Year: 1863

il not therefore, surprising that such legislation should
have created uneasness in the public mind and aided in
bringing about depreciation and want OF confidence in
the ultimate ayment Of these obligations Other legisla
ton the part of Congress has tended strongly pro-
duce the same conclusion in the public mind The mode
in which be assessed upon credits n certain
contingencies may be mentioned that tends directly
to the dscredt OF the currency Better far would have
been to make these issues legal tender in payment OF
debts than to resort TO compulsory process like this
force its reception by the creditor and while this being
DONE Legislature is urged TO reject the paper
in payment of State taxes


When the Government casts suspicion upon it's
rency ard the State Governments and the banks and rail
road comDanies do the thing, the people may we'll
become alarmed The consequences cannot fail to most
disastrous We cannot change the action OF Congress,
but remedy the errors OF our own legislation and
thus show that disposed to uphold the credit and
currency of the Confederaey


THE IMPREssMEsT OF SLAVES


On the 29th of August last requisiton made upon
by the Secretary Of War for slaves to work upon
the Notifications around Richmond Copies of the papers
are herewith submitted to your considerations; and par
tculsry invite your attention to the dra made upon the
several counties The apporionment upon the counties
TO be entirely arbitrary and bears very unequay
La five per cent OF the slaves is called for and
in others less than per cent trust that amend
ment will be made to the law which will afford protection
| against such inequality.


The law requires that the value of such slaves may
escape from the Confederate authorities and not return To
their owners or be seized or be killed by the public enemy
may by want Of due diligence the part of the Con-
ederae States, in any manner be lost to the shall
be paid by the Confederate States the owners of such
slaves and in like compensation shall be made for
any injury to slaves arising from the want of due diligence
the part of the authorities of the Confederate States
Many of peculiar hardship arising the loss of


slaves, have been brought to my attention. and much
plant has been made by the in Of the


fact that they have not received the value provided for
in this act In several the only slave capable of field
labor that the owner possessed has been lost and compe
saton having been made has been unable supply his
place Ii the value had been promptly pnd the hardship
in such would have been greatly relieved invoke
your early attention to this subject of much Importance
to common constituents.


TIE RAILROADS BECOMING DILAPDATED.


1have receveda communication from the President of the
Central railroad enclosing report made to him by the
pentendent subject of great Importance to the road
and to the State aud the Conedeacy The demands for The
transportation of passengers aud freight this and the
other railroads OF the State have been great and the
roads have been severely taxed to meet Them So far
they have fully met the demands but is apparent to
person who will pass them that extensive repairs
much needed and must be made, or they will be
broken down and rendered useless Brsdes great diff
Guilty experienced in procuring crosses and the
say supply Of wood for fuel. Labor is indispensaby
necessary 10 relieve them; aud far legislation
aid them, satisfied 1t will be cheerfuly extended.


The Central Orange aud Alexandria, and the Virginia
and Tennessee roads have to apprehend from raids
than any of the other roads in the State and this appre
hension makes it difficult to procure labor reasonable
indeed any terms The of slaves are unwil


ling to hire them these lines, lest they may be seized
and carried off, may he induced TO abscond. Under
these circumstances they very properly desire that the
subject shall be brought to your attention The papers
| are herewith submitted and | trust your wisdom will
enable you to devise some measure OF relief
! THE TRADERS AND sPEcuLAToRs


The extortioner ia still pursuing his heartess traffic and
masng his gains. The to him is God send and be
would not have it terminated for any earthly considera
ton He shares of it's barisbps-he suffers of
its dangers He has perhaps hired substitute who for


pecunary consideration agreed to be shot his place
Such found every whore throughout the Confede
racy; and it is time something done to put end
their money making business have been investigating
this subject in the hope that would be able to make
practical recommendation that would check it it did
eradicate this evil La the first volume of the Revised
Code OF 1879 page $751; find act which passed in


777 entitled An act to prevent orestang regratipg
engrossing, aud public dues; which, with very slight
amendments would if re enscted check in great
this growing evil invite your attention to it, and
that some similar act be passed Mt this
| DEBT OF VIRGINIA


The finances OF the State highly prosperous con-
dtonmuch more prosperous indeed than could have
anticipated under the circumstances which surround us
The numerous demands made upon the have been
promptly met and satisfied Our revenue is increasing
and the people with that noble spirit ever char
acterzed Virgnals cheeruly pay their taxes aud thus
maintain the credit and uphold the character of the Com
monweath.


suggest whether it would be wise to dispose of the
interest which the State holds in internal i'm
provement companies under such restrictions may be
deemed proper aud apply the proceeds arising hererom
to the payment of the State debt We could at this time
dispose Of these stocks great advantage: and such an
application Of the proceeds would reduce the debt to
comparatively small 1t is the part of wisdom to ex
tngush debt rapidly possible and any measure
which will produce this result will greatly increase public
confidence.


Inc total permanent debt of the State reported to be
S'4399,6o0. This includes interest on the public
debt uncaed for the greater portion of which il due To
the United States her citizens, 50 273O92I 1t in.
cudes also the borrowed by to aid in the prosecu
ton OF the war, and which, by agreement is be refund
ed by the Confederate Government amounting to S5
600 These sums, making 1 80 S9, when deducted
will leave as our State debt the of S23 1853 1888 De-
duct debt purportng TO be due the literary fund hich
belongs to the State and is dsbt by fcCn of law
S2,662 69l aud there remains 500 097 TO pay
which we have available bank stocks belonging the lite
rary fund.- railroad and other stocks belonging the in
ternal Improvement fund.- worth in the market and from
which can be realized ut any tine the State may direct
the sum Of $l6543055. In addition the Commonwealth
owns ~ 34060O worth OF bank stock which will readily
commaud in the market the sum of S309 I25; leaving
only t. be provided for, $9439i7.


FROM ARKANSAS