Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-10-15


to the Constitution of the United States,
proposed by the thirty ninth Congress, and
known as Article XIV, and when said
article shall have become part of the Com
stitution Of the United States, said State
shall be declared entitled TO representation
In Congress, and senators and ropresenta.
tives shall be admitted therefrom on their
taking the oath prescribed by law" This
law Is still In full force, and Virginia was
named in the preamble to the act as one Of
the States TO which IL was to be applied.
IL will be necessary, therefore, for you to
comply with the condition therein named :,
although Article XIV. has already been
ratified by the requisite number of States,
and has been officially proclaimed as part
Of Constitution Of the Constitution OF the
United Slater. A copy of the resolution
Of Congress proposing Article XIV. to the
Legislature Of the several States Is here
with submitted.
10 March lest the Secretary OF State OF
the United States transmitted TO the Gov
ernor of thisCommonweal b an official copy
u resolution of Cong ess, proposing 10
tho Legislatures Of the several States a fif
teentb amendment to the constitution of the
United States a copy of which ia herewith
submitted. l also submit herewith COPIES
of the two opinions OF the Attorney Gener-
al of the United States as to the 20 wers and
duties of the General Assembly Of Virgin a
| at Its present session.
0nr late election was authorized by an act
OF Congress approved April l0th, 1868, the
| sixth section of which is in these words,
"That before the States OF Virginia,
Mississippi, and Texas, shall be- admitted to
| representation in Congress, their several
Legislatures which may be hereafter law
fully organized, shall ratify the 6fteenih
article, which has been proposed by Con.
gress to the several States as an amendment
| TO the consti ution o the United States"
While by this law the ratification by the
General Assembly Of the proposed iite.bth
anne nd Uncut to the constitution of the Uni
ted States is made u condition precedent to
the admission Of the State tn repre- sentatiou
| in the Federal Congress, | canuot DOUBT
that you would cheerfully ratify that
amendment even were no such condition
imposed,
The people Of this Com nonwealth, at tho
late elect 70, by an overwhelming majority,
accepted and aiupte'i the principle soug II
10 be- Incorporated lutO the Fedora, cons,i-
tuition by tnis amendment-viz the civil
aud political .quAity Of all men before the
aw." The well known honor aud int & rity
| OF the people of Virginia forbid even the
| ly adhere 10 aud niaintain, while necessary
aud possible, any principle to which they
| mad yielded their adherence. Vugluia al
ways futil-, IN the must ample good faith,
all her Pledges.
But our people, by this action, have not
only placed The polite Il rights of all cur
| cirziu0 upOn a Il, m aud enduring basis. -
| They have accomplished much more. They
| nave Increased pIospectively the power and
| il fiueDce of our State inthe National coun-
ellis by broadening the basis Of representa-
\ zion. Under the fourteenth article OF the
constitution Of the United States, when, IN
any State the right OF suffrage Is sbriged
except for crime, the basis of representa-
ton must be reduced in a corresponding
proportion. Although We have wisely set.
| tl"d this questi: n 50 far rs our Stats Is con
cernrd, AMI banished forever from the thea
10 of state poliics this prolific scource vi
| Irritation AID discOrd, there is ressOnao e
| ground tor apprehension that, II tue itteeLth
| amendment should fail Of adoption as a
part OF the Federal Constitution, our State
may DO Il Joded with, and the control there
| fpass into the hands Of, a class of IN gre uts
from the great Stat lying upon or near
our bui ders who will seek tue enjoyment oi
those civil aud political rights accorded u
| 70 then here but denied to them there
SelT-protection, therefore, demands that we
do our parts toward securing the TatiicA-
lion OF that ame Idment our interests re.
qu re it our faith Is pledged to it.
When you shall have ratified the four
teenth aud fifteenth amendments to the
Constitution of the Uuited S ates, Virginit
will have complied fully and voluntarily
in letter and in spirit, with all the ccndi.
tions aud requirements OF the laws Of Con
gress known as the reconstruction acts, and
will DO entitled, and undoubtedly will bt
admitted, to immediate representation II
both branches of the National Legislatur,
on its assembling in December rext. Tn,
law OF Congress itself provides that wher
these conditions shall have been compiled
With, tho State shall DO declared entitled
to representation 10 Cougre ss, and Senator
and Representatives shall be admitted OIL
their taking the oath prescribed by law.
| Representatives have already been cleo
ted, and it only remains for you to cleo
senators to complete the representation 4
which the State is entitled. l have nevs
| doubted your competency to eject. nor tn
propriety Of your electiug, senators at you
, present session. In my Opininon It Is Ger
, ly one of the " requisites 10 reconstruction.
Complete restoration is accomplished b.
admission 10 representative In Congress
, and there can be DO question that admiss o
I to rep esentation may 10 some extent do
. pend upon the representatives elected
While tho election of senators would full
cOmplote every preparation necessary ~
tie DIT Jmpt admission OF the State to repre-
: sentatiOn In both Houses Of Congress, cleo
ton of suitable men for those ex ilted pos
I tons would upmistakably demonstrate TIA
! sincerity OF our past action and afford
{ sure guarantee of our Intentions and purpC
{ SEES for tie future,
t la view Of the fact that the new constitu
. ton inaugurates many radical changes j
2 our State government, ami necrssiti'
j. prompt and thorough legislation upon almo'
: any other subject within the scope Of yOC
q pnwees, respectfully recommend to bot
J. lInuses of the General A,embly the ~
= continent If standing Committees a. Il
5 present session, especially Tor the consider
n alton of finance, education, internal ia
>, provemrnis, aud aud the judiciary. Tt
"A financial C edition Of the State d, mands n
l. serious aud thoughtful atiepIion OF an ab
!. comm ttec. Oar eduranonl AMI judici
l. systems aud de at iaSs must bo remode
q I'd and placed Ia harmony with Toe constit
" ion end our internal improvements, d
"A mand the gravest consideration OF yo
!, hon rablr bodies. Committees upon the
20 and other important suhj"cts, apppint'
: nos with authority To SIT during the rrct
- viii b. able 10 m IN g bells and lave thu
r. rr.dy fur introduction at the opening
cur next SESSION.
=, l., cone usion, permit me To congraiula
you npon the progress already made
wards the restoration of the State To ci
government. lis good effects are alres
visible every whrre within the State. &c
addence is being Restored commerce
reviving mining aud manufacturing cut
prls,s are being orgsnizsd ! capital Is set
inx investment in our public improvement
n aud In our rich agricultural and mine
lands and, above and more gratifyins u
- all 10y aud nope are taking the place
o gls,m aud dependency. Pe1c and pr
Wv perity are once more dawing upon the de
~, latsd land.
az Coneious Of the rectitude OF your o
~ acts, motives, and intentions, aud rely.
a npon the continued favor OF the Almigl
disposer OF human events, let us ali mani
hs ly grapple with the living present, aud 20
| a. L., h..n FIR Uln