the theory that statutory enactments OF 1871 could
abrogate and nullify mandate of the Constitution
Of 1861 setting apart the free schools ct least one
nth of the revenues cannot sustain such con
strucuon because it ignores the tact that this por
tisn Of the revenues was EMMY dedicated TO this
particular object By the Constitution, and is the
only part OF the revenues the control and disposition
OF which was taken from the Legislature by that
instrument. believe that measures may be devils
ed ana recommended that imm ediate ao,ion he Ia
ken to preserve the school fund from future inya.
sion, and to restore to It as speedily practicable
the amount which has beep Diverted.
Thus protected ana receiving regularly its right
n yraa fttlr,y
mapYa not only In the increased number Of schools
and in the length of term, but provision for the
education of all classes think would be emners
~ proper TO grant to eolored citizens an nstitu
ton In which those who have acquitted proficiency
In common schools may be given the opport,inity
for broader training The education Of this class Of
our community Ia aduty which we owe not only to
tnem but 70 the State. Self interest, il no higher
motive. dictates that spare 10 efforts fit for
citizenship all upon whom have conferred Its
privileges and responsibilities. I
MIXED SCHOOLS.
The question OF mixed schools calls for no discuss
ion. No class OF citizens desires them, and I am
satisfied that change In the present arrangement
would operate iniurlously,