The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-12-13
quiry into the solvency of the several deposi
tories and the sufficiency OF their bonds may be

tories and the sufficiency OF their bonds may be
| had.
| In the management of the financial affairs of
/ the government, so far as constant supervision
justities ajudgment it may be said the different
bureaus have been conducted wisely and hon
estly. But any one who has become CONVEX SAINT
with the affairs of the basement offices must
realize that the Second Auditors office, origi-
offices of Auditor of Public Accounts and Treas
urer has grown to be O dangerous II not useless
adiunct of the administration. An officer with
considerable emOlumentS and a heavy force of
| assistants, under bond entirely insufficientfor
| the responsibilities with which he is charged,
mas noInlhg really to do that two clerks, under
spee1hc statutory instruction, could not as well
and more safely perform. 1t is easy for the ex-
| control the affairs Of the Treasurers and Audi
! tors Offices. But the Second Auditors office
from the original intention OF a mere clearing
4 trust-funds of the Commonwealth, And i'll the
past fifteen years every trust-fund that has been
| invaded has been SO invaded through the agency
ofthis practically irresponsible office. This is
not intended to cast any reflection upon any
person who has occupied that position; but
simply to call the attention of the General As
sembly to the fact that this Office has outgrown
| the objects OF its creation, and now holds GUS
tody OF all the trust-filnds of the State, giving
| no adequate security therefor 1t would not be
unwise thatthe Legislature should consult econ
omy and avoid danger by reducing the force ana
duties of this office, and by passing an act re-
i fusng to commit the State of Virginia to any
reas the upon m which i the same anne
I placed in the hands of trustees bonded for that
/ purpose. 1NIG4 10 als.
i a0s,A EDUCATION 9,F4--A
| The condition of the public free-school system
should engage the active interestof every citi-
| zen of this Commonwealth. There is no indi-
| vidual and no element of our population but
should rejoice to know that the State in the past
| two years has been able almost to double the
| facilities for free education. Reference is con-
idently made to the report of the department of
nuhIie Instruction nfOnQr effort
| or expenditure has been lacking by this admin
istration to carry out its pledges in this respect
AS was said to your predecessors and pledged to
| the people, the Executive of the Common
wealth knows no higher duty than to contribute
all in his power to furnish the means for teach
ing all the people to understand their rights, to
know the limits of their privileges, and to feel
| and perform the full measure of their duties.
10 those whom we have armed with the powers
and responsibilities of citizenship, present or
future, high obligation exists. To call human
beings into the front of the battle of life and
deny them or obstruct them inthe means which
are essential to their intelligent use of freedom
would be as gross abuse as to call men into
real war and fail to put in their hands the weap
ons with which to make them soldiers. 1t is to
be hoped that these views will meet with no OPP
position in Virginia, and that all persons of all
classes will agree that our best policy, as our
highest duty, dictates the free education of all
classes of our people. f
There is no antagonism between the free-school
system and those institutions of higher learning
which Virginia created in the past and should
be liberal to foster in the future. The attention
Of your body is called to the reports of the Uni
verSty of Virginia, Virginia Military Institute,
and the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical
College. These reports show an improved con-
ditiOn of affairs which lacks no testimony from
any friend of either institution. At the same
time, long years of misfortune have left to the
two former a legacy of debt and material decay
which should, in my Judgment, have remedy
now. Both institutions are now easily self-sup-
porting under proper management; but it is
asked that their affairs be investigated by spec
ial committee if necessary, to the end that all
aid which can be afforded by the State shall be
given to these nurseries of Virginia talent and
manhood. @i
Some action should be taken at your present
session in regard to the claim of the Washington
and Lee University for certain bonds of the
State alleged to have been donated to that in
stitution by the late George Peabody, and stated
to have been lost in the wreck of the steamer
Attic in the year 1854. A suit against the Com
monwealth was held in the Circuit Court of the
city of Richmond under special enactment of
the Legislature, and shortly after the incoming |
of the present Executive a decree from that
court was presented to him ordering his issuance
of bonds to cover their number with interest |
thereon) to the plaintiffs who had recovered
judgment against the State The Governor rec |
ognized no right of any court in the Common
wealth to or der him to perform any act which |
no law required or authorized him to perform.
