Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-12-13
GOV. lees MESSAGE.
HIS views on THE STATE DEBT,
THEBOUNDARY DISPUTE,
AND OTHER TOPICS.


Following is the full text of the
message of Governor Lee, Submit
ed to both houses OF the Legisla'
tuIe:
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA. !
GOVERNORS OFFICE, DEC. 4, 80 !
To the General assembly:
To the halls Of leLislation | vel
come the representatives OF the
people.
Ten years ago the constitutional
amendment providing for biennial
sessions of the legislature was
adopted. The following year no
session of that body was held. The
interests of the State did not re
qnire, in my judgement, the Legis'
lature to meet last winter. NltD
these two exceptions annual ses'
sious have been held. The accu'
mutation of Law giving labor WILL
| am sure, be disposed OF at this
regular session,
The State looks with confidence
to the members of the General AS
semblN, who have been ripened by
legislative experience IN the past
10 lead thp way, in carefully guard
lug her reserved constitutional
rights, IN enforcing, whenever
necessary, her legal powers, and
in protecting at all times the llber
lies of her citizens. Her reliance
Is placed upon fidelity of all her
representatives with a resolute
faith that IN everything they will
be guided by an enlightened aud
steady view Of the public good.
Laws laId in lines of wisdom by
one branch OF the government, and
put IN force with a firm, humane
and Just exercise of authority by
the two orders, must soften the
rage OF the political tempest and
contribute to the glorl of the Com
mOnwealtb.
Progress and peace, hand in
hand, will then walk within her
borders, and prosperity and prom
ise, arm in arm, will be the pro
pitious scenes painted upon the
picture of the future. alt is his
tory that teaches us TO hope" as
YOU take your seats to perform the
great work assigned to you by the
law.
1t Is claimed with confidence
that, during the past four years,
the star representing Vireinlas
statehood has grown brighter.
Public education has made great
progress. The foundation of the
States seminaries of learning are
broader and deeper, eleemOsynary
institutions are accomplishing the
ends for which they were erected,
while tue wheels of government are
everywhere running smoothly.
But if towns have been erected
on vacant fields, and cities have
replaced villages, hile the depths
of the mountains have given up
their riches to our railroads, whose
tonnage has constantly increased,
apd this mineral wealth has found
its way to our rapidly growing ter
minal ports; and while it is true
the course of the iron horse has
been laid in many new directions,
the breadth of the firery furnace
has mingled with the atmosphere
of fresh localities, and the hum OF
manifold Industries Is heard I'D
new places, it must be remembered
that there are other localities where
fortunes hand has not been ex-
tended so generously, and that
there are millions OF acres OF un'
occupied land, upon which the
weight of taxation is pressing, but
which would not bring, in open
market, near their assessed value.
Owing to the unsettled condition
of agricultural labor, and the CLOSE
competition our farmers must no"
with Western grain aud cattle, The
| farming interests in some localities
have been depressed.
1t will not do, therefore, to make
lin the immediate future, estlmate'
Iupon increased values, for, while
there may be in one place a healthy
Increase, in another there Will O'
decrease of such values.
STATE DEBT.
The first subject to which | dl
rect your attention, as It is the frs
IN Importance, is the present con
IditiOn of The State debt. This sub
iect should receive your careful
consideration aud calm dellbera
tiOn. Its solution bi ings peace
plenty, and prosperity to Virginia
it's agitation, mlscOnceptlOn, MIL
construction, and costly litigation
to all concerned. 1t IS the on
weight on the wheel OF I'll
State which retards its success
ful revolution. 1t is the rock again
/ which breaks may dash in the #
/. ture, but whose removal will leaV
calm and untroubled sea, in
, whore debt the anchor of good 10
d tune can safely and securely rest
II If all of the outstanding Oblig
; tiOns of the State we're funded u
s der the act approved Febrcary !
a, 1882, with the "Wickman amen
d ment" attached, except the bon
D held by institutions of learnin
B. the interest upon which is nc
paid by special legislation, at t
c rates prescribed by said act, nan
ly: Consols, at 80; ten-forties,
. 60; pealers and the old unfund'
debt, at 60; the principal OF I