A bi-monthly steam service was established between La Guayra and New York in November, 1879, the route having been shortly afterward modified via the Island of Curaçoa, with which Venezuela carries on a considerable trade. The only railway line so far in operation in the republic is that from Tucácas to the mines of Aroa, about seventy miles. Among the additional lines projected are those from La Guayra to Carácas, from Puerto Cabello to Valencia, and from the head of Lake Maracaibo to a point in the neighboring republic of Colombia." Should these lines be completed," says United States Consul Barnes,* from whose dispatches to the Department of State the foregoing statistics have mainly been drawn, "it is likely that the foreign commerce of Venezuela would be considerably increased, and her relations with the world bettered." VERMONT. Among the laws of general interest passed by the Legislature of Vermont at the session of 1881, the most important is considered to be the "Act to equalize taxation." The results of its provisions are confidently expected to greatly increase the revenue. The valuation of real estate heretofore has been exceedingly unequal, and varied from one quarter to three quarters of its value; also above three fourths of what is termed personal property are said to have escaped taxation entirely. The new law requires assessors to appraise real estate at its cash value, namely, not at what it could be sold for at auction, or at a forced sale, but at what it might easily be sold for at a private sale. must be fixed by the judgment of the assessors, and may for that reason differ in different localities. This, with the owner's statement under oath, will constitute the basis of valuation. The rate of State taxation is fixed by the act at seventeen cents on the hundred dollars, or at $1.70 on every thousand dollars. This The grand list of Vermont for 1881, made up of complete returns received from all the towns in the State by August 1st, in accordance with the provisions of the new law, and filed in the Secretary's office, was as follows: Total polls and property valuation... $164,063,669 In 1880 the total valuation of polls was $14,491,200; of real estate, $71,017,981; of personal property, $15,375,533; total, $100,350,009. The increased polls and property valuation in the State is as follows: On polls, $761,600; on real estate, $31,419,121; on personal property, $31,521,434; total gain, $63,702,155. This is an appreciation in the appraised personal property of the State under the new law of nearly 300 per cent, and of the real estate of about 45 per cent. Formerly commercial agent at La Guayra, and afterward appointed consul to Curaçoa, The liabilities of the State consist of $155,500, represented by State bonds of Agricultural College fund to the amount of $135,500, and $20,000 in outstanding checks for United States surplus fund due towns. The court orders drawn have been reduced from $83,826.85 to $43,714.88 in 1881. Fines and costs paid into the Treasury have increased from $14,089.53 in 1877, to $33,067.58 in 1881. The net court expenses have been reduced from $113,237.12 in 1877, to $47,586.16 in 1881. The material interests of Vermont, especially the agricultural, industrial, and manufacturing, are reported to have been "exceptionally prosperous " in 1881. The industrial and manufacturing establishments in the State have been run to their fullest capacity during the year, and have done a much larger business in their various kinds than ever before. Respecting the products of the soil and the industries connected with it, several among them are stated in detail as follows: "The winter months (January to March) were favorable for lumbering, and a large quantity of spruce, hemlock, maple, and pine was cut in the forests. The maple-sugar production was the largest for several years, and is estimated to have approximated 12,000,000 pounds, and to have brought an average price of nine cents per pound, or over $1,000,000. The hay-crop was about an average one, taking the State as a whole, and fair prices were realized. The crop doubtless exceeded 1,009,000 tons, valued at $10,000,000. The pasturage was excellent up to December, and even in that month many farmers turned their cattle out to grazing. The cereal crop was the largest harvested for many years, and is said to have exceeded 8,000,000 bushels, approximating $5,000,000 in value. The potato-crop was good, and prices ranged high. The yield of this vegetable was about 4,500,000 bushels, and at an average price of sixty cents a bushel would bring $2,760,000. The production of butter was large, and commanded good prices. The yield of apples in the Champlain Valley was unusually large, but in other sections there was not a full crop. The wool clipped in Vermont was about an average amount-2,500,000 pounds. Miscellaneous articles of farm produce have done well, and brought remunerative prices. was 96-boys 78, girls 18; showing a decrease Addison.. Bennington.. The present condition of the educational interest in Vermont is shown by the following statistics: The children of school age in the State number 79,238, distributed over 2,349 school districts, and attending 2,597 public schools. These