The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-10-08

W.
tire of State politics this prolific source OF
irritation and discord, there is reasonabnice
ground for apprehension that il the III
teenth amendment should fail Of adoption
as d part of the Federal Constitution our
State NAV be flooded with, and the control
thereof nass into the hands Of, class oil
emiorants from the great States lying upon
or near our borders who VIII seek thc en-
iovment of those civil and poiltlcal rights
accorded to them here but denied 20 them
there. Self-protcction, therefore, demands
that we do our part towards securing the
ratification of that amendment; our lntc-
rests require It our faith is pledged to it.
When YOU shall have ratified the four
tecnth and fifteenth amendments to the
Constitution of the United States Virginia
will have complied fully and voluntarily, IN
letter and in spirit, with all the conditions
and requirements of the laws OF Congress
known as the reconstruction acts, ana VIII
he entitled, and undoubtedly will be ad-
mitted, to immediate representation III bofh
branches of the National Legislature on It's
assembling in December next. Inc law OF
Congress itself provides that when these
conditions shall have been compllcu WIN
the estate shall be declared entitled to
20 representation in Congress, and senator's
and representatives shall be admitted on
their takin" the oath prescribed by law
Representatives have already been elected,
and il ONLY remains for you to elect senators
70 comDlcte the representation TO which the
State is entitled. [ have never doubted
vour comnctency to elect, nor the proprlety
If vour eiccting, senators at vo'1r present
session. In my opinion it Is clear. one OF
the "requi>itcs to reconstruction. Ioili-
plctc resi- oration is accomplished ny HuiiilS-
SION to representation in Congress, ana tncrc
! oil, fn o.
Scntation NAV to some extent depend upon
tbc representatives elected. While the cleo
tion of senators would fully complete every
DrcparatiOn necessary for the prompt adj
mission of the State TO representation IN
both Houses of Congress, election OF Suitl-
HE men for those exalted positions would
urmistakably demonstrate the sincerity Of
our past action and afford Il sure guarantee
of our intentions and purposes Tor the iu-
tUTe.
In view Of the fact that the new conStltu-
ton inalguratcs many radical changes III
our state government, and neccss!tales
prompt and thorough legislation upon
almost every subject within the scope OF
your powers, | respectfully recommend 10
both Houses Of the General Assembly the
appointmcnt of Standing committees ut the
present session. especially for the conSidc-
ration of finance, education, internal I'M
proremcnts. aud the judiciary. The tnan-
cial condition of the State demands the
serious and thoughtful attention Of IN able
committee. Our educational and Judiciary
systems and code of laws must be reno
dcllcd and placed in harmony with the con-
>titution: and our internal improvements
demand the graycSt consideration OF your
honorable bodies. Committees upon these
and other important subjects, appointed
,.;t -N cit II "a
cess, will be able TO mature bills and have
them ready for introduction ut the opening
OF Your next session.
In conclusion, permit me to congratulate
YOU upon the progress already made to-
wards the restoration Of the state TO civil
government. It's good effects are already
visible everywhere within the state. Con-
l;dence is being restored; commerce Is re-
viying: mining and manufacturing enter
priScS arc bcin" organized; capital Is seek
il" investment i'll our public improvement :;
and in our rich agricultural and mineral
lands; and. above and more gratifying IMAM
all, 10Y and hope are taking the place oil
gloom and dependency. Peace ana pros
Dcrity are once mere daWnll@ upon our
dcSolatcd land.
Conscious OF the rectitudc of your own
acts. motives. and intentions, ana relying
upon the continued favor OF the Almighty
disDoscr of human events, lei Us All man
fully grapple with the living present, and
confidently hope for Il glorious future lUr
the Commonwealth.
Respectfully.
GILBERT {. WALKER.
ACTION UPON THE MESSAGE.
Mr.. HERSDoH. of Spot>ylvania, moved the
reference of the message to Il special com
mittec. consisting OF three 10 confer with Il
similar committee from the House, ard re-
port what action may be necessary by The
General Assembly. The motion prevailed.
On motion of Mr.. SNowDEN, 800 copies OF
thc message were ordered to be printed for
the use of the Scnatc.
The PRESIDENT appointed the following
committee under the resolution offered ny
Mr.. I.ernGon NesSrs. Ucrndon, FRENCH,
%uowdcn, Owen, and Tcamoh (colOred Rad
ical),
Adjourned until T. o'clock tomorrow.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
The House me! at T. o'clock; Mr.. TUREEI;
i'm the chair PRAYER by Rev. DR.. Edwards.
Mr.. KELLEY (the morning hour having ar-
rivcd) moved the concurrence Of the House
in the Senaee resolution providing for .
Joint committee to visit the Governor ami
commanding General and notify them OF
the organization OF the General Assembly.
Before this motion was put, Sir. WHITE
RadicaD called for the placing Of the pro-
test of the Radical members upon the Jour
nal and for it, reading.
This was put to the House under call
for the ayes and snoeS, and lost by strict
party vote.
The motion of Mr. KELLEY was then taken
up and carried The following gentlemen
were appointed on the committee on the
part Of the House McSsrs. Kelley. Wood
SON, Taylor, Luther Lee, Jr., and Walker.
CONTESTED SEAT.
Mr.. PGTuAM presented the petition Of {.
w. ButtZ, coniesting the seat Of +. :. Nor
ton, of DANES City and Williamsburg, Tor
reference 10 the proper committee.
The ground of contest il that Frederick
Smith is the correct name of Norton, the
occupant of the seat. That he has done
business in Williamsburg, and always took
out license in that name. That in 1866 he
purchased house and lot in Williamsburg
and took the deed in the name of Frcdc-
rick Smith. That when he registered in
1867 he made affidavit that his name was
Frederick Smith, and SO registered and
voted. That at the late election he also
voted for I. s. Norton under the name Of
Frederick n. Smith. That he was never
known by any other name than Smith until
just previous to election.
The second ground is that, by General
Orders No. Is, from headquarters First
Military District, issued in 1867 by General
Schofeld-Jamcs City and York counties
Gucluding the city of Williamsburg should
have one member of the convention. In
registering the voters onc-half of the voters
of Williamsburg were registered il York
county and the other half in James City
county, there being no separate registration
framed by the convention, and also by
General Orders No. 81, of May y, 1869, IS
sued by General Candy, it is provided that