Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-10-12

Governor Walker, Of Virginia, sent in q
message on the Fifteenth Amendment.
He says the people of this Com mon
wealth, ct the election, by an overwhelm-
ing msjoriIy accepted and adopted the
principle sought to be incorporated into
the constitution by this amendment, viz /:
The civil and political equality of all
men before the Law. The well-krown
honor and integrity Of the people of
Virginia forbid even the superstition that
they would fail to adhere to and main
tain, while necessary and possible, any
principle to which they had yielded their
adherence. Virginia always fulfills with
most ample good faith all her pledges.
But our people by this action have not
only placed the political rights of all our
citizens on O firm and enduring basis;
they have accomplished much more, they
have increased prospectively the power
and il fuence of our State in the
national councils, by broadening the basis
of the Fourteenth article of the Constr
tuition of the United States. When 10 any
State the right of suffrage is abridged,
except for crime, the basis of representa-
ton must be reduced in corresponding
proportion. Although we have wisely
settled this question, so far as our State
is concerned, and banished from the
theater of State politics this prolific
source of irritation, there is reasonable
ground for apprehension that It the Eff
teenth Amendment should fall Of sdop-
ton as part of the Federal Constitution,
our State may be flooded with, and the
Al 49, r. hap IF
class of emigrants from the great States
lying upon or near our border, who will
seek the enaotion Of those civil or politi-
cal rights not accorded to them here but
denied to them.
Self protection, therefore, demands that
we do our part toward securing the ratih-
cation of that amendment. Our interests
require it, our faith is pledged to it. Z
He considers the election Of Senators
clearly requisite to admission, and adds:
Complete restoration is accomplished |
by admission TO representation in Con-
gress, aud there can be no question that |
admission to representation may to some
extent depend on the representatives. l
elected. While the eleetlos Of Senators
would fully complete every preparation
necessary for the prompt admission Of the |
State to representation in both houses of |
Congress, the election Of suitable men for |
those exalted positions would unmistska-
bly, demonstrate the sincerity of our past |
action and afford sure guarantee Of our
intentions and purposes for the future"
In conclusion be says:
Permit re TO psngsaislate you upon
the progress already made towrrd the
restoration of the State to civil govern
ment. Its good effects are already visi-
BILE everywhere within the State. Conf
aencs Is being restoredi commerce is re-
wing, mining and manufacturing enter
prises are being organized, capital is
seeking investment in our public i'm
provements and in our rich agricultural
and mineral lands, and, above all, and
more gratifying than ALL 10y and hope
are taking the place of gloom and de-
spondency. Peace and prosperity are
once more dswning upon our desolate
land. Conscious of the rectitude of our
own spts, motives and intentions aud re.
lying on the continued favor of the
Almighty, Who disposes Of human events,
let % grapple With The living present
and contdehtiy heps ros = glorious ia.
ture for the Commonwealth.
Respectfully,
"GILBERr e. WALKER"