schools are maintained by the State, at an annual expense of $446,216. The number of teachers employed in the public schools is 4,359, and the aggregate amount of salaries paid them is $360,320 per annum. The yearly average cost of each school-child to the State is about $5.93. There are 7,123 scholars who attend other than public schools. The State has three normal schools, for the maintenance of which it contributes about $12,000 Washington.. annually. Vermont has nineteen incorporated academies, with 105 teachers and 2,545 scholars. Their income from tuition amounts to $25,692; in addition to which they receive $17,000 annually from endowment funds. There are also nineteen graded schools in the State, with 6,036 scholars, having 129 teachers. Of these graded schools St. Albans HighSchool takes the lead, having 1,077 scholars, 19 teachers, and tuition receipts of $841. Rutland has 936 scholars, and received $385 tuition money. St. Johnsbury has 558 scholars, with $60 for tuition. Bennington shows the number attending her graded schools to be 611, and the tuition fund to amount to $446. There is also a considerable number of excellent private and parochial schools in the State. The Legislature of the State at the last session, by inadvertency, it is said, repealed that section of the law which provided for the salary and expenses of the State Superintendent of Education for the ensuing two years. On this account, Justus Dartt, reputed to be eminently qualified for performing the duties of that office, declined the appointment tendered to him by the Governor (Farnham) at the beginning of 1881. Subsequently the Governor removed the cause of Mr. Dartt's refusal by himself assuming the obligation for the payment of the Superintendent's salary and expenses, in which personal guarantee he was joined by some twenty prominent citizens. Upon this security, Mr. Dartt accepted the appointment. The amount of the Superintendent's salary and expenses is about four thousand dollars; his duty, among others, being "to visit the various towns in the State and examine into the condition of their schools, with a view to supply their wants; to hold educational meetings in each county; and to conduct the examinations in the several normal schools." The improvement and alterations in the Reform School Building, for which the Legislature some years ago appropriated $10,000, have been executed and were brought to completion by the close of 1881. The number of inmates in the school, on July 31, 1880, was 122-boys 103, girls 19; at the close of the year 1881 it Caledonia. Essex Franklin. Lamoille.. Orange... Orleans.. Rutland. Windham.. The State.... VIRGINIA. Public interest in the State of Virginia was largely concentrated during the year upon the settlement of the debt. In January, the Supreme Court of the United States rendered a decision in the case of Hartmann vs. Greenhow, Treasurer of the city of Richmond, passing upon the validity of the funding act of 1871 and subsequent legislation. The act of 1871 provided that the coupons of the bonds to be issued should be "receivable at and after maturity for all taxes, debts, dues, and demands due the State." In 1872 an act was passed declaring that thereafter it should "not be lawful for the officers charged with the collection of taxes or other demands of the State," then due or thereafter to become duc, "to receive in payment thereof anything else than gold or silver coin, United States Treasury notes, or notes of the national banks of the United States." The validity of this act was attacked in the courts, on the ground that it impaired the obligations of a contract with the holders of the bonds, and this view was upheld by both the State and Federal tribunals. Then, in 1873, the Legislature passed an act providing that from the interest payable out of the Treasury on bonds of the State, whether funded or unfunded, there should be retained a tax equal in amount to fifty cents on the one hundred dollars of their market value on the first day in April of each year, and made it the duty of every officer of the Commonwealth charged with the collection of taxes to deduct from the matured coupons which might be tendered to him in payment of taxes, or other dues to the State, such tax as was then or might thereafter be imposed on the bonds. The act, in terms, applied to all bonds of the State, whether held by her own citizens or non-residents and citizens of other States or countries. In 1874 the Legislature modified this provision so that the tax on the bonds should not be retained from the interest paid on them when they were the property of nonresidents of the Commonwealth. But this exemption was omitted in the act of 1876 providing for the assessment of taxes in the State, in which the provision of the act of 1873 was inserted. It was the validity of this provision that was presented for the determination of the Supreme Court in the case of Hartmann vs. Greenhow. The following is the conclusion of a long opinion of the court in which the questions involved were fully discussed: The funding act stipulated that the coupons should be receivable for all taxes and dues to the Statethat is, for taxes and dues owing by the holders of