Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-07
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA
SENATE.
WEDNESDAY,, Jan. 6, 1864

WEDNESDAY,, Jan 6, 1854
The Senate was called order at II o'clock by the
PRssIDKsr, L cut. Gov PRICE. vino, upon taking the
Chair, delivered the following address: Il.
Gentlemen Of tie Ssaate:
Since nv election to the Office of Lieutenant Governor,
have had no opportunity Of thanking my faaw citi-
zens for the honor they conferred upon me. there
fore desire now upon assumn; the dulles OF the office,
TO express them through you the high sense of graft
tude fee for this NANTES alton OF generous confidence
in me; and TO assure them that shall cherish the
recollection OF the honor as long as I've.
In the in.rins duties of TIC Office the people a. large
feel and have but little interest th, alone inter
estiug to Senators, the Luenaut Governor made
by constitutional provision the President Of their body,
and willis. il is aWa1s important TO every Legislative
body to have efficient courteous, qualified presiding
officer it is peculiarly so here, especially to him. az the
selection not made BY themselves bu. by the peope
at large for them.
The importance Of the Office to the public is merely
con ingent and colllera by the happening of any
event whereby the oce Of Governor becomes vacant,
the Lieutenant Governor becomfs psO dctO )vsrnor,
and is then .ssarily made important luncionary
to the publ C.
come, gentlemen, to pr side in the Senate, with
very little experience as presiding officer. But
hater myself that my want of experience will be COM
pensated by the kindness of the Senate lam that
shall cor stany need the I'D ADD advice of the s
tors and shall rely much upon them for support In
disc5a gng the duties Of the Chair shall endeavor to
obferve the srcN mp,ralty AID fairness, and ever
to remember that am presiding over select body of
Virginia gentlemen.
The public mnd is cngrossed with the and lis in.
cdents Ev,ry is on tip-toS TO aud lea what
is transpiriug. When the honest historian TO
write down the incidents of the wa" he will have many
dark pages TO his book. He will show how civil Eed
people claiming 70 be Christian people, can roo
der and devasate and glory their crimes. THey
now training up there's robbers and murderer who II
realize them the story OF Actaon whoe dogs hunted
other game until they hal other game to chase teen
turned upon their owner and tore him to pieces.
The people Of the North profess to be the friends OF
the 6lack man. but their professions either false or
they deceive themselves No one who understands tn
cass Of people suppose them capable CT sustaining
the unc ions OF free citizens eqla in all respects with
the Vote II made free, they will be pushed aside
by the white man because OF their neriority and like
the native Indian will gradually fade away, and become
measurably, perhaps entirely, extinct.
The struggle with us is not for power or dominion 1t
is for existence. TIE resDl; of the will make
freemen OF make slaves. We have suffered much in
the run of hom2s the desoation Of farms the
loss of property, and the murder OF our p,ope.-
But the spirit OF the peopl remains unbrc ken. They
may be destroyed, but hey will not be enslaEed
The war has been conducted in a manner not sane
toned by examples of modern warfare 1t has been
waged not only against armies and public property,
but agains; priVae ctzen' men, aud children,
and every species OF private property. Ia msny
places who'e sections Of country have been dssolIted,
and tho nhsbi,ants driven or or murdered Tas rev
system of warfare has been inauglrated By Abraham
Lincon. Hereafter when be shall cast his eyes over
desolated country, buildings burnt down, fields LAID
waste, towns destroyed and nhati anS driven ca, he
have the fendish pleasure of sIyng to himself
have done all this."
We must remember that 81 the battle . not to the
stroDg, the race to the swift but it is God that
veth the victory" Let put trust in him and not
be cast down. He may chaszs Us but he will not per-
init us to be utterly destroyed.
communication from the Governor covering his
Iuaugural Address received laid on the table and
ordered 10 be printed.
A report from the Commissioners Of thu Sinking
Fund was received and ordered to be printed.
On motion of Mr.. GARRISON the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES
The House calei to order, at noon, by the
SPEAKER.
Prayer by Rev. DR., Moore.
It wa, announced tia. there were two members
present who had no. qualified whereupon the oath of
Office administered, by the SPEAKER, TO NJ. BAs
cox, Of Mecklenburg, and Mr., LEWIS of Halifax.
Ths Clerk proceeded TO call the roll.
No quorum being found present. on motion, the
House adjourned to meet at Il o'clock NJ, tomorrow.