Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-10-19
MOL. Is. mo, 25l

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i "a from the Richmond Dispatch']
ADDRESS OF GOVERNOR WALKER.
At tho Border State tair at Danylle'
Virginia, Oct. 18th. ..,s..
aAfter visiting every feature of in
te,est connected with the Fair, Govern
!. A. walker " as conducted TO the stand
fransipg the main edifce, from which
aroudly floats the flag of Virginia, and
tie balconies of which were thronged
RS an immense assemblage of ladies'
Directly ID front were naassed over 5000
neople: and in response to the lcng and
Continued cries Of Walker Walkerl
Within Long, Esq, President Of the
Agricultural Society, appeared, and in !.
ltrodu6ed the Governo who was received
with loud and enthusiastic cheers. The
|. Goyarnor said:: s.v eia sii7
",Fellow citizens" Of sDanyille. The
Southwest, and the good old North
atafa-When r accepted the invitation
81 your distinguished President and
Society to visit your agricultural Fair, ]
little imagined that I was booked for a
sspeeeh. II am not an advocate Of speech
making, nor do I encourage speech
makers. particularly politicians. Action
Is better than speeches; though there
are some exceptions to this rule. A lit
to- talking sometimes does great deal
Of good, and that expended in the late
canvass I heard a voice Of thunder on
the 9th Of July, when the people Of
j, ayo urs noble old Commonw cath declared
themselves against vandalism, fraud, and
treachery-Virginia had freed herself
from, the tyranny of horde of greedy
cornaorants and Lnprincipled carpet
i baggers who came to sap her very vitals.
I,have no other feeling than that of
pity for the Opposition party, who were
deceived and led by adventnrers having
only their own personal ,aggrand,ze-
ment and aims in view, with neither
ia :erest, character, nor self-respect at
stake; for these majority of them never
had. [Cheers.1 1t seemed, and the
result has proved it, that in the contest
through which we have just passed so
triumphant!y, the very life of Virginia
depended on, your success and on my
success. She was faved from terrible
fate by your noble exertions, and though
have never before visited this section,
or been among you, yet our victory was
in no small degree due to the unfailing
efforts of Southwest and Southwestern
Virginia. Q But we have passed our
darkest days, and / now can see the star
of hope shining brightly and brilliantly,
beckoniug US on to happy and pros
porous future. In the next three months
/ expect to see the destiny Of Virginia
in the hands of her own people, and
her affairs controlled by those to whom
she has entrusted them, instead of the
Migrants and interlopers. a[Cheers.l
Then will henceforward be administered
under the principles of right, justice, and
civil and political equality. / see
glorious future Of prosperity for us, and
already the old State has embarked in
the new career of material advancement,
progress and enlightenment. To push
forward and encourage this spirit, SO ap-
parent in the many and largely attend
ed agricultural fairs being held in the
State and in contemplation, will be my
special endeavor and chiefest aim
What Virginia now most needsis plenty
Of honest, Industrious and intelligent
laborers. Procure these, from no matter
what source, encourage them, make the
labor remuSerative, and strive with
all your might, and my word for it
Virg'a will soon occupy her proper posi-
tion-.the wealthisst as well as the mother
ofStates. To the young men appeal
especially not to forsake their old homes
their grand old mother--in the hour
she most needs their services, and at the
time they can be most profitable to both.
Do not forsake the pillow and fly to the
large cities of the North, as but too ma
ny have done, for they are dens of vice,
infamy, and immortality, which are al
ways filled to overlooking, and where
thousands are daily reduced to beggary.
Stick by your old homes, young men,
and put your shoulders to the wheel.
The earliest portion of mylife was spent
on q farm, and ] look back with pecu-
liar fondness and affection to the joys Of
the field and the attachments formed
by healthy industry and honest labor.
hope you will all profit by this simple
and plain but well meant advice. asa
II am proud to meet the people. of the
Southwest here under the present cir
eumstances, and if they will but contin-
ne the efforts now started for their own
advancement, Virginia will soon be on
tho high road to wealth and happiness.
Keep The ball moving, and pledge N.Y.
self that we shall all meet here in twelve
months under more hopeful, brighter,
and happy auspices" O 8@ SOS 81