The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-10-08
Governor walkers Message 20 the
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Governor Walker yesterday sent his flrst
message to the Virginia Legislature. After
referring 70 the laws of Congress by author
ity Of which the Legislature assembled, aud
tho conditios imposed Of the adoption of the
hnsenth ansndment the Governor 'con,in.
us as follows. IT.
While BY this law the ratification BY the
General Assembly Of the proposed fifteenth
amendment to The Constitution Of the United
States Is made condition precedent to the
admission Of the State 70 representation in
the Federal Congress, cannot doubt that
you would cheerfully ratlfy that amend.
ment, even were no such condition proposed.
The people OF this Commonwealth at the
late election, by an overwhelming majority,
accepted aud adopted the principle sought TO
be Incorporated into the Federal Constitu-
ton by this amendment, vis; The civil and
political equality Of all men before the law.
The well-known honor and integrity Of the
people OF Virginia forbid even the supposi-
tlon that they would fall to faithfully adhere
to aud maintain, while necessary and possi-
BILE, any principle 70 which they had yielded
their adherence, Virginia always fulnls, in
the most ample good faith, all her pledgcs
But our people, by this action, have not
only placed the political rights OF all our
citizens upon q Arm and enduring basis
they bave accomplished much more. They
have creased prospectively by the power
| aud influence OF our State In the national
councils by hroadcnlns the basis o. repre-
sentation. Under the fourteenth article Of
| the Constitution Of the United States, when,
In any State, the right " suffrage Is abridged.
except for crime, the basis OF representation
must be redaced In q corresponding proper
tion. Although We have wisely settled this
question, so far as our State Is concerned,
and banished forever from the theatre of
State politics this prolific source of ifrlta-
ton and discord, there 10 reasonable ground
for apprehension that, 10 the hfteeuth amend
ment should fail OF Adoption rs part Of the
federal Constitution, our State may be
flooded with, and the control thereof pass
into, the hands OF q class Of emigrants from
the great States lying upon or near our
borders, who will seek the employment Of
those civil aud political rights accorded to
them here, but den ed them there. Self.pro-
lection, therefore, demands that we do our
part towards securing the ratification OF that
amendments; our Interests require 1t; our
faith Ia pledged to Il.
When you shall have ratified the four
tecnth aud fifteenth amendments to the Con-
stitution of the United States Virginia will
have complied fully and voluntarily, In letter
| Qulrements Of the laws Of Congress, known
az the reconstruction acts, aud will be en-
titled, and undoubtedly will be admitted, to
| immediate representation In both branches
Of the National Legislature on Its assembling
| In December next. The law Of Congress it.
self provides that when these conditions shall
have been complied with "the State shall
be declared entitled to approximation In Con-
gress, and Senators and Representatives shall
L.. sk.tr AL IL. S.sh
scribed by law"
Representatives have already been elected,
and 1t only remains for you to elect Senators
to complete the representation to which the
State Is entitled. never doubted your COM
potency to elect, nor the propricty Of your
electing Senators at the present session. In
my opinion 1t Is clearly one Of the "requi-
sites to reconstruction" Complete restora-
ton is accomplished by admission to repre-
sentation In Congress, and there can be no
| question that admission to representation
may, to some extent, depend upon the char
acter Of the representatives elected. While
the election Of Senators would fully complete
every preparation necessary to the prompt
admission Of the State to representation In
both Houses of Congress, the selection Of
suitable men for these exalted positions would
unmistakably demonstrate the sincerity Of
our past action, and afford sure guarantee
for our intentions and purposes for the
| future.
In view of the fact that the new constitu-
,ion inaugurates many radical changes In
our State government, and necessitates
prompt and thorough legislation upon almost
every subject within the scope Of your
powers, / respectfully recommend to both
houses Of the General Assembly the appoint
ment Of standing committees at the present
session, especially for the consideration Of
Finance, Education, Internal Improvements
and the Judiciary. The financial condition
Of the State demands the serious and thought
full attention Of an able committee. Our
educational and judiciary systems, and code
| Of laws must be remodeled and. placed In
| her@o.y With 49, sss-.i.s~.i--, ~-a go -
ternal improvements demand the gravest
consideration Of your honorable bodies.
Committees upon these and other important
subjects appointed now, with authority to
sit during the recess, will be enabled to ma
ture bills and have them ready for introduce
ton at the opening Of your next session.
In conclusion, permit me to congratulate
you upon the progress already made towards
the restoration OF the State to civil govern
ment. Its good effects are already visible
everywhere within our borders. Confidence
Is being restored; commerce is revivingi min
| Ing and manufacturing enterprises are being
| organized; capital Is seeking Investment In
our public improvements and In our rich
agricultural and mineral land and above
aud more gratifying than all, JOY and hope
are taking the place of gloom and despon-
deucy. Peace and prosperity are once more
dawnlng upon our desolated land. Conscious
Of the rectitude Of our own acts, motives,
and intentions, and relying upon the con.
tinued favor Of the Almighty Disposer of
human events, let us all manfully grapple
with the living present, and confidently hope
for n plnrinus future for the Com mon wealth.
Respectfully, GILBERT c. WALKER.