Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-08

leave of absence for MIR. Dunlop, but
that be had not been sworn in, and
such step would be unnecessary. He
made the statement in order that the
House might know the cause OF Mr..
Dunlop's absence. Mr.. Dunlop was
still very i'll, and it might be some time
before he would be able to attend the
sessions Of the House.
MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR.
Colonel James S. Browning, private
secretary of his Excellency Governor
William +. Cameron, brought in the
message Of the Governor, as follows
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,
GOVERNORS OFFICE.
RICHMOND. December 3, 1885,.
To The General Assembly:
In this paper the effort will be made to
lay before you In the plainest and most sue
cinct form such statement OF affairs, OF
gested from the elaborate reports OF the
various public departments and institutions
OF the state. as will enable you to take
comprehe usive view OF 1.-The condition OF
the Commonwealth" 20 recognize ana AS
sist those parts Of the body polite In winch
health obtains, and TO determine what
must furnish the remedy.
FINANCIAL.
by the Treasurer's report AS Of the LIST day
OF October J $50, the apparent cash balance
IN the Treasury was 1894 6S7.4S: the ac-
tual balance by the Auditors books tthe
difiere nee being as to warrants issued and
not yet presented) was siO6, SOP 10. THIS.
however. does not state the actual condl-
tion OF the Treasury. Some minor Items.
VI ltph Will StTilxa tha most Casuol reader oil
the Auditors report. go TO reduce the avail
able cash balance IN the Treasury; but
TO the credit account must be placed
the marketable value Of Riddleberger
bonds TO the amount face value) Of 81, 030,.
943.10 purchased by the Commissioners OF
the sink ing Fund under ACTS OF March 18th
ard August %, 1884. which bonds are by
law convertible into cash in the discretion
of the said Commissioners whenever the
exigencies OF the Treasury may 50 seem TO
them 10 require.
The interception OF the revenue by pay
ment Of taxes and dues 10 the Common
wealth in coupons since the last meeting of
the General Assembly has not reached such
an extent as TO seriously disturb the admin
isiration OF public affairs.
Notwithstanding that strenuous efforts
have been and are being made 10 deny and
destroy the constitutional right OF the State
Of Virginia 10 be sued in her own courts I'm
the manner prescribed by her laws and
there and thus alone, IL Is gratifying TO be
able 10 report 10 you that for the fiscal year
herein treated the amount OF coupons
forced upon the Treasury IN payment Of
taxes and other dues Wasel22, 00Q less tnau
for the preceding fiscal year. II appears
that the available funds and convertible
properly now in the Treasury reach. In
round numbers, the sum OF sl,6l5,2l3.s9.
The reports from the financial officers OF the
Government herewith transmitted fur.
nish all necessary details rs 10 the sources
Of the receipts aud the manner Of eXpendi-
tue Of the public moneys.
AS TO the system Of accounts obtaining IN
the basement offices. recent events might
seem to suggest the need OF change; but
as the Legislature. at It's last meeting. APP
pointed "A special committee TO consider aud
report upon that subject, / hesitate to fore
stall their conclusion by any recon-
MEDICATION. IL seems right, however.
for me to say that the losses hereto
fore coming 10 the Commonwealth through
the particular partIncDt Is referred to have
occurred not SO much through any fault in
the ~ stem Of checks and balances As in the
fact that the law had been allowed To be-
come dead letter.
Ihis brings me to deal with the most mo.
menloUs question which viii or can occupy
your attention.
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
On this subject I have 30 new views 10
advance. ON the 9th OF January, 1882.
when accepting nom the people " Nlr-
GINA what | believe to be the highest
trust IN their GIT, / expressed my
maiurCd conviction a. to the rights
and duties Of the people Of virginia In jnat
regard. Those views were condensed into
the act approved 10y the Governor On Feb
ruarv IA lSS2, commonly known as the
RIdO'cbcrgcr bill. That statute, In my
opinion, declared and demonstrated tue
amount Of obligation which should and
would be- recognized by the only authority
on the face OF the earth capable of settling
.f
the CommOnweaIt OF Virginia. Thisdct of
feblLhry II, 1852, was lrepeat, only de.
caTatiun to the public creditors OF the terms
UUOn which Virginia was willing 10 settle; ;
and / thought then and think now that
every COusldt ration. moral ana legal was
net by the proposition for funding made in
that statute to the several classes Of bond
holders. / never have considered and do
not now consider that any pledge made as
10 the execution OF the Ridd!eberSer bill
mecluded any citizen Of Virginia TIpm
thereafter advocating any leg .slatlon ne
-cesSaIN to carry ~ into elect. III the Gov
ernoTs message Of December ,. 1888. to
which reference Is now made, the attention
of YOUR bodies was called to the fact
that LO legislation had yet been taken
sufficient 10 give effect TO the RiddieberLer
bill. OF the two collateral acts passed by
tho Legislature Of lSSl-'s2 IN aid OF that
statute that Of January IA. 1882. notorious.
