Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-01-06
gJcHu0ND EKQUsREEs.
s.TuNDAY ToRNISC, JANUARI ,, 1882.

THE ADMINISTRATION OF GOVEkNoil ~ i"'
nistousa source OF pleasure, and an agreeable du's'
lice in e.ms Of sincere compliment the admn'S'a"o'
The accomplished and enlightened gen''e'"'" ""
Executive uiIice has just expired. h.ro NJ
Few Governors in the narrow and c"niice" Sr ?. .,.
h ,,,oo have ever acquired in the short space " '.'
~ c,vi,bIe reputation for sagaciy' s'"'e s''''''"c
;ers md decision Of character than 'e a'e -
,his conmnu wealth. No mon mas ever il=en III ou4 '
sa.,n.-,,iy ooscurily 10 Distinction rapidly than
C.,or Floyd Entering political life Tor the ilrs nn'e III
,ea7 as member Of the Legislature OF virginia, 'ce ram"
ING at once among The first Of the State, nc was III 1919
translated , the office Chief Magistrate Of this common
wealth. an office which he filed in manner gfeslns 70
every friend 0! Suite advancement and prosperity.
In tho discharge of his high duties, Governor Floyd US
h;s will prove seemed have aimed exclusively
=, the advancement Of the best interests OF the State ana
the deyclopeuen OF those ample resources Win which ou'
ylorous old commonwealth has been 50 cy endowed oy
nature
His recommendations Of various schemes for tue h'eha
of The State were remarkable for their liberal and
catholic character. In the two able and powefia annual
submitted the Legislature his Recommendations
wor. confined 10 those few magnificent and wise lines OF
improvements Which, when completed, VIII attract 10 o."
S,te the products OF the lccming West and South Ills
policy of internal improvements was wise and statesman
like one He opposed the appropriations o moneys 10 small
and locnl schemes calculated only aid negh5oroods and
nriyte interests The money Of the people, ne regarded
as sacred 10 be employed only for such purposes and 10 be
invested in such way would yield The surest ana sceu!
! est returns of profit 10 the State
He urged the concentration Of the resources Of tie Siac
upon Great WORKS public character and rcpfosated eve
~ system of log rolling which aimed al the promotion Of
private interests the expense OF thus" oil the Stare
Wiki an intelligence TOO broad Tor lin 10 degenerate nt'
he urged the proprey osecuing 10 Viz
! lS..tI ,,a
Of canals and rail roads, regarding both the waller and
RAIL road lines internal improvements necessary Tor e
dcveopcmrn Of The OF the country ana he re-
s,ecvs advantages modified by their geographical position
and objects.
To those prominent schemes of Improvement which pro-
mise wien completed, be the pride and lnoXhausheie
sources of wealth 10 the State, Governor Floyd gave meal
culabe aid BY his energetic and wise assistance
Nor was he whilst attentive the interests of the State,
as connected with the various schemes OF Improvement I'M
mindful OF the importance Of preserving the credit oil the
State proving that upon her financial concltion aohc uc-
pended her honor, prosperity and actual success
MANY of his suggestions, with reference to is important
subject have since through the Legislature, been made OF
practical advantage Stale. Particularly do we refer
TO the complete of the coupon bonds irst recount
mcnded by Governor F. in his messages They now con-
suie what universally regarded as the best STOCK IN inc
Southern Market and the constant sale OF this species VI
Stale stock 1t high Premium mas done more liah a'y
thing for the last twenty years 10 elevate Tue cre u 'uc
State The value and Importance o! this measure u hhacc
can scarcely be ovees,imared when recoicc that II
was adopted time when the enormous appropriations OF
the Legislature had impaired the credit of The State ana
nrodeeJ manic in the money market which had produced
serious depression value and availability of the State
stock The active personal interest taken by Gov f"yu
in tho sale coupon bonds in The larger money as
of the United States of advantage 10 the State
Within the last two years the question Of constitutional
reform has agatcd State and triumphlng IN lis jStice
and proprcly has consigned md asocatic conservatism
asi, was styJ 10 the tomb the Capuc,s. The people
now for the time, in the history OF the State exercise
wholesome control in election Of all the high officers OF
The commonwealth The theory and Practice oil our gov
ernmen, are nov alike and the highest well Us the low
est who seek office taught that the power OF tie people
is The sovereign power OF the Stale Governors, JUDGES
magistrates all the officers OF the State VIII be ianshs se
s,uary lesson power is greater than that oil inc IN
dependant voter.