the coupons, and for their full amount; and upon this pledge the holders of the bonds of the State surrendered them and took new bonds for two thirds of their amount. The act of 1876 declares that the coupons shall not be thus received for taxes and dues owing by the holders of them for their full amount, but only for such portion as may remain after a tax subsequently levied upon the bonds to which they were originally attached is deducted, though the bonds be held by other parties. If this act does not impair the contract with the bondholder -who was authorized to transfer to others the coupons with this quality of receivability for taxes annexedand also the contract with the bearer of the coupon written on its face that it should be received for all taxes due the State-it is difficult to see in what way the contract with either would be impaired, even though the tax on the bond should equal the whole face of its coupons. If, against the express terms of the contract, the State can take a portion of the interest in the shape of a tax on the bond, it may at its pleasure take the whole. We are clear that this act of Virginia of 1876 (section 117), requiring the tax on her bonds, issued under the funding act of March 31, 1871, to be deducted from the coupons originally attached to them when tendered in payment of taxes or other dues to the State, can not be applied to coupons separated from the bonds, and held by different owners, without impairing the contract with such bondholders contained in the funding act, and the contract with the bearer of the coupons. It follows that the petitioner was entitled to a writ of mandamus to compel the Treasurer of the city of Richmond to receive the coupons tendered to him in payment of taxes due the Stato for their full amount. Mr. Justice Miller dissented, saying: In addition to the general proposition which I have always maintained, that no Legislature of a State has authority to bargain away the State's rights of taxation, I am of opinion that in issuing the bonds and coupons which are the subject of this controversy the Legislature of Virginia, neither in terms nor by any just inference, made any contract that the bonds and coupons should not be subject to the same taxes as other property taxed by the State. Meantime the operation of the funding act as a settlement of the debt question had long since ceased, the compromise plan embodied in the McCulloch bill of 1879 had been rejected, the Riddleberger readjustment bill had been vetoed by the Governor, and the question remained open, and constituted the chief issue in the political canvass of the year. A convention of colored people was held at Petersburg on the 14th and 15th of March, which was somewhat divided upon the question of supporting the political movement of the Readjusters. This division led to the withdrawal of a portion of the delegates who were opposed to the movement. The members of the convention who did not approve of its action entered a protest against it, and issued an address to the people. VOL. XXI.-55 A The State Convention of the Readjuster party was held at Richmond on the 2d and 3d of June. There were several candidates for the nomination for Governor, the most prominent of whom were William E. Cameron, John E. Massey, J. S. Wise, and V. D. Groner. On the second day, and after several ballots had been taken, Colonel Cameron received the nomination. John F. Lewis, a Republican, was made the candidate for Lieutenant-Governor. Captain Frank S. Blair, a Greenbacker, was nominated for Attorney-General. The platform adopted was as follows: 1. We recognize our obligations to support the institutions for the deaf, dumb, and blind, the lunatic asylum, public free schools, and government in this State, out of the revenues of the State, and we deprecate and denounce that policy of ring-rule and subordinate sovereignty which for years borrowed money out of banks, at high rates of interest, for the discharge of these paramount trusts, while our revenues were left to the prey of commercial exchanges, available to the State only at the option of speculators and syndicates. 2. We reassert our purpose to settle and adjust our State obligations on the principles of the "bill to reestablish the public credit," known as the Riddleberger bill, passed by the last General Assembly and vetoed by the Governor. We maintain that this measure recognizes the just debt of Virginia, in this, that she assumes two thirds of all the money Virginia borrowed and sets aside the other third to West Virginia to be dealt with by her in her own way and at her own pleasure; that it places those of her creditors, who have never received but a six-per-cent installment of interest in nine years upon exact equality with those who, by corrupt agencies, were enabled to absorb and monopolize our means of payment; that it agrees to pay such rate of interest on our securities as can with certainty be met out of the revenues of the State, and that it contains all the essential features of finality. 3. We reassert our adherence to the constitutional requirement for "equal and uniform taxation" of property, exempting none except that specified by the Constitution, and used exclusively for religious, charitable, and educational purposes. 