Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-12-06

under specific statutory instructions could
not as well aud more safely perform; that
the office from the original intention Of Il
mere clearing house has grown TO be the
keeper of all the trust bonds Of the Com
monwcalth; that in The past fifteen years
every trust fluid that has been invaded has
been invaded through the agency of this
practically irresponsible office
The Governor, in referring TO the public
free schools, says that the State in the past
two years has been able almost to double
the facilities for free education that no
proper efforts or expenditure has been lack
ing by this administration TO carry ont lis
| pledges in that respect. "As was sand to
your predecessors and pledged to the people
| the Executive OF the Commonwealth Et.uws
no higher duty than 10 contribute all in his
| power to furnish The means for teachin. all
| the yeoplc to understand their rights, To
know the limit of their privileges anu 10 lerl
and perform the full measure OF their duties.
| To those whom we have armed with the
powers and responsibilities of citizenship
preseu: or future. II high obligation exists
70 call human beings into the front oi the
battle OF life and deny them or obstrur
| them in the means which are essential To
their intelligent use Of freedom would bc Is
gross IN abuse as 10 call men TO real war
and fail TO put in their hands the weapon.
with which TO make them soldiers.
'rhere is mo antagopism between the free
school system and those institutions Of
higher learning which Virginia ed il
| the past, and should be liberal TO foster in
the future
The Governor says some action should be
taken in regard to the claims of the Wash.
ington and Lee University for certain bonds
of the State alleged to have been donated Ia
that institution by the late George Peabody.
and stated 10 have been lost in the wreck ut
the steamer Arctic in 1851.
The Governor, in referring to the Dan
| vile riot, says it is sad to ailude to an ul
happy circumstance which all good people
should pray God shall never be repeated in
the State OF Virginia. Far be it from The
Governor of this Commonwealth, whose Gil-
ties are purely executive, to characterize or
critcse III any partisan sense the trouble by
which death and blood came on the 81 OF
| November to many citizens in one Of the
cities Of cur State. There is no purpose
here TO ask your honorable body to invest-
gate the matter There is no right vested
in The Governor to do So But The charge
made against this State and that commun-
| ty, il cannot be denied, is this: that men
We're killed, men were wounded, Of no mat
ter what party of no matter what color;
and that contrary TO all law-serving habits
of this people. No man has been accused,
| arrested, or tried for his part in the killing
or woundng. This is the view of the affair
in which all good people should join. Jul
dicial investigation should be had witness
es should be allowed TO testify-should be
| made to testify, and the truth should be
made apparent, SO that the Commonwealth
of Virginia should be placed before the
world as one Of the States whl.h tries
crime no matter who may be the criminal.
In regard to maryland Dad Virginia
boundary line, Gov. Gamer on saws: "A
long-vexed question, that. of the proper
boundary line between maryland and Vir-
Sihia' Is at lasf, we my hope about to be
settlen. ohder the concurrent legislation
Of both States indr,vsing the report of the
commissioners of arbitration, and in COM
pllance with law, your Executive in con-
junction WrUh the Governor Of Maryland,
has recently employed an engineer officer of
me f"deral army TO accompany the COM
missioner Of each State in laying out the
Dntcs and bounds Of the line so established.
, 1T has always been my opinion that the
rights and interests Of our people were sac
rliced in this matter, to which presently more
particular alluson shall be made, but the
duty of the Executive is simply 10 carry out
the law as he finds it. While dealing with
subjects relating to the State Of Maryland
it is M cxigent duty to call your attention
to the manner in which this Commonwealth
has been treated. In March, 1882, com.
mittee OF the Legislature of that State came
to Richmond, bringing with them thesketch
OF bill said TO represent their mode of set
Element Of all questions in dispute between
the two States. Referring to chapter 1885,
page 19l, acts lSSlS2, it will be found that
the Legislature of Virginia promptly passed,
and the Governor approved, AN act to de-
line the true boundary line between Vr
ginia and Maryland, to designate the head
lands upon the Potomac river and to pro.
hlbit unlawful oy&tcring and dredging on
the Potomac river and Roanoke sound
This act was founded on a joint agreement
between committees Of the General Assem-
bly, Of Virginia and that of Maryland,
and was passed aud approved at the
request of authorized representatives
of the State of Maryland, aud un-
der the expressed condition that the
State of Maryland would Immediately pass
u similar act. Our sister State, after invii-
The repeal is urgently recommended Of
chapter lSG Of the acts Of 1875. approved
March 1882. In protection of the oyster
interest of this State it has been found ne
cessary 10 make some expenditures outside
of the regular appropriation. The Execu-
tive finds that Maryland, for instance, has
fleet Of nine vessels engaged in suppressing
unlawful dredging upon its oyster beds.
Virginia has no means OF protection to her
interests in this regard, which are the lar
Sest on this continent. A special message
will be sent to your body on this subject.
stating my past action, and asking for more
scope as to power and money TO protect
this great source Of Virgiuia's wealth."
The Governor concludes as follows:
Our people are alive to the great benefits
in The way of material development flowing
from the presence in our midst, and proper
application to public ends, Of the capital
and enterprise of powerful corporations.
Though the State has parted with almost
her entire interest as stakeholder in works
OF internal Improvement, and is forbidden
by the Constitution to subscribe for any new
work every citizen of the COMMONWEALTH