Year: 1860

rys when paid shall be again disposed
of. l consider the present systcm
open to much objection. Not only are
losses of the principal constantly oc-
curing under it, which the State is
bound to make good, but even the ia
tercst Is not promptly paid, so that the
active fund for the support of schools
is fluctuating and uncertain. ! am
strongly inclined to the opinion that
a better policy would he to direct the
payment of the principal as it falls
due into the State Treasury, to be
used as other moneys for State pur-
poses, binding the State to pay the in.
tercst on the same for school purposes.
In this way the money would in tho
first instance go to the benefit of all
the people of the State alike, by less
ening to that extent the amount Of
money to be raised by taxation, and
the interest would in like manner be
paid by the people and applied direct
ly to their use in the support OF tho
public schools. If this shall be deemed
Objectionable, | would recommend that
the money, when paid in, be invested
either in stocks of the United States,
or in the best stocks of interest.pay-
ing States. In case you should deem
it proper to adopt this or a similar
policy, it would be advisable to vest


in the officers to whom the money shall


be paid discretionary power to grant


indulgence of time to those borrow,


crs whose loans are amply secured,


so as not to cause unnecessary hard


ship or distress during our present


financial difficulties.


would also suggest to you the


propricty of careful examination of
your revenue system, with view to
ascertain if it cannot be made more
certain and efficient Any system of
revenue which permits large amounts
of taxes to become delinquent and to


be ultimately lost to the State, must


bc defective, and operates unjustly


and unfairly upon our people. Tho


deficiencies thus created in the reve-


nue. must be provided for by addition:


al taxation upon those wha have al.


ready discharged their duty as citi-


zens by paying the taxes assessed


upon them, and they are thus com:


PEELED TO bear more than their due


proportion of the public burden. The


laws should provide for the most rigid


and exact accountability of all officers


charged with the collection, control,


or disbursement of the public money.


Any vaguencss of the laws WHICH per-
| &C. o., rox,;n - H., hnn lc


without detection any portion of the


public moneys, or to use them for his


private benefit, not only dcfrauds the


revenue, but introduces among Off


cials a laxity of morals highly dan


gerous to the public interest The


Governor is authorized by a law passed


at the last session of the General As


sembly to institute a careful cxamina


ton of the accounts of the State Off.


GERS once in each year, and have not


any doubt the law will be found benc-


fetal in its operation. But the amount
of money paid by our people into the
State Treasury is but a small proper.
ton of the total amount paid by them


in the shape of taxes. A much larger
, amount is paid for county and other
, purposes, and in my opinion the exist
ing laws are defective in not requir


ing more careful security of the &C
counts of those TO whom this money
. is paid, and by whom it is disburscd
) would therefore recommend to YOU
= consideration in addition to any othe
+ measures your wisdom may suggest
e the passage of law requiring tn,
# Judges of each Judicial District t
n appoint once in each year a skil.ful ae
t. countant in each county of his Dis
c trict, whose duty it shall be to exam
c inc carefully the books Of each cour


ty officers, and to state and record al
' account between such officer and hi
j. county, and when necessary betwee1
IL officer and officer. Such examination
c by disintcrested persons would in m
D. opinion have decidedly beneficial G
v feet The expense attending thcr
d would be very small, and ! have n
y doubt the people of the counties woui
e chcerfulIy bear that expense for tn
r satisfaction of knowing that the larg
d amount of money they pay as taxes
J. applied to the proper objects,


Il ! suppose it is scarcely ncccssar


for me to recommend to you as clos
70 and rigid an economy in the matter I
N appropriations as is consistent with
III proper administration of the oiiices
of the State. The scarcity of none
DC consequent upon the financial revu
or sion Of 1857, and the failure OF OF
Us crops to great extent since tn;
to time, has caused the payment of tn
I'd taxes necessary to the support OF IL


Government to be felt as a sensib
Il burden by our people, and they hay
H. the right to demand, and think 4
o. mand at our hands, that until the pre-
&c ent pressure is somewhat remove
it and our financial affairs have becon
st somewhat more easy and prosperou
h. we shall limit the expenses OF Il
id State to the smallest sum compatib
it with dye regard to the public inte
ut est


IL An event has occurred in our sist
to State of Virginia causing in that Sta
g. an intense excitement, which has
Iy a greater or less degree extendt
ur throughout our country. ! allude,


course, to the late unlawful invasit
re of that State by John Brown and b
vol associates The leading causes whl
MS led those misguided men to that mi
n attempt, in my opinion, may be easi
nd and certainly found. On the Ath
in March, 1853, President Pierce was
re- augurated as the Chief Magistrate
rs a happy and united people, 46e, 9
RI ministration of his predecessor III
be been marked by settlement OF 4
ge agitation of the question OF slave
), a growing ont of the acquisition OF y
,se ritory from Mexico. As the admin
me tration of Mr.. Monroc had been mark
,te by a settlement of similar aSitatl
nv in connection with the territory p'