4. We reassert that the paramount obligation of the various works of internal improvement is to the people of the State, by whose authority they were created, by whose money constructed, and by whose graces they live; and it is enjoined upon our representatives and executive officers to enforce the discharge of that duty, to insure to our people such rates, facilities, and connections as will protect every industry and interest against discrimination, tend to the development of their agricultural and mineral resources, encourage the investment of active capital in manufactures and profitable employment of labor in industrial enterprises, grasp for our cities and for the whole State these advantages to which by their geographical position they are entitled, and fulfill all the great public ends for which they were designed. 5. The Readjusters hold the right to a free ballot to be a right preservative of all rights, and that it should be maintained in every State of the Union. We believe a capitation tax a restriction upon suffrage in Virginia, and to be in conflict with the fourteenth We believe it is a violation of that condition of the reconstruction wherein a pledge was given, not to so amend our State Constitution as to deprive any citizen or class of citizens of the right to vote, except as a punishment for such crimes as are felony at combe contrary to the genius of our institutions, the very mon law. We believe such prerequisite to voting to foundation of which is representation as antecedent amendment to the Constitution of the United States. to taxation. We know it has been a failure as a measure for the collection of revenue, the pretended reason for the innovation in 1876, and we know the base, demoralizing, and dangerous uses to which it has been prostituted. We know it contributes to the increase of monopoly power and to corrupting the voter. For these and other reasons we adhere to the purpose hitherto expressed to provide more effectual legislation for the collection of this tax dedicated by the Constitution to the public free schools, and to abolish it as a qualification for and restriction upon suffrage. 6. The Readjusters congratulate the whole people of Virginia on the progress of the last few years in developing the mineral resources and promoting the manufacturing enterprises in the State, and they declare their purpose to aid these great and growing industries by all proper and essential legislation, State and Federal. To this end they will continue their efforts in behalf of more cordial relations between the sections and States, and especially for the concord and harmony which will make the country know how earnestly and sincerely Virginia invites all men into her borders as visitors or to become citizens without fear of social or political ostracism; that every man, from whatever section of the country, shall enjoy the fullest freedom of thought, speech, politics, and religion, and that the State which first formulated these as fundamental in free government is yet the citadel for their exercise and protection. The call for the regular Democratic or Conservative Convention was issued early in the year, but the convention was not held until the 4th of August. It took place in Richmond, and the proceedings occupied two days. The following platform was unanimously adopted be fore the nominations were made: The Conservative-Democratic party of Virginia Democratic in its Federal relations and Conservative in its State policy-assembled in convention, in view of the present condition of the Union and of this Commonwealth, for the clear and distinct assertion of its political principles, doth declare that we adopt the following articles of political faith: 1. Equality of right and exact justice to all men, special privileges to none; freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and freedom of the person under the protection of the habeas corpus; of trial by juries impartially selected, and of a pure, upright, and non-partisan judiciary; elections by the people, free from force or fraud of citizens, or of the military and civil officers of government; and the selection for public offices of those who are honest and best fitted to fill them; the support of the State governments in all their rights as the most competent administrators of our domestic concerns and the surest bulwarks against anti-republican tendencies; and the preservation of the General Government in its whole constitutional vigor as the sheet-anchor of our peace at home and our safety abroad. 