Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-02-09
Gov. Walkers Inaugural Address.

OOS. walker 3 AuAuS uEah Fh>AAA ~''
felloao Citizens ii the SENATE and HoHSe "
Delegates
Accent nj hearty congratulations, thai sou
are again seated in this hall clothed with n!
ronr rghtfui powers an functions. GU ara ~
day the lawful by cons ituted General Assembly,
Of the sovereign State of Virginia. NotWi'h-
standing Fundamental conditions as lutte a.
unnecessary. You are the Legislature OF 0lau'
co. equal in all her rights and prerogatlVcs VITA
any and every other State IN the hlilcl
Union. Your powers and duties are no longer
''limited and qualified, save by Il constitution
almost unanimously adopted by inc ptoI',i
and By the constitution and laws oil the unheu
States You arc no longer subject TO the doml
nation OF mower in its very nature antaSonlS
tie to tho genius Of Republican institutions
No. Won have been emanc;pated from this as
we'll as from the fears, and doubts, and terrible
uncertainties which enshrouded the future.
Oar neon!e arc secure once more IN the eXcl-
else of their right to the control and manage
mcDt OF their own affairs, with public servants
elected by and amenable to them alone. Sure
IL in all this there is abundant cause for II
joicing with exceeding great Joy. The voice,
of Virginia is again heard in the National
Councils. May it be potent for good May
it be heard in thunder tones demanding me
apnication and enforcement Of the great p1lE-
cipIes upon which our Senators and kepresen,
tatives, and you and | were cleoted--"equaI
| rights to ALT" Let it not cease TO entorc2
| this demand until every hated test oatn sEa!l
| be erased from the National Statute DOCKS
nor until ''political disabilities shall DC Known
! no more among men. You and have quail
| fled By taking the same oath OF ONCE. We
| have solcmniy pledged ourselves before high
! heaven 10 support and maintain, as Well the
constitution and laws of the United States rs
| ut tho State o! Virginia that we 'recoEnlze
| and accent the civil and political equaIlty OF
all men before The law, " and that re vii! iaItil:
! fully perform our official duties to the best Of
orr ability. \ strict and conscientious nbSer-
| vance OF this solemn obligation will rebound
to the Eeacc and prosperity OF the State, ana
the vindication of the just expectations OF the
people and our friends everywhere. 1t IL your
duty to make the laws; mine 10 execute them;
Fulfil your duty, and pledge yon ia'thtnl
| and fearless execution OF mine.
Never before in the history OF this Common
wealth has lie gislature assembled upon which
devolvcd graver responsibilities than upon YOU
| 1t is not new State that you have TO form -
that would be tar easier task. You would
then break the virgin soil where you pleased
and Law the foundation and rear the supcrSlruc
ture of your civil polity with materials iresf
ouarried from the prccedents OF the past, ane
fashioned and moulded by the accumulated cx'
pcricnces and necessities Of the present No
SO with you now. A civil polity, orelnaIec
amid the throcs Of the Revolution OF l11b, anc
pawaking Of its spirit, made venerable by time
and sacred in the eyes OF the people, was SUD
denly ovcrthrown by the rude shock OF rernin
| ton 1t fell amid the roar OF battle ana 'tht
clash Of reSoundiug arms. Its ''broken and
dislnelnbered fragments are to he revcrcutiy
gathered up by you, and with these aud the
| new materials which experience and the needs
| of the present demand, you are to rebuild the
edifcc of State The foundation Is already
| laid fer you. 1t was designed and executed III
| this very hall two years ago. 10 day what
| matters IL to YOU or me by what, II any, au-
| thoriIv, it was done? What matters 1t though
| rude, Inexperienced and incompetent WoIkmcr
were employed in this great and delicate uE-
dertaking? 1t has been doac-it Is an accOmp
li>hed lact. The wonder is that it was so wei
done. You. and |, and thu people OF this
Commonwealth have, in the most solemn and
deliberate manner, accepted it !; yes, and dis
charged both the architect and the workmen
But we have not baushed them. No, Tar from
H. We shall require, and | uuat will have,
their active aid and assistance in rearing the
| ncw supcrs:ructurc which may be more grand
| in its proportions more harmonious and sym
mctrcal than the former cditice. Whether Il
| shat! be 81 or not rests mainly with you. Sue
cess ur laiInra is 10 your hands. The lOnnda-
| ton j. AMPLE. 1t has been laid broad and deep.
| Let the %npcrstructurc but equal even the
foundation and no fears need he entertained OF
the future growth and glory Of Virginia. The
more our constitution il studied, the more it
is considered and understood, the more will lis
! chief provisions commend thcm>e!gci To our
! approval. True, it contains PROV 't1n- which,
~ uy Judgment, hi ght be improved: bnt what
! might coDsier Iclnct you might esteem 4
virtue. What constitution ever mcr with n
unanimous approval? Are not all con~tltu-
tons compromises? | doubt il c;rt IN the
history OF nOpular government there Was a
constitution adopted wi h the unannliy OF
ours And while that unanlmlty may not be
Ike correct measure Of lis popularity, while
other anI rXtrancouS causes, rather than IT'S
real merits, undoubtedly contributed t" this
result, nevertheless the mandates n The con-
s:tntion must and will be observed as the
sovereign commands OF the people. Who DE
sireS or will presume to aisobey them? Not
you, nor l. No, the constitution shall be
faithfully and honestly executed Its provls-
ions shall have fair and impartial trial and
when, if ever, experience shall demonstrate the
inutity or impracticabiity of any Of them, we
will proceed TO make such notifications as our
necessities may demand. The manifestation
OF Puuic faith by others affords no justification
for departure from the paths of right by u.s.
The ancient and proverbial reputation OF the
people Of this Commonwealth tor honor and
integrity will be maintained, regardless OF the
selfish and tanatica vitupcraton OF our enemies
at home ar abroad. We have but to Go our
duty faithfully, honestly and mantuIly, and We
shall inauaurate along with civil government
an era Of prosperity, OF internal development
and Individual and corporate enterprise, which
in briaDcy will eclipse the past gIories OF the
Commonwealth.
Wa live in 4 grandcr age than any which has
preceded us. |. is essentially an aye of gl2an.
tic material development. \ continent; has
been bound together with s!news Of iron. and
united to others BY nerves OF electricity. Lofty
mountains which formed alike the boundaries
and barriers of ancient natonaties have been
pierced by the aggressive spirit ofcommcIct,
and the waters Of that turbulent sea that rude
L., ho.t 81 k.,, l,.l