Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-10-07


! s,mby of Virginia. az its present session..
! Our late election was authorized By an ACT
; of Congress, approved April 10Th, 1862 the
+ 9Th section OF which is IN these words -,
That before the States OF Virginia, Mssls
s;ppi. aud Texas, shall be admitted 10 repre-
[ sentatioa in Congress their Legislatures, which
may b. hereaster lawfully organIz o. shall IA
ity The Fifteenth Article, which has been
proposed by Congress to the several States as
an amendment to the Constitution OF the Uni
( ted States.
While, by this law, the ratification by the
General Assembly of the proposed Fifteenth
Amendment to the Constitution of the United
States, IS made Q condition precedent to the
admission of the State to representlon IN the
Federal Congress, | cannot doubt that you
would cheerluly ratify that amendment, even
were 70 such condition proposed.
The people of this Commonwealth at the
late election, by m overwhelming majority
accented and adopted the principle sought to
be incorporated into the Federal Constitution
BIZ thi, amendment, viz The civil aud politi
cal equality of all men before the law. The
well known honor and integrity OF the people
OF Virginia, forbid even the superstition that
they would fail to faithfully adhere to, ard
maintain while necessary and possible, any
principle to which they had yielded their ad
herence. virginia Always luulS III tuc HoSl
ample good faith ali her pledges.
But our people, by this action, have not
only placed the political rights of all our cti-
Gems upon firm and enduring basis-they
have accomplished much more. They have in
creased prospec:jvey by the power and Influence
of our State in the national councils, by broad
ening the basis OF representation. Under the
Fourteenth Article of the Constitution Of the
United States, when, in any State, the right OF
suffrage is abridged except tor crime, the basis
| of representation must be reduced IN a cores
ponding proportion. Although We have wisely
settled this question, so tar as our State is con-
cerned, and banshed forever from the theatre
Of State politics this prolific source OF irrita-
ton and discord, there is reasonable ground for
apprehension that, if the Fifteenth Amend
nent should fail of adoption as a part Of the
| Federal Constitution, our State may be flooded
with, ana the control thereof pass into the
| hands Of, class oil emigrants FROM the great
States lying upon or near our borders, who will
| seek the enjoyment Of those civil ard political
rights accorded to them here, but denied them
| there. Sei-protection, therefore, demands
| that We DO our part towards securing the ratl'
| fcation Of that amendment our interest; re-
qure it our faith is pledged to it.
When you shall have ratified the Fourteenth
and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution
of the United States, Virginia will have com
piled fully and voluntarily, in letter and in
spirit, with all the conditions and requirements
| Of the laws OF Congress, known as the Recon
stluction Acts, aud will be entitled. and un-
| doubtedly sill be admitted, to immediate Yep
resentation in both branches of the National
| Legislature on its assembling in December
next. The law OF Congress itself provides
| that when these conditions shall have bean
complied with, the State shat be declared
| entitled to representation in Congress, and
senators aud representatives shalt be admitted
on their taking the oath prescribed by law.
Representatives have already been elected,
and it only remains for you to elect senators, to
| complete the representation to which the State
| is entitled. | have never doubted your cOmpe-
tency to elect, nor the propriety of your elect
ing, senator's at your present session. la my
opinion it is clearly one OF the requisites to re-
construction" Complete restoration IS ac.
c0mpIlShed By admission to representation in
Congress- and there can be no question that
admission to representation may, to some cX
tent, depend upon the character of the repre-
sentatvcs elected While the election OF SEN
ators would fully complete every preparation
ncce>s airy 10 the prompt admission OF the State
to representation in both houses OF Congress,
| the selection of suitable men Tor these exalted
positions would Enthusiastically demonstrate the
| sincerity of our past action, and afford \ sure
guarantee for our intentions and purposes Tor
| the future.
In view OF the fact that the new Constitu
| ton inausurates many radical changes in our
| State government, and nGcessitaes prompt
and thorough legislation upon almost every
| subject within the scope of your powers, | re-
specify recommend to both houses of the Gen
eral Assembly the appointment CT standing
| committees at the present session. especially
| Tor the consideration Of Finance, Education,
| lnternal Improvements, and the Judiciary
| The financial condition of the State demands
the serious and thoughtful attention OF an able
| committee. Our educational and judiciary
| systems, and code of laws, must be remodeled,
aud placed in harmony with the Constitution
and our internal 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 mature
| bills and have them ready for introduction 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
meut Its good effects are already visible
| everywhere within our borders. Confidence
| is being restored, commerce is revving min.
| Ing and manufacturing enterprises are being
organized capital is seeking investment in our
public improvements, and in our rich arricul-
tura and mineral lands, and above, and more
gratifying than all, JOY and hope are taking the
place OF gloom and dependency. Peace aud
prosperity are once more dawning upon our
desoated land Conscious Of the rccltude OF
our OVID acts, motives, and intantions, and re-
| lying upon the continued favor OF the Almighty
Disposer OF human events, let US oil maniuIly
graphic with the living present, and confidently
hope for glorions future for the Common
wealth. Respectfully.
GILBERT G. WALKER.