~ neglected TO REQUIRE any equitable allow
ance OF principal or interest for the refdnd-
ing Of that class Of bonds known as l0-1O's;
and the act OF January 20. 1882, raised be-
fore the ultimate courts OF the country an
entirely new question. Experience having
shown, aftcra trial Of these measures. that
they were not sufficient 10 accomplish the
objects desired. have no apology TO make
10 the people Of Virginia, or any portion
OF them, for lending my counsel and APP.
proval 10 remedy go far as 10 was dOue)
what had been shown 10 be insufficient.
10 would III become me TO INSIST on any
policy TO he pursued 10y the executive and
legislative officers chosen by the people OF
Virginia to administer their Rilair5 rs the
successors OF myself and my political aSsO.
clates AT the same time / feel forced To
sound the sgnal-note OF danger En-
cIOachments have begun TO be made
upOn the rights guaranteed 70 this Com
mOnwealth by the Constitution o. the
United States. In raising TINS voice OF
warning. only ind il necessary TO call at
tention to the opinion delivered by foIr
discerning justices Of the supreme Court OF
The nited States In the case ~ fOudeXter
49, Grtenhow. decided April 20, $3.50. and
other Virginia coupon cases. Pursuing THIS
line Of thought. | would with mOdeStT re-
new the suggestions made in my messages
Of lsS2 So "a IN reference to the puD.ic
debt. and would also recommend tue pass
age of an act, to take effect At once. that no
coupon shall be received or cashed at the
Treasury OF the State. or accepted 10y any
collecting officer thereof unless accOmDa &.
MED by the bond OF which II Is the product
to pIoVe It's genulneness and identity.
The amount OF the public debt Ouisiaud-
Ing other Than RiddleDerger bonds. b. ~ .
ports OF the auc ting officers is as follows :
Principal aud interest to July /. 1852.
s2S.02O, 53Z.S3; interest subsequent TO JAY
/. 1852. TO and including July !, 1855,
81 73l, 500 .49-making outstanding O,tu-
Der /, $50 $50 1852 1922.
There has been funded up TO october /,
1898, S7,5l7 032 II OF the Old Indebtedness,
principal and interest, and The amOuut OF
bonds and cert !ncHteS issued under acts of
Febi uaTN q. 1852. and November 20. 1884.
in lieu thereof WAS 81 97I $40. SO. OF which
the stale holds by purchase and otherwise
az follows:
BY purchase. by the Commits ioners Of the
Sinking Fund, g. $50 943 10; by the Board
OF Public Works. SAB 200; and by the Lit
eTary Fund Of Nlrsiula. ?94 500. Received
in settlement OF indebtedness Ia the state
and cancelled: From the Richmond and
DanVllie Railroad Company. Si38 500. AS:
from The UIptr AppomatlpX COMPANY.
SlO.e64. 90: nom suTpties OF defaulttng OIL
Gers on account Of Indebtedness 10 he state.
s6Z PCS 93-lcavin2 in the hands Of the pub.
hc creditors 81, 1870. 6l4.92.
THE OYSTER AND KINDRED QUESTIONS.
Since 1857 there has been a constant
nam upon one OF the largest resources OF
NirginiHk wealth by the absolute destruc-
iiOn OF her OSsier-beds. IL was not enough
HAT the property OF our people should he
laken, without remedy or remuneration by
citizens OF other States. our Jaws were de
| ned. tleaty obligations were not regarded
| and the very seed OF the product OF or
| waters was stolen. In 1882 | asked the
| Legislature 10 pass some bill giving the
Executive authority to project the state ;
| Interest. Tie result was the act aD-
| proved March 4. lsS&-Bot perfect by
| ally meaps. but IA great deal better
| than no law at all. The estimate made
| 10y competent Judges OF the actual los.
| 10 the people Cf Virginia per an.
| nun from 1871 10 1881 was not less fhnn