Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-08
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.


sin this paper the effort will be made to
10y before you in the plainest and most sue.
cinct form such statement of affairs, d.
gested from the elaborate reports of the
various public departments and institutions
Of the State, as will enable you to take a
view of the condition OF
the Commonwealth; to recognize and assist
those parts of the body polite in which
health obtains; and to determine what
evils, if any, exist, for which your wisdom
must furnish the remedy"
The first question he discusses is financial.
by the Treasurer's report" he says, "as of
the 1st October, 1885, the apparent cash
balance in the Treasury was 1914 6S7 AS;
the actual balance by the Auditors books
(the difference being as to warrants issued
and not yet presented) was S406, S02.13.
condition of the Treasury. Some minor
reader of the Auditors report, 60 to reduce
but to the credit account must be placed
the marketable value of Riddleberger bonds
to the amount face vaue) of s., O30, 943.10
purchased by the Commissioners of the
Sinking fund under acts of March 18th and
into cash in the discretion Of the
said commissioners whenever the exigencies
of the Treasury may SO seem to them to re-
quire The intercepLion of the revenue by
payment of taxes and dues to the Common
ealth in coupons since the last meeting of
the General Assembly has not reached such
an extent as to seriously disturb the admin
istration of public affairs. Notwithstanding
that strenuous efforts have been and are be-
ing made to deny and destroy the coustitu-
tional right of the State Of Virginia to be
sued in her own courts in the manner pre-
scribed by her laws, and there and thus
alone, it is gratifying to be able to report to
the amount of coupons forced upon the
Treasury in payment of taxes and other
dues was sl22, 900 less than for the preced-
able funds and convertible property now in
the Treasury reach, in round numbers, the
sum of 81, 6l5,2 l3 &c."
In this connection the Governor says: "As
to the system of accounts obtaining in the
basement Offices, recent events might seem
TO suggest the need Of a change; but as the
Legislature at its last meeting appointed a
special committee to consider and report
upon that subject, I hesitate to forestnll
their conclusion by any recommendation.
It seems right, however, for me to say that
the losses heretofore coming to the Com
monwealth through the particular depart
ments referred to, have occurred, not so
much through any fault in the system of
checks and balances, as in the fact that the
law had been allowed to become dead
letter. This brings me to deal with the
most momentous question which will or can
occupy your attention"
On the public debt question he says be
has no new views to advance. He refers to
the position he took on the debt question
in 1882, and thinks now, as he thought then,
that every consideration, moral and legal,
was met by the proposition for funding
made ia the act of February 14tb, 1882, to
the several classes of bondholders. "Inever
have considered, and do not now consider
that any pledge made es to the execution
Of the Riddleberger bill precluded any Cit
izen of Virginia from thereafter advocating
any legislation necessary to carry it into
effect. ~
In tho Governors message of December
s. 1888, to which reference is now made, the
attention Of your bodies was called to the
fact that no legislation had yet been taken
sufficient to give effect to the Riddleberger
bill. The act of January a. 1882, notori-
ously neglected to require any equitable
allowance of principal or interest for the re-
funding of that class of bonds known as ten
forties; and the act of January &C. 1882,
raised before the ultimate courts of the |
en- entirely new question. Ex-
perience having shown, after trial Of
these measures, that they were not suffi-
Gent TO accomplish the objects desired,
have no apology to make to the people |
Of Virginia, or any portion ofthem, for lend
ing my counsel and approval to remedy, so
far as it was done, what had been shown TO
be insufficient. It would ill.become me to |
insist on any policy to be pursued by the
executive and legislative officers chosen by |
the people of Virginia to administer their
affairs as the successors of myself and my |
political associates. At the same time feel |
forced to sound the signal of danger. Ea-
,roachments have begun to be made upon
he rights guaranteed to this Commonwealth |
by the constitution of the United States"
The Governor calls attention to the opinion
delivered by four dissenting justices of the
Supreme Court Of the United States in the |
case of Poindexter vs.. Greenhow, decided |
April 20, 1885, and other Virginia coupon
eases.
he reviews the suggestions made in his |
messages of 1892 .'S4 in reference to the
public debt, and would also recommend the
passage of an act, to take effect at once, that
10 coupons shall be received or cashed at
he treasury of the State, or accepted Dy any
officer thereof, unless accompa-
lied by the bond of which it is the product,
o prove its genuineness or identity
The amount Of the public debt outstand-
ng other than Riddeberger bonds, by re.
'orts of the auditing officers, is as follows:
Principal and interest to July 1st, 1882,
rs 020, 532 ST. interest subsequent to July
st. 1882, to aud including July 1st, 1885,
q 73l 500 .49-making outstanding October
st, 1885, $50, 752. 1922. There has been
unded up to October 1st, 1885, $7,5l7 ,052H
'fthe old Indebtedness, principal and inter
st, and the amount ofbonds and certificates
ssued under acts of February 14th, 1882,
nd November Goth, 1854, in lieu thereof
vas 81 81 $50 &C, of which the State holds
y purchase and otherwise as follows:
By purchase by the Commissioners of the
sinking Fund, 81, 020, 943 10; by the Board
4 puhiip Worka STAG 200 and hv tho tar