Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-12-13
Meeting of the Virginia Legislature
Governors Message.

R1cHMoNp. December THE Legislature
met this morning, and the message of Gov
ernor Walker was read. He says: Never
before. in the history of the Commonwealth,
has Legislature assembled upon which de-
volved graver responsibilities than upon you
On the finances, he reiterates his views ex-
pressed in his inaugural on the 9Th of March
last He is strengthened in the correctness
of the recommendations then made, and says
they have been heartily endorsed by the best
financiers both in this country and England.
Had the Legislature promptly adopted them
the State debt would have been reduced over
ten millions of dollars. and the deprecated
credit advanced from fifty to ninety cents on
the dollar. In regare to the settlement of the
debt between Virginia and West Virginia. he
says the obvious meaning and intent OF all
legislation on this subject by each State is that
what amount the State of West Virginia ought
to assume should be paid into the Treasury of
tho State of Virginia, to be by her used in the
extinguishment of the original debt.
The bonds are the bonds of Virginia, not of
West Virginia, and to the Treasury of Virginia
do the creditors look for the payment of their
debts. There is but one sovereign remedy
for the financial evil that afflicts US. and, in
his opinion, that remedy is a strict fulflment
to be pursued is for both States to submit the
whole question to arbitration. If all your
honorable means fail, you have but one remedy
left you-the Supreme Court of the United
States.
On the organization of the State militia he
speaks at great length, and says that if, in the
late municipal difficulties, he had had control
of single company of we'll organized and
equipped militia the Executive would have
been enabled to have quelled that disgraceful
and most unjustifiable instruction against the
laws of the Commonwealth.
In regard to certain farms in tidewater Vir-
GINA, and on which, after the war, by au>
thority of the Freedman's Bureau, large
number of colored people had settled, and for
whose removal a military force had become
necessary, the Governor is pointed. A de-
tachment of troops which had been sent by
General Barry from Fortress Monroe, to as
sist the Sheriff OF Norfolk county. was, with
out any explanation, recalled. He says: [
feel bound to say, in view of the circum-
stances, the sudden withdrawal of these troops,
endangering the lives of our officers and citi>
zeus and the peace of the community. was, in
my opinion, an act of official discourtesy and
manifestation of Indifference of the gravest
character, without parallel in the history of
this country.
He also discourses on the subject of the
boundary line of the State on the peniten-
tiary, and concludes in the following char
acteristic style:
''In obedience to law, in the maintenance
of order and the performance of all the duties
nppertaining to good citizenship, the people of
Virginia challenge comparison with any State
in the Union. Everywhere within the broad
limits of the Commonwealth every citizen is
safe with his life, liberty and pursuit of happi-
ness
Emerging from the terrible ordeal Of four
years baptism of blood, stripped of everything
save incorrupt honor, the people of this Com.
monwealth have again resumed their place in
the Union of their fathers, with an earnest
purpose and fixed determination to fulfil all
the obligations of American citizens. More
cannot be required of them less they will not
perform.