Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-03-30
Speech of Col Gilbert G. Walker, Candidate
for Governor Of Virginia.

La accordance with previous announcement,
meeting of the Anti-Wel or 'True Reput-
blican party, was held in Richmond on last
Thursday afternoon at the Western portico of
the Capitol. The meeting was called to order
by franklin Stearns, Esq, on whose motion,
Mr.. c.. D. Yale was chosen chairman.
Mr.. Yale then introduced to the meeting
Colonel Gilbert G. Walker as the candidate of
the ''True Republican party Of Virginia for
the office of governor.
COLONEL WALKER S SPEECH.
Colonel Walker came forward, and said he
appeared before the meeting under very peculiar
circumstances. He was nominated for the of
fee of governor, and nominated, as the lawyers
say, without his knowledge, privity or consent.
He did not seek this nomination. He had
come to Virginia for the purpose OF transactlng
business, and not to seek for political perfer-,
ment. He was attracted to the State by the
high character Of her people and her immense
natural resources. He felt surprise and regret
when he found himself thus thrust prominently
forward in political movement But when he
considered the character Of the men who had
nominated him, and when he considered the
platform of principles which they had adopted,
he felt constrained to accept the nomination,
and to do the best he could to secure the success
Of these principles. They were men of sub
stance men Of character They were all Re
publicans, Grant Administration Republicans,
and so was be. Every citizen Of Virginia had
great interest In the early restoration of the
State to the Union. How shall it be restored
How shall it be done no,o? There is but one
way: We must execute the reconstruction
laws of Congress in good faith. When that
shall be done the State will be restored to the
Union, and not until it is done. The time had
come when large majority Of the people of
the State were in accord with him on this sub
ject they not only accepted the situation in all
its bearings, but wished to see the reconstruc-
ton laws faithfully executed. He always want
ed to see the reconstruction laws of Congress
faithfully executed, and thought it was the best
policy Of the people Of Virginia to carry out
these laws in good faith. Are they ready to do
so? There is no other way to get back into the
Union
In regard to the Underwood Constitution, he
said he objected to the disqualification clause,
to the test-oaM required by it, and to the coun-
! ty organization clause. The day for test-oaths
had passed away. He was in favor Of placing
the colored man on an equality with whites as
far as civil and political rights were concerned
1t was necessary that this should be done. 1t
was dangerous to any State government to have
a large body Of citizens disfranchised, and this
doctrine applied as well to white men as to col
ored men, Let every body vote; put every
body On an equality before the law. The remedy
for all the evils which aflict us is reconstruction
| on the basis of the equality Of all men in civil
and political rights.
When General Grant said ''let US have
peace, he meant what he said. He meant 10
carry out also what he said in his inaugural ad-
DRESS We need reconstruction to build our rail
roads, to finish our canal, to secure in the east
ern border Of our State harbor for the com
MERGE Of the world, to bring to our State i'm
migrants from the North and from Europe, to
develop our material wealth. With reconstruc-
ton will come all the blessings that flow from
happiness, contentment and prosperity
He said it had been long time since he had
made speech in public, and he felt that his
voice was about to fail him. He had indicated
| the chief points, the main issues on which the
campaign was to be conducted. and, after thank
ing the audience for its attention, retired