2. That the maintenance of the public credit of Virginia is an essential means to the promotion of her prosperity. We condemn repudiation in every shape and form as a blot upon her honor, a blow at her permanent welfare, and an obstacle to her progress in wealth, influence, and power; and that we will make every effort to secure a settlement of the public debt, with the consent of her creditors, which is consistent with her honor and dictated by justice and sound public policy; that it is eminently desirable and proper that the several classes of the debt now existing should be unified, so that equality, which is equity, may control in the annual payment of interest and the ultimate redemption of principal; that with a view of securing such equality we pledge our party to use all lawful authority to secure a settlement of the State debt so that there shall be but one class of the public debt; that we will use all lawful and constitutional means in our power to secure a settlement of the State debt 3. That we will uphold, in its full constitutional integrity and efficiency, our public-school system for the education of both white and colored children-a system inaugurated by the Constitution of the State and established by the action of the Conservative party years before it was required by the Constitution; and will take the most effectual means for the faithful execution of the same by applying to its supConstitution or otherwise. port all the revenues set apart for that object by the 4. Upon this declaration of principles we cordially invite the co-operation of all Conservative Democrats, whatever may have been, or now are, their views upon the public debt, in the election of the nominees of this convention and in the maintenance of the supremacy of the Democratic party in this State. Resolved, further, That any intimation, coming from of Virginia has been, is now, or proposes to be opany quarter, that the Conservative-Democratic party posed to an honest ballot and a fair count, is a calumny upon the State of Virginia as unfounded in fact as it is dishonorable to its authors. Resolved, That special efforts be made to foster and encourage the agricultural, mechanical, mining, manufacturing, and other industrial interests of the State. John W. Daniel was nominated as the candidate for Governor at the close of the first day's proceedings. On the following day the ticket was completed by the nomination of James Barbour for Lieutenant-Governor, and Philip W. McKinney for Attorney-General. It had been the plan of some of the Republican leaders to hold no State Convention, but to form a coalition with the Readjusters by taking part with them in their own convention. This was in part carried out, the Republicans joining in the election of delegates to the convention of June 2d in many cases, but there was a considerable element of the party which was dissatisfied with this course, and averse to the proposed coalition. John F. Lewis, who was nominated by the Readjusters as their candidate for Lieutenant-Governor, was chairman of the Republican State Central Committee. On the 11th of June he called a meeting of the committee, to be held at Richmond on the 21st, but subsequently, on the 16th, postponed the date to the 28th. A part of the committee met, however, on the 21st, and, in the absence of Mr. Lewis, General W. C. Wickham was called to the chair, and the following resolutions were adopted, by a vote of 15 to 2: Whereas, On the 11th day of February, 1881, the State Central Committee of the Republican party adopted by a unanimous vote (all the members being present in person or by proxy) the following resolution: Resolved, That the well-being of the Republican party in Virginia demands that no member of a Republican organization or committee shall be at the same time a member of any political organization or committee which does not acknowledge allegiance to the Republican party and its principles, and any such member so acting shall thereby vacate his position as a member of the Republican committee or organization, and a Republican shall be elected forthwith in his stead; and Whereas, The Hon. John F. Lewis, by accepting a ed: position on the State ticket of the Readjuster party, alition, and the following platform was adopthas, under the operation of that resolution, vacated the position of chairman of the Central Committee: now, therefore, be it Resolved, That this committee proceed at once to fill said vacancy by the election of a chairman. General Wickham was accordingly chosen chairman, and resolutions were adopted in favor of holding a Republican convention at Staunton on the 24th of August. The following were also adopted: Resolved, That the State Central Committee of the Republican party of Virginia do hereby caution the Republicans that the effort to disrupt our party inaugurated in the spring of 1880 is still being attempted, and we urge upon all good Republicans to be watchful of the interests of their party. We urge them to see to it that their county and city organizations are constituted of their best and most reliable men, and see that the delegates which they send to the State Convention are men who can not be swerved from their allegiance to Republican principles, and who will not yield the integrity of the organization of the Republican party of Virginia. Resolved, That the State Central Committee, now in session, out of abundant caution, do adjourn to meet in this place on Tuesday, the 28th day of June, 1881. At the meeting of the committee on the 28th, Mr. Lewis claimed that the action of the previous meeting was unauthorized and invalid. After a warm discussion the differences were composed by the withdrawal of both Wickham and Lewis, and the choice of J. W. Cochran, colored, as chairman of the committee, and an agreement for a convention at Lynchburg on the 10th of