The bonds not issued under the acts of 1871 and
1879 had already been burned in the presence of I
the Governor by direction of the General AS
thorized the issuance of bonds to certain |
amount to cover q stated amount of other bonds |
in principal and interest. Nor did the Governor |
The Board of Sinking-Fund Commissioners |
alone were authorized to issue bonds under that |
act, and restricted to q certain amount. There
fore, it was not considered in the province of
the Governor to settle this claim. Nevertheless,
mnder the actof IS8l-'S2 authorizing the payment
to schools and colleges of per cent. interest on
any established claim (see chapter l9t, Acts
lssl,'s2), certain amount of interest was paid
the amount so paid should be subject to such
deduction as might be consequent upon the
mode of settlement finally made by the General
Assembly. 1t is recommended that Washing
ton and Lee University be allowed to fund the |
Der cent. bonds at the rate prescribed for the
class of securities which they claimed to have
owned under the act of February II. 1882.
OTHER PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS |
Transmission is made herewith of reports
from all the charitable institutions of the State
and your examination of their conduct is re-
ntive has been able to give them there is no |
reason to criticise their management. The lu- |
Matte asylums of the State have been well con-
Quoted, and no longer exists the disgrace here
tofore resting upon us of a want of provision |
for this most unhappy class. Additional build |
ings have been erected at Williamsburgand ex-
tensive repairs and improvements made at |
Staunton, while the construction of The new
asylum for the colored at Petersburg is progress
to the reports of the several boards and super |
intendents
BOUNDARY HINES.
A long-vexed question-that of the proper |
boundary line between Maryland and Virginia |
lis at last, we may hope, about to be settled. |
Under the concurrent legislation of both States |
arbitratorS, and in compliance with law, your |
Executive, in conjunction with the Governor of !
Maryland, has recently employed an engineer |
officer of the Federal army to accompany the |
commissioner of each State in laying out the L
metes and bounds OF the line SO established. 1t /
interests of our people were sacrificed in this |
matter ito which presently more particular al |
fusion shall be made), but the duty of the Exec
ntiye is simply to carry out the law as he finds \
OYSTER INTEREST.
State of Maryland it is an exgent duty to call |
your attention to the manner in which this |
Commonwealth has been treated. In March, /
1882 q committee of the Legislature of that |
State came to Richmond, bringing with them
the sketch of bill said to represent their mode
of settlement of all questions in dispute be- |
tween the two States. Referring to chapter 1856, l
page 1874, Acts lSSl-82. it will be found that the
the Governor approved, ian act to define the |
true boundary line between Maryland and Vir- |
ginia, to designate the headlands upon the Po-
tomac river, and to prohibit unlawful oystering
and dredging on the Potomac river and Roanoke /
sound" This act was founded on joint agree /
ment between committees of the General AS
sembly of Virginia and that of Maryland, and |
was passed and approved at the request OF au-
land, and under the expressed condition that |
the State of Maryland would Immediately pass /
action singularly failed to respond. The repeal |
is urgently recommended of chapter 1856 of the |
Acts of 1881 approved March /, 1882.
In protection of the oyster interest of this
State it has been found necessary to make some
expenditures outside OF the regular appropria-
ton. The Executive finds that Maryland, for
instance, has fleet of nine vessels engaged in
SURPRISING unlawful dredging upon its oyster
beds Virginia has no means OF protection to |
her interests in this regard which are the larg-
est 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 Virglnan wealth.
LEE MONUMENTAL. FUND. ssi
s This fund, consisting of moneys collected all
over the country, had been prior to the admin
istration of the present Board largely invested
in State securities of various classes Atten-
ton is called to the recommendation which ac-
companies the report of the secretary of the |
Board. 1t has my earnest approval. The State
is able to- and should, redeem in money every
dollar OF her securities invested in that fund.
GENERAL TOPICS.
The condition of the State as to health and
prosperity is such that congratulations may be
exchanged. Providence has extended to our
fields genial suns and refreshing rains. We |
have had bountiful haryeSts, increased indus
try and a growing population.
1t is sad TO mar this pleasant picture by al |
luding to an unhappy circumstance which all 1
good people should pray God shall never be re-
peated in the State of Virginia. Far be it from
the Governor of this Commonwealth whose |
duties are purely executive, to characterize or
which death and blood came on the Sd of No
yember to many citizens in one of the cities of |
our State. There is no purpose here to ask your
honorable body to investigate the matter
There is no right vested in the Governor to do
so. But the charge made against this State and
that communicate cannot be denied--iS this
That men were killed, men were wounded, OF
of hat M