Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-10-10
VIRGINIA POLITICS.

RICHMOND, October 7.--Goy. Walker
| to-day sent in message on the Fifteenth
Amendment. He says the people of this
| Commonwealth, at the election, by an
| overwhelming majority, accepted and
adopted the principle sought 20 be incor-
porated into the Constitution by this
| amendment, viz: The civil and political
equality OF all men before the law. The
well known honor and integrity of tho
people of Virginia forbid even the snppo-
sitiOn chat they would fail to adhere to,
and maintain, while necessary, and pos
sible, any principle to which they
had yielded their adherence. Virginia
always flllils, with most ample good
faith, all her pledges; but our
placed the political rights Of all out citi-
Zens on frm and enduring basis, 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 tho
Fourteenth Article of the Constitution
OF the United States. When ia any
State The right of suffrage is abridged,
except for crime, the basis OF represen-
tation must be reduced In q correspond
ing proportion. Although we have wise
Iy settled this question, so far as our
State is concerted, and banished from the
theater of State politics this prolific
source of irritation, yet there is reasona-
bic ground for apprehension that il the
fifteenth Amendment should fail OF
adoption as part Of the Federal Consti-
tuition, our State may be flooded with,
and the control thereof pass into hands OF,
a GLASS of emigrauts from the great States
lying upon or near our border, who viii |
seek the enaetiou OF those civil or politi-
cal rights accorded to them here, but de- |
MED to them there. Self-proteetiOn, !
therefore, demands we do our part toward |
securing the ratification OF that amend !
ment. Our interests require IL: our faith !
is pledged TO it.
He considered the election of Senators |
clearly Il requisite to admission, and adds |
that complete restoration Is ACCOMPLISHED |
by admission to representation in Con-
gtess, and there can hs no question that |
admission to representation may, TO some |
extent, depend on the representatives !
elected. While the election of Senators /
would fully complete every preparation |
necessary for the prompt admission of !
the State to representation in both housea |
Qf D1ngress, the election Of suitable men |
for those exalted positions would unmis- |
takahly demonstrate the sincerity of our
past action, and AFFORD sure guarantee Of /
our intentions snd purposes for the flu- |
ture.
d" In conclusion" he says, "perrnit me |
70 congratulate you upon the progress al |
ready made toward the restoration OF the !
State TO civil government. Its good ef- |
focts are already visible every where with
in the State. Confidence Is being re- /
stored, commerce Is reviving, mining and |
enterprises are being or
ganized, capital il saekipg iaVestment in
our public improvements and in our rich /
agricultural and mineral lands; and above |
all, and more gratifying than all, joy and
hope are taking the place of gloom and
Peace and prosperity are
1noa more dawning upon our desolate
land.
"Conseious of the rectitnde OF our own
acts, motives and Intentions, and relying
on the continued favor of the Almighty |
iisposer of human evnnts, let US grapple
with the living present, and confidently
hope for glorious future for the Com-