Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-12-13
Address of the Virginia Legislative
Committee.

The following is the addrcss OF the Commit
tee Of the Virginia Legislature to the Recon-
sruction Committee, presented IN Tuesday
last
Committee Rooms Of GeaerM Asseolhl4 Of
Jrqiutl, IiaShiagtoa De. 5, lSGy. Inc
undersigned, cammittca appointed 10y norc
than two thirds oil the General Assembly oi
Virginia to urge upon Congress The GAINS oil
Virginia to prompt admission toto the Union,
respectfully represent that on The tn Gay 81
July, 1869, the people OF Virginia, WIN i u'
gree OF unaulmlty almost unparalleled, auop''u
| the Constitution which had been iraln'd Gy
the Republican Convention which met IN Inch
mond on the "a day OF llecomocr, l,o', WIN
the exception of two clauses which the ires!dcnt
and Congress, by submitting to a separate vote,
permitted them to reject. This Constitution
the pcople OF Virginia voted for almost unanl
mously. 1t is in all respects III stIlct conformity
| with the reconstruction acts OF Congress, Is
| Rcpublican in all its features. establishes III
| the State "thc equality OF all men before the
law" providcs, among otner things, Tor the
| establishment Of a comprehensive system OF
| free common schools aud more than all, in al
| vance of its submission 10 vote, was APP
proved by tho President and Congress OF the
United States.
On the same day members of the General
Assembly, and State officers generally, were
elected. An active and an arduouS canvas
had brought the people to tull knowledge OF
what was required OF Virginia by the national
authorities, ard nobly did they meet the re
uuirements. Their inclination, their reason
and their duty alike impellcd them to elect to
Office only those men who they thought "a. and
| believed, would, in honest faith, comply liter
ally and heartily with the requirements OF the
reconstruction acts. The subsequent action OF
the Virginia Assembly in ratilying the l4th
and 18th amendments to the Constitution ct
| the United States the solemn 0athS the
members Of that General Assembly have taken
to support and carry out IN good ialth that
Constitution which Congress had indicated was
acceptable to the nation the election by them
of Senators to whom, they supposed, 10 o.
lection could be urged the chaiae.'I q! The
representatives to the House elected by the
people, are all solemn guarantees which have
been given OF the future conduct OF the State:
Having complied as We intended to do, and
believe we have done, with every requirement
| of the law, and by our conduct in the immediate
past, given the highest and most solemn as
surances OF our future action, and because 1t
would promote every interest in the State, We
respectfully ask that "Virginia's Senator'S and
Representatives be promptly admitted to their
seats, and that she be restored to her place IN
the family Of States
And the undersigned pledge themselves and
those whom they represent, that the Constltu
ton of Virginia, voted loo hy the people on
the 9th day OF July, 1869. shall he faithfully
carried out in letter and spirit.
This last clause was inserted at the Icqnc t
of General Butler, Chairman OF the Recon
struction Committee.