Year: 1866

II y


December. the several reports cannot b.


completed until after that time; and as g


consequence they do not get into the


hands of the Governor in time to enable


him to examine them aud use their con


tents, as he should, in preparing his mes


sage to the Legislature. Everything
that appears in this communication, as
based upon those reports, is taken from
loose sheets and memoranda kindly fur,
nished me in advance by the several off.
GERS. Ny opinion is that the Legislature
should not hesitate to repeal the late law
and restore the fiscal year as it was be-
fore the change was made.


THE DEBT OF VIRGINIA.


The Constitution of our States viii,
sec. 8, provides that An equitable pro-
portion of the public debt of the Com
monwealth OF Virginia, prior to the lst
day of January, 1861, shall be assumed
| by this State; and the Legislature shall
ascertain the same as soon as practical
BILE, and provide for the liquidation there
of, by sinking fund sufficient to pay
the accrning interest, and redeem the
principal within thirty-four years" The
execution of this provision of the Consti-
tuition has heretofore been impracticable
on account of the existence of the War,
but now that peace is happily restored,
there is no reason, as there is no desire
on our part, for further delay and it de-
wolves on you to take action with view
to an early and satisfactory settlement of
all financial matters between the two
States. l, therefore, recommend that
you appoint, or provide for appointing,
Commissioners on behalf of this State to
meet like Commissioners from Virginia,
for the purpose of making the contem-
plated settlement; and in the event that
they fail to conclude an adjustment, that
you authorize the selection of an Umpire
whose decision shall be final. And it
may be we'll to provide for notifying the
Executive of Virginia of your action, in
order that he may lay the same before
the Legislature Of that State for their
consideration.


THE OHIO RIVER BED.


1t is represented to me that there are
extensive veins of the finest coal for
manufacturing purposes under the bed OF
the Ohio River for a considerable dis
tance within this State, and that persons
have sunk shafts at several points on the
bank of the River, and are mining the
coal and disposing of it for their own pri-
vate Iprefit. If their is coal under the
bed Of the River as represented-and
am inclined to believe there is-it is the
property of this State, and may be made
a source of considerable revenue. | sng-
gest that an inquiry be instituted Tor the
purpose of ascertaining the truth IN re-
gard to this matter, and if it be found as
represented, that the Legislature pro-
vide for the sale of the coal, under the
supervision of the Circuit Courts of the
counties within which it lies, and for
the payment of the proceeds thereof into
the Treasury.


MfLITARY-REPORT OF THE ADJuTANT-


GENERAL.


From the report of the Adjutant-G
eral it may be seen that this State fur
nished 81 ,5s4 troops to the United States
service during the war, nearly all of
whom were three years men. 1t may
also be seen that the bounties paid to
troops by the organized counties Of the
State amount in the aggregate to near
1000 ,000-the precise sum is.not yet as
certained This, it may be remarked,
was paid to those who enlisted In the
latter years of the war. The earlier recruits
received no such bounty, and very little
from any quarter, but it is expected that
Congress, during the present session, will
in measure repair this apparent injus-
tice. When we take into consideration
the facts that parts of he State were


DoLn 1nr no Tph
war; that at no time had we civil organl-
cations in more than two-thirds of the
counties, and that many of these were
subject to frequent and ruinous Rebel
raids, and the worst form of guerrilla war
fare, it is matter ofno little credit to the
energy and patriotism ofour people that
the State has supplied so many men to
the loyal cause. And while we rejoice
that we were able thus to contribute to
tie strength of the army and the happy
conclusion of the war, it is due to the
soldiers themselves that we make public
Acknowledgement of the high character
for bravery and soldlerly bearing which
they at all times displayed i'll the field
They have won imperishable laurels for
themselves, and have done great honor
IDG uaIllG VI tuCll CIdtC'


As soon as it became evident that act
i've hostilities had ceased, made every
possible effort to have our troops muster
ed out of service, and was so far success
full that from the 10th of June TO the
llth of August all were discharged and
sent homo except the 9th cavalry. This
regiment, with troops from other States,
was ordered West of the Mississippi,
and although | have made use of all
reasonable means to procure its muster
out, they have been unavailing. 1t Is
not nv purpose, however, to comp ain of
the War Department on this subject, as |
feel assured that the services of the volun-
teer troops thus retained were required,
and they are legally retained-somein the
South and some in the West-until the
condition of the Southern States became
such that the regular army wonld be suf-
ficient for all military purposes through
out the country. The discharge of this,
our last regiment in the service, is conf.
IDENTIFY looked for at an early day.


The report of the Adjutant-General is
a document of great interest to all the
loyal people Of the State, and especially
is il so to the soldiers who are1iving and
the friends of those who are dead. This
report in connection with the one made
by the same officer year ago would
constitute a complete history of every
West Virginia regiment, and of every Of
ficer and private who served in all our


r-o-, tho rirna ho bo