August. A contest was immediately developed in the canvass for delegates between those who favored a coalition of the Republicans and Readjusters and those who desired the nomination of a "straight" Republican ticket. When the date for holding the convention arrived, the antagonism was so strong, and the determination of each faction not to yield to the other so decided, that the State Central Committee divided and engaged separate halls, and two conventions were held instead of one. A conference committee, on the eve of the convention, presented the following propositions to the two bodies: 1. It is recommended by the joint committee that no Republican candidates for State offices shall be nominated by the convention assembled at Holcombe Hall, and no indorsement of any gubernatorial ticket be made by the convention now assembled in the opera-house. 2. It is further recommended that Republican candidates be nominated in all counties and senatorial districts in which the Republicans have a majority, and in which the local organizations deem such nominations advisable. 3. That the present State Central and State Executive Committees of the Republican party of Virginia remain as at present constituted, and take no active part in a campaign in which the party has no candidates in the field. 4. That the members of this joint conference committee pledge themselves to endeavor to secure the passage of these resolutions by the conventions now in session. After some discussion these were unanimously rejected by the gathering which favored co The Republicans of Virginia, by their duly appointed delegates in convention assembled, do resolve 1. That the Bourbon-Democratic party of Virginia, by its most recent official utterances, has shown that it is false to its professions respecting the credit of the State, and that it again seeks to deceive both the people and creditors by means of fair promises which it never means to fulfill. 2. That the Bourbon-Democratic party of Virginia is now, as ever in its past history, opposed to the true interests and welfare of the people; opposed to free and fair elections and an honest count, as evidenced by its determination to uphold the unrepublican laws which require the payment of a capitation tax as a prerequisite to the exercise of the right of suffrage; and opposed to free public schools for the education of the children of all the people. 3. That the Anti-Bourbon, or Liberal, party, has shown by its acts, since it obtained control of the Legislature and partial control of the State government, the sincerity of its professions in favor of the faithful collection and honest expenditure of the public revenues as designed by the Constitution and laws of the State, in favor of free and fair elections, in favor of impartial juries and the impartial execution of the laws, and in favor of public education. 4. That in view of this condition of political affairs, and abating no part of our determination to deal justly with all the creditors of Virginia, and to labor to pay every dollar that she honestly owes her creditors, we deem it inexpedient and unwise to make separate nominations for State officers, and we declare in favor of hearty co-operation with all other citizens who support the candidates nominated by the Anti-Bourbon or Liberal Convention held in the city of Richmond June 2 and 3, 1881. Republicans to join their efforts with ours for the final 5. That as Republicans we earnestly invite all other overthrow of Bourbon oppression, intolerance, and tyranny in the State of Virginia. The "Straight-outs" also rejected the conference report, and voted down, 39 to 46, a proposition to make nominations. They were far from agreed among themselves, and held another meeting the next day, at which the following platform was adopted: Whereas, It is proper that when the people assemble in convention they should avow distinctly the principles of government on which they stand: now, therefore, be it Resolved, 1. That we, the Republicans of Virginia, hereby make a declaration of our allegiance and adhesion to the principles of the Republican party of the country, and our determination to stand squarely by the organization of the Republican party of Virginia, always defending it against the assaults of all persons or parties whatsoever. 2. That, among the principles of the Republican party, none is of more vital importance to the welfare and interest of the country in all its parts than that which pertains to the sanctity of government contracts. It therefore becomes the special duty and province of the Republican party of Virginia to guard and protect the credit of our time-honored State, which has been besmirched with repudiation or received with distrust by the gross mismanagement of the various factions of the Democratic party which have controlled the legislation of the State. 3. That the Republican party of Virginia hereby pledges itself to redeem the State from the discredit that now hangs over her in regard to her just obligations for moneys loaned her for constructing her inpermeating every quarter of the State, bring benefits ternal improvements and charitable institutions, which, of far greater value than their cost to our whole peo |