Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-03-12
Message of Governor Peirpoint to the
Legislature of Virginia.
Executive CHAMBER.
RICHMOND, March 4, 1857.
To the Senate and House Of Delegates of

--GESTLEMEN-l ueem IL my Quty 10 cali
your attention to the recent act of Congress,
entitled I" An Act to provide for the more eff
cient government of the rebel States" The
last six yeats have made an eventfui period
in our history One crisis has scarcely pass
ed before another of greater magnitude has
arisen. During the canvass of 1860 for Pre-
sident and Vice President, scarcely press,
and but few politicians, advocated secession
of the State from the Union. In January,
1861, the General Assembly called conven-
ton, which met at the Capitol on the 18th
day of February of the same year. A full
vote of the people was cast at the election for
delegates to this convention. The subject of
Union and secession was then distinctly be-
fore them, and two-thirds of the votes cast
were for the Union candidates. A vast ma
jority thus declared that they were unaltera-
bly, attached to the Constitution and the Union
of their fathers. They were happy, with all
their rights fully protected. The declaration
made by leading newspaper of this city
that the State should be g dragged out" of
the Union. In less than seventy days from
the assembling of the contention the ''ordi-
nance of secession " was adopted, and the
terrible civil war through which we have just
passed inaugurated. From that day to the
presentm my whole energies have been devoted,
in the fear o. God, to do what could for the
benefit of my native State. In no instance
have l suffered caprice, resentment or ill.will
to govern my public action.
In june of 1865 | recommended the re-
noval, by the General Assembly, of the dis
qualification of voters imposed by the State
constitution, as then in force This action
was dictated by two reasons First, because
1 became satisfied that in majority of the
counties of the State there could not be found
half the requisite number of qualified men to
fill the Offices necessary to administer the laws
At least ninety per ccntiim of the taxes OF the
State would have been paid by tiien who we're
disqualified from voting or holding Office un-
der he provisions of the constitution. To
attempt to organize aud carry on republican
government under such circumstances was
was prompted to this action by magnanimity
that believe existed in the hearts of a vast
majority Of the people of the Northern States
all of whom rejoiced at the termination Of the
civil strife, which had brought sorrow to SO
many homes, and believed that the Southern
people had accepted the situation Id good
faith. This opinion is confirmed by recur-
renee to the history of the times. The terms
imposed by the commanding general were
considered magnanimOus, and approved by the
people, and that general still retains his pop
ularity. Previously to the action of the Tir-
ginia Legislature, the President commenced
the establishment Of civil governments in the
other Southern States-where he had declar-
ed no State governments existed-upon terms
even more liberal than the policy adopted in
Virginia. He rehabilitated the people in
those States who had been engaged in the re-
bellion. He also entered upon liberal poll
cy of granting pardous, under an act of Cons
o.lo I,C1 /
the Government of the United States, and
had otherwise become liable to the penal laws.
While these acts were transporting, in the
summer and fall of 1865, committees from all
parties in the Northern States, waited on the
President to express their full confidence in
his patriotism and their approval Of his adj
mlniStratlOn. Not a convention North of
Mason and Dixon's line met to nominate can>
didates for county or State officers but passed
resolutions commendatOry of President John
sou and his policy. The resolutions, with
the eulog;es of the press of both political
parties, formed part Of the political Iitera-
ture of that summer and fall. On the as
sembling of the present Congress, a joint
committee of both houses *as appointed, to
whom all questions in regal to reconstruction
were referred. That committee continued
its investigations for seven months, which re-
suited in the propositions to add the proposed
fourteenth article to the Constitution of the
United States; and the section of the act of
Congress, under which the President was
granting pardOus, was not repealed for thir-
teen months after Congress had it in its power
to stop these pardons by repeal of the law
Shortly after pardons and amnesty began
to be freely granted by the President, the
Southern press assumed bold, defiant, bitter
and vindctive tone. Memorial associations
and various other movements were Inaugural
ted, which afforded opportunities for infiam>
matOry lectures, Orations, and essays, all call
culated to stir up and keep alive in the mem
DRY of the people Of the State Hatred of the
people of the Northern States, and the gov
eminent Of the United States The most OBJ
jcctional parts OF these performances have
been circulated through the Northern press
Some Of our legislation has not been of the
most fortunate character to produce q good
impression Two freedmen have fallen by
the hand of violence, and the offence was
scarcely noticed by the officers of the law.
The proposed amendment, as the 18th ar
ticle of the Constitution of the United States,
was submitted to the Southern States for
their adoption or rel election. Tennessee adop-
ted it; each of the others almost unanimous
ly rejected it. All these acts impressed Con-
grcss with the idea hat the situation was not
accepted by the Southern people in gond
faith and it is now proposed to intro uce a
new element into the governing power Of the
State in the hope of rcmedying the evil The
terms in the amendment to the Constitution
proposed were considered in Europe and in
this country the most magnanimous offer. to a
people situated as ours were. recorded in his
tory. l so considered it when addressed to
you my annual message at the commencement
of your present session. I then said, THE
conditions are not nearly so hard as thu
might be. The person Of the citizen is safe;