Now that he people have ;riumphed and possess Those
privileges which hey have long desired they should WIN
gratitude remember the services Of those who were inc po
neeIs in tie great ami successful struggle for con-
s;itu,onal reform In 1919 before this subject had excited
the attention ii the people, before its popularity uupopu-
Iari,y had been sccraned Governor Floyd in his first an-
ma. sage came forward boldly and uncsatingly "a the
ELOQUENT advocate Of nearly all of the reforms which have
taken place in our organic law "h honest inoiena-
lion he denouGced Constitution which deprived thousands
OF the most homes. ot our itnw-czc9S O! 'hc EG' Vi
suffrage and degraded, by absurd and cuc constitutions!
prohibitions who had fought 70: their country? and In
whose breasts ne flame OF patriotism burned as warmly as
in that OF the ;roudcst millionaire Like the present Gov
ernor this commonwealth he was the constant and until
na friend al The people seeking extend the right Of
suffrage He equally loud in den"uncing The system OF
double voting by which the Wing party vas for years emu
bled 10 suppress the voice Of Democratic constituencies
Double voting has been abolished Universal sur 'sc has
liberated from Egyptian tonnage one hundred thousand v0
crs and the Democratic party, hmcr in the affections Of The
people, continues the controlling party in tins State b an
unnrcccd, nted rnoriy The tide Of reform hs swept
giving vitality enlarged liberty and universal satisfaction
Honor ;hcn 20 those boll ard patriotic who fr: Iut
the bail in MOTION and hUstd the banncr vi constitutional
REFORM The late, well The present Governor Ot Viz
gna for their distinguished services IN s cause deserve
the admiration Of the people Of this State.
AT no pcro, in the soiy Q; TIE Omen it placed
more danger by the agitation III. question Of slavery
than during last three years. The crisis believe had
at time arrived wGen Tic ura Of d. @onij have dcr
cd the fate the glorious fabric winch all revere and
desire preserve, whilst the laws ana CONSTITUTION
spected and enforced in !cir fall power in.y. nut
in 1919 ana in $50 fanaG;s OF the Unun
with inem.,@rge ashness AZ the other, threatened,
time the dissolution Of III" unon II when the
measures Of Ccress lar om sn?p:saiuy the general feel
ing Of evaporation rather diminished Ii"i 30 the flame EA
trcme Southern n2G well !nlticl fresoss, stcinc
bent upon the ;cJ:ation .! this mighty Union carin.
i, asundcr. Vermont III tal :ioien. jpi;i3nil;u wch
has characterized tie Wig lasy u that STATE pressed
upon Congress which aal!nount disco
luton OF the Union y: tlat time Sourh Carolina and
even Mississippi, stood ready TO hGo.r oil the ale
glance OF the Cn,n The Compromise cont-iou
ted the Union from the horrors II civil stribu
the tm GcleTmin saId taken by Virginia ia that hour
pei, contribute greatly produce H.. general feeling p
respect FOR the "a the Compromise, which has
suited in an almost universal acquicsccncc in !hcn by the
people vi the South The largest, the mos honoc, the
iluc nIl OF he Sl!c3t such moment, III" eyes
of her Youthful ana less cautious sisters 4" The South
were turned upon her, seeking counsel and advice
In her wisdom honor aud devotion tie rnc interests
of the South! wH the Uuon ali placed cnnhdcncc
She know IL would submit 10 insult, sac would
not bow her noble head the yoke Of ire"sos lend
herself the purposes vi hot headed disnnonsts. Tic
course of Virginia in this crisis is precisely what could
have desired. She exhibited thar wi= nC icn Characterized