The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-10-08
Senate PFecaedingF gF-G0Y. Walkers
sses age on the Fifteenth Amend

Sens 30 PE9e2cGlngF gF-d0F. Waikef's
ses age on the Fifteenth Amend
noDt.
RIcHM0ND, Oct. 7.--Iu the Senate
the protest of the Republican caucus
against the legality Of the body was
taken up and read at length. It an
nouuces that the Republican members
reserve the right, at any time, to Sc
cede from the present legislature, and
organize by themselves a legal tender,
legal and loyal legislature. The SEN
ate voted TO lay il on the table. In
tie discussion a Republican said he
regarded those who joined in making
their protest as representing the ad-
miuistration and Congress until the
President aud Congress should decide
otherwise. II was announced that
Gen. Candy had replied to the com
mlttee of the Legislature, which wait
ed on him, that he had no cOmmuni-
cation to make.
Gov. Walker sent IN q message on
the fibeenth amendment. He says
the people OF this Commonwealth at
the election, by an overwhelming ma
jority accepted and adopted the prin-
ciple sought to be incorporated into
the Constitution by this amendment,
viz: the civil and political equality of
all men before the law. The we'll
known honor and integrity of the peo-
pie Of Virginia forbid even the sup
position that they would fail to adhere
to and mainrain, while necessary and
possible, any principle to which they
had yielded their adherence.
Virginia always fuifills with most
ample good faith, all her pledges, but
our people, by their action, have not
only placed the political rights of all
our citizens on a firm and enduring
basis, bat they have accomplished
much more. They have increased
prospectively the power and influence
of our State In the National Council
by broadening the basis Of the 14th
article Of the Constitution of the
United States, when, in any State, the
right of suffrage is abridged, except
for crime. The basis of representa-
ton must be reduced in a correspond
iBg proportion, although we have
wisely settled this question so far as
our State is concerned, and banished
from the theatre of State politics this
pE0llX source of irritation, and
there are reasonable grounds for ap-
pcehension that is the Fifteenth
Amendment should fail of adoption
as part Of the Federal Constitution,
our State may be flooded with, and
the eontTol thereof pass into the
hands of a class of emigrants, from
the great States lying upon or near
our border, who will seek the en-
action of those civil or political
rights accorded to them here, but
denied 10 them there. Self protection,
therefore, demands that we do our
part towards securing that ra tifcation
Of that amendment Our interests
require it, ana our faith is
pledged 90 il. He considers
the election OF Senator's clearly
q requisite. to admission, and adds
that complete restoration is accom-
piiahed By admission to repre-
sentation in Congress, and there can
be 10 question that admission to rep.
resentatiOn may, to some extent, de-
mand on the Representative elected,
while the election of a Senator would
fully complete every preparation nee
essary for the prompt admission of
the State to rep. p.e5entatiOn In both
Houses OF Congress. The elec-
tiou Of suitable men for those ex-
alted positions would unmistakably
demonstrate the sincerity of our past
action. and afford a sure guaranty of
our Intentions and purposes for the
future. In conclusion, he says, per-
nit me to congratulate you upon the
progress already made toward the
restoration of the State to civil gov
ernment. It's good effects are already
visible everywhere within the State.
Confidence is being restored; COM
meTce Is reviving: mining and manu-
featuring enterprises are being organ
lied; capital is seeking investment Ia
cur public improvements and IN our
rich agricultural and mineral lands;
and above all, and more gratifying than
all, JOY and hope arc taking the place
of gloom and despondency. Peace
and prosperity are once more dawn
ing upon our desolate land. Con-
scious of the rectitude Of our own
acts, motives and intentions, ami
relying on the continued favor Of the
Almighty DispO3er of human events,
let Us grappIe with the living present,
and confidently hope for a glorious
future for the Commonwealth.
GILBERT Il. WALKER.