Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-07-23
GsY. Walker, of Virginia, Among His
TOWnsmen-Ilis Speech.

=
On the reception of Governor Walker, o.
Virginia, in Binghamton, in this State on
the 18th inst, he said:
Fellow citizens of Bnghamton: When
I left this place, fourteen years ago, was a
poor boy, with nothing to assist me but a
good constitution and desire to do my du-
ty. [ have been fortunate, in measure,
Luz my triumph would be nothing to me if
the people of my old home did not rejoice
with me. In meeting you this evening,
perhaps it would DC proper to say something
about the events which have been the cause
of bringing US together here. We have just
passed through great campaign in Virgin
ia. the issues aud details OF which [ need not
mention to you for I regard this demonstra-
ton to ne as man and a child of this place,
rather than an expression Of your views on
the political issues of the State of Virginia.
have been elected, as has been announced
to you, this evening, and as nearly all Of you
know. Governor of the State of Virginia, a
Commonwealth known as the Mother of
Presidents During the campaign | an
nounced on the sinmp that | was native of
the State of New York. the great Empire
State, and was proud Of it. But tell you
we're tonight. that in the course Of ten years
Virginia will take the laurels off the brow of
New York and wear herself the crown Of the
Empirc State, and advance 10 the lead Of all
the States in the Union, The work Of re-
construction is going on gloriously, and the
permanent prosperity of the State has been
secured [ want my old friends and school
fellows to come down and help in the great
work that we are speeding forward, and
make the old State what it should be aud
what it is destined to be. We want you to
come down there as settlers to engage IN the
industrial pursuits that need your energies
and experience and ability and we want you
to come in such way that the interests of
the people of Virginia will be your interests
We want YOU to come and fill the place OF
these carpet baggers who. since the election.
are leaving the State in general stampede
across the Potomac. The late Issue was
not 50 much contest as to whether republl-
can or democratic sentiment should prevail
in the State, but the issue was whether the
virtue, property and intelligence Of the State
should control it, or the organized ignorance
and poverty should misrule it. The virtue
and property and intelligence have triumph
ed. The poverty and Ignorance party, Or
ganized into midnight associations, appealed
to low passions and Misrepresentation, and
cast their votes for Wells and against the
administration. We have won the victory
over them, and Virginia is TO day fully up
TO the requirements of the President and will
stand by the laws of Congress She has
gone for the government and the admins
tration The victory is relief from carpet
bag rule, and that is the reason II has crcn-
ted so much enthusiasm The triumph was
victory for the principle that makes all
men equal We have knocked the shackles
off Of the white men and given the blacks
their equal rights. We have given every
white man his rights under the laws, and the
rights of colored men are now better pro-
tected in Virginia than they are in this nay
native place We are reconstructlng on the
right basis-the principles of justice and
equality"