The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-12-23


You, suppose, gentlemen Of the COM
mtitec, know that | spoke in various Sec
tons of the State during the canvass, and
stated to the people everywhere that these
were tho rules laid down for lis to abide bv.
and that when we conformed TO them faith
fully had no sort of doubt of our Drompt
admission to the Union. believe we have
complied i'll every respectful least we have
intended to--and We are here to ask for
prompt admission. The necessity Of prompt
admission may not be so apparent to vol, as
to us. The affairs Of the State for the last
cight or nine years have been in the utmost
confusion, and for the greater part OF the
last four years the laws have been executed
Icy the military commander; and. under the
circumstances, rs YOU will lind by the re-
ports Of the various commanders, it has
been next to an impossibility TO find men
who could take the iron-caad oath TO Gil the
offices Of the State. But even IL there had
been plenty to fill every position in our
state. still its government is unsettled its
financial condition to-day is that of dis
honor. and it cannot be restored until we
have 4 Legislature and can support our
selves nc Il civil government. We need
capital we need emigration, and neither of
those win come TO our Stale until we have
a settled civil government. / do not desire
10 detain YOU. but wish to cay that agree
with the language OF that address because
il expresses my idea and the ideas and III
tentionS Of our people. desire II known
NOT only here. but everywhere. to Congress
and 10 or friends here OF the committee.
that the people OF the State arc in earnest
about this matter; that they are sincere,
aud have adopted this Constitution, and ap-
proved the acts Of the Legislature under
this Constitution, honestly and sincerely,
and that they will accept this Constitution
in entire good faith in every particular.
BY Mr.. BUTLER : Will YOU allow me
the single question: Some Of lis have been
told that there is III intention OH the part
Of the Legislature. or some portion Of The
people Of Virginia, rs soon as the State i
admitted into the Mon. to have the Legs
ature call Il new convention. or that the
Deopic will call a new convention, and alter
the Constitution, taking out the features
of equality OF rights, equality OF education,
and equality Of taxes, which are in the
present Constitution, as soon as they can get
tho power under such circumstances that
they cannot be controlled BY Congress.
Do YOU know or believe that any such in
tention exists and il so. to what extent.
Governor WALKER | have never heard
OF any such intention, and | do not believe
there i such an intention. There are Il
great many reasons why there should not
be any such serious dcs IN. In Inc first
place. we are too anxious TO he Il settled
state government. without turmoil and
confusion. IN the next place, we have no
power 10 hold Il convention. But we have
been III 4 canvass, and it was said to the
lored people that we would accept this Con-
Stituton and ahid" ly it, and stand by their
rights, and show ut Ill times that they
should he defended in them. And when our
people pledge themselves to do ~ thing they
are very sure TO do it. have no sort Of
doubt about the result, as there are a great
many reasons operating why they should
not change this Constitution. There are
some questions Of geographical positions
which would control in that respect
if no other considerations did. There
are here gentlemen from the north side
of the James and also from the south
side Of it and l had just as lief state my
views upon this question here as not. The
colored vote Of the state controls the south
side of the river and tide-water. and the
white vote controls the north side and
western portion Of the state. and they are
determined 10 maintain and retain that
strength which they now hold.
| have heard this dct"rmination expressed
hy large numbers ni gentlemen from those
sections Of the state, and if there arc no
other reasons this would be sufficient. But
gentlemen. the people Of Virginia have So
lcmnlv pledged themselves 10 maintain the
civil and political rights OF the co!orcd mon.
| and i'll my opinion !hcrc is not the slightest
doubt hut lhat they will faithfully fulfil
their pledges. They have said il. and they
will abide BY it.
| 50 Tar ~ III" system OF common schools is
concerned there is also no doubt in my
mind Of it. faithful execution. The real
objection II colorcd suffrage was the igno-
rance Of the Colorcd people. But now.
having conceded the right Of suffrage 10 the
colored people. they feel that they should
| he educated in order i!Ht they may properly
appreciate The elective franchise. | adrc-
| Gated upon the stump lie necessity OF
| thorough system o! colnmon schools open
| . ali the Children Of The state, and 20 tar a.
my influence should extend, such system
! should be established.
Mr.. CHARLES II. PORTER made Il
statement TO the committee to the effect that
| Governor Walker had stated. in q speech
made at at Liberty, Bedford county, during
the late canvass, that if hewcre elected. the
section Of the Constitution relating TO
county organizations never would be adj
ninistered. In reply 10 this statement &C.
vernon WALKER WAS called upon, ana
spoke II follows:
Ii i true that the reported speech W::.
precisely as the gentleman states II. III l.
also uuc that those reports were taken
down briefly, never revised by me, ana
never saw them until saw them i'll the
newspapers. | was in another part oil the
state when this speech WAS published, and
sent To me from Richmond. | said to the
people what | have said here, that did not
approve OF this county organization clause.
Il was expected that this clause would be
submitted by the President, together with
the tcst-oath and DISTINGUISHING clauses, 10
separate vote, and the people were greatly
disappointed that it was not. In discussing
the subject. nj first but little was said upon
this question, not with Il view to conceal
mcnt or ANYTHING Of The kind: but sllhSe-
uueutly that clause WAS discussed. what
said was this. that it did not matter 50 much
about the organization ~ il did the manner
in which i, was administered, and that II
were elected. and Il Legislature in accord
with me, il never would be executed III Il
manner detrimental to the people.
Mr.. PORTER l would state that the
Chairman OF the State Central Committee of
the white mans or Democratic party, after
the delivery OF that Liberty speech, came
out and issued IN address to the people OF
Virginia, and therein stated that Governor
Walker had made this speech, and called on
the Conservative voters to support him III
consequence Of thiS address,
Governor WALKER That committee
which issued that address were not the
people who nominated me, but suDSe-
ouently came in and supported me.
THE CASE OF NIRGINIA.-SCmc days ago
General Butler reported Qron the Commit
tee On Reconstruction 4 resolution Ceclal-
ing Virginia to have fulfilled AL The requ-
sites emitting her TO representation in Con-
gress but il is believed that he is not now
so strong in that faith is he once was. Inc
- Nr;roipiun lnl, Ing 80