Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-12-04
The Legislature of Virginia.

Inc Legislature OF Virginia
The Legislature assemblies to-day. The crisis
will make it memorable, and the exigencies OF
this epoch will tax its industry and demand
the exercise Of its SOundest discretion and its
highest wisdom. The subjects inviting its at
tention are both numerous and important.
The President of the United States requires
each Southern State, as an indispensable con-
ditiOn Of its restoration to the Union, to repud-
ate its war debt, TO repeal its ordinance Of Sc
ceSsion, declaring it void ab iRtjO, and to adopt
the constitutional amendment forever prohibit
ing slavery or involuntary servitude. Viz
ginia's relation to the Federal Government is
different from that of the great majority of its
sister States Of the South. Through the Legs
lature that assembled at Alexandria, its con
nection with the Federal Government, during
the progress of the war, was maintained and
recognized at Washington. That Legislature
complied with the condition named before Mr..
JOHNSON accession to the Presidency. Whether
the action of that Legislature in the premises
will be deemed a sufficient compliance, on the
part of the State Of Virginia, with President
JOHNSON'S requirements, we are not yet ad-
vised. If the competency Of that body, as
representative body, with full power TO bind
the State and to exercise the functions of a
Legislature is acknowledged, the necessity OF
further action on the same subjects by a sub
sequent Legislature is not perceived. How
ever, it is not for US OF for the Legislature, but
for the President and Congress (now that Con
'gresS is in session. to determine. Against the
requirements OF the Federal authorities it will
be idle to oppose resistance, remonstrance,
argument or appeal. \ ready and cheerful
acquiescence will be the proper response and
the true policy.
\ wise appreciation Of the delicate, and, at
present, underlined relation of the State to the
General Government, and a Difference to the
demands Of that GOvernment-now the su-
preme power in the Southern States-is entire
IN compatible with honor and manliness OF
character-mOre so, indeed, than would be i'm
potent malice and unayailing resistance. The
extremes to be avoided are base servility and
hypocrisy on the one hand, and sullen and re-
sentful temper on the other.
One foremost and pre-eminent subject for
legislative deliberation and action, will be the
modification of the laws relating to negroes and
their adaptation TO their changed relation
They were slaves when those laws were made
they are now, in the language generally accept
ed. freedmen. They must be dealt with as
such bv the Legislature. To make ga slave
= no 70
ridiculous absurdity, and to provide by law that
EMPLOYED freedmen shall be known 81 SER
wants" and their employers as "masters," as
was recently done, OF attempted to be done, by
the Legislature of South Carolina, would be a
vain attempt to hold the shadow after the sub
stance has escaped. We hope no such follieS
will be committed BY Virginia Legislature.
II should be the steady aim Of the Representa-
tives of the State TO deal in a calm, rational,
practical manner with the subject Of labor-a
subject of absorbing interest and Of Overshad-
owing importance. Ifan efficient system Of Ia
bor laws, which shall secure to the State the
needed laborerS, prescribing the mutual obi
cations and responsibilities Of employers and
employees, and providing adequate and proper
penalties for breaches of contract, can be de-
vised, the Legislature will entitle itself to the
gratitude of both whites aud blacks. Connect
ed with this subject are those enterprises that
look to the supply of labor by means OF North
ern and foreign NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. that
are starting up in every quarter Of the South
In no wav can legislative action be more use
fully employed than by cOuntenaucing and as
sisting such enterprises as, upon examination
shall give fair promise Of introducing into the
State intelligent and industrious labOrers from
beyond its borders.
The railroads of the State will require the
attention of the Legislature, and it is becoming
n ouestion if the interests Of these companies
% ,yeIIas the interests ofthe State, wOuldnOt be
advanced bv sale of the stock owned by the
Commonwealth lnthem. The propositions OF the
French Company for the purchase and com
nletion of the James River and Kanawha Canal
which were broken of by the act Of war, have
hsen renewed under circumstances that re
,oomend them, with peculiar emphasis, Il
c....r.ble consideration. The condition Of oul
finances is such, and will be such ior ione
aariod II is feared, as will render 1t impossible
- extend the pecunisry assistance necessary
% complete that great work. Inc ooJeet eould
n. Gained by its transfer to the company whose
DTooositiOns are still pending and the benefits
asrrting tberefrOm would be shared by all the
80. 81 the Commonwealth. The oyster In
go. &c of the State, so much injured and
'eies's -.n0n during the war, require the foster
i R,' care of Legislature. If unprotected and
ief onen to the spOlatiOn' Of all who 53.t may
cnOOSe y - Eastern. Virginia will be seriously
sOul0'9 s e NOT exhausted. The Oyster-oeds