Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1864-01-12
ADDRESS OF LIEUT.. Gov .n,

On taxing the chair as President of tho sarote
of Va, Lieut.. Gov. Saml. Price ae,;vs,od ,'s 49,
following address:
| Gentlemen of the Senate:
nlnce my election to the office of 1t. Gover.
nor, have had no opportunitv of thsnr;nn .s,l
fellow citizens for the honor they have conferred
npon me. therefore desire now. upon assnm-
ing the duties of the office, to EXPRESS to them
through youethe high sense of gratitude I feel
i"f tnls manifestation of generous confidence in
me ana TO assure them that shall cherish the
recollection OF the honor as long as live.
In The intrinsic duties ofthe Office the neop,a
at large feel and have but little interest: thew
are alone Interesting to Senators, as the 1T Cow
ernor is made by constitutional provision. the
President of their body, and whilst it is always
important M to every Legislative body to have an-
eAclent, courteous, qualified presiding officer it
Is peculiarly so here, especially to him as the
selection is not made by themselves. but nv the
people at large for them.
Inc Importance OF the Office to the public is
merely contingent and collateral, as by the han.
pening of any event whereby the Office of Cot
ernor becomes Ipso FAoro Governor. and is ths,,
necessarily made an important functionary to
the public. w
L come, gentlemen, to preside in the Senate.
with very little experience as presiding officer
But fatter myself that my want of experience
Will be compensated by the kindness of the San
advice OF the Senators, and shall rely much
upon them for support. In discharging the du-
ties OF the Chair, shall endeavor to observe the
strictest lmpartiality and fairness, and ever to
remember that am presiding over a select body
of Virginia gentlemen.
The public mind is engrossed with the war
and its Incidents. Every one isoatip toe to see
and learn what is transpiring. When the hon.
est historian comes to write down the incidents
of the war, he will have many dark pages to his
book. He will show how civilized peonle.
to be christian people, can rob. mur-
der and devastate, and glory in their crimes
They are now training up thieves, robbers and
murderers, who will realize to them the ssory of
Acteon whose dogs hunted other game until they
had no other game to chase, then turned upon
their owner and tore him to pieces.
The people of the North profess to be the
friends of the black, but their professions are Ell
ther false or they deceive themselves. No one
who understands this class of people can supnose
them capable of sustaining the functions of free
citizens equal, in all respects, with the white
man. II made free, they will be pushed aside
Dy the white man because of their inferiority;
and like the native Indian, Will gradually fade a.
way, and become measurably, perhaps entirely,
extinct,
The struggle with US is not for power or do
mlnion, 1t is for existence. The result of the
war will make freemen make us slaves
We have suffered much in the ruin OF our homes
the desolation of farms, the loss ef our prop
erty, and the murder of our people. But the
spirit of the people remains unbroken. They
may be destroyed, but they will not be enslar-
we'd. fN
The war has been conducted in manner not
by examples of modern warfare. It
has been waged not only against armies and pub
&c property, but against private citzens, men,
women and children, end every species of pri-
Tate property. In many places whole sections
of country have been desolatede and the inhab-
tants driven off or murdered. This new system
of warfare has been inaugurated by Abraham
Lincoln. Hereafter, when he shall cast his eyes
over desoated country, buildings burnt down.
ields laid waste, towns destroyed, and nhabi-l-
ANTS driven off, he have the fendish pleas
ire of saying to himself, ssI have done all
his.''
We must remember that ssthe battle is not to
he strong, nor the race to the swift, but it is
Tod that giveth the victory" Let US put our
rust IN Him and not be cast down. He may chas-
ize us but he will not permit Us to be utterly
DESTROYED.