The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-09
General Assembly ofsirginia
TUESDAY, February s, 1870.
SENATE.

senators did not answer to their names ~
NJ. Davis. J. NJ. French, Charles Herndon,
A. J. johnson, Merriwether Lewis, j.. u.
LYON. r. l.. Owen, James Patterson, W. ~.
Perrin, W. l.. Ridiick, and Franklin Word.
Mr.. KELLEY reported from the House the
resolution in regard to the committee to
wait on the Governor.
The PRESIDENT appointed Messrs. Roller
of Rockingham and Normand Smith OF
Henrico on the part of the Senate.
The Senate then took recess for fifteen
minutes.
On the reassembling of the Senate Mr..
ROLLER reported that the Governor would
soon communicate with the Senate in wrl-
ting. Shortly afterwards Colonel Owen,
aid and private secretary to the Governor,
presented the following
INAUGURAL ADDRESS:
Fellos- Citizens Of the
Senate and House of Delegates
Accept my hearty congratulations that
you are again seated in this hall, clothed
with oil your rightful powers and functions:
You are to-day the lawfully constituted
General Assembly of the sovereign State OF
Virginia. Notwithstanding fundamental
conditions" rs futile as unnecessary, you
are the Legislature of a State co&qual in
all her rights and prerogatives with any
and every other State in the American
Union. Your powers and duties are no
longer "limited and qualified" save by q
Constitution almost unanimously adopted
by the people, and by the Constitution and
laws of the United States. You are no
longer subject to the domination of power
in its very nature antagonistic to the genius
of republican institutions. No: you have
been emancipated from this as well as from
the fears and doubts and terrible uncer-
tainties which enshrouded the future. Our
people are secure once more in the exercise
of their right to the control and manage
ment of their own affairs with public
servants elected by and amenable to them
alone. Surely in all this there is abuna-
ant cause for "rejoicing with exceeding
great joy" The voice Of Virginia Is again
heard in the national councils. May 1t De
potent for good May it be heard in th1in,
der-tones demanding the application anu
enforcement of the great principle upon
which our senators and representa-.
tiyes. and YOU and l. were elected" Equal
rights 10 all he' IL Ho' H9"E1 w :,
this demand until every hated test.oatn
shall have been erased from the national
statute books, nor until "p"litlcal DISABLE
tiles" shall he known no more among men.
You and l have qualified by taking the
same oath of office. We have solemnly
pledped ourselves before high Heaven to
support and maintain as we'll the Constitu-
ton and laws of the United States as of the
State of Virginia that we " recognize and
accept the civil and political equality of all
men before the law; and that we will
faithfully perform our official duties to the
best of our ability. 4 strict and conscien-
tious observance of this solemn obligation
will rebound to the peace and prosperity OF
the State and the vindication of the just
expectations of the people and our friends
everywhere. It is your duty to make the
laws, mine to execute them. Fulfil your
duty, and pledge you faithful and lear
less execution Of mine.
Never before in the history of this Com
monwealth has q Legislature assembled
upon which devolved gravcr responsibilities
than upon you. 1t is not new State that
YOU have to form-that would be far
easier task. You would then break the
virgin soil where you pleased, and lay the
foundation and rear the superstructure
of your civil polity with materials fresh
ouarried from the prcccdcnts Of the past,
and fashioned and moulded by the accumu-
lated experiences and necessities OF the
present. Not so with you now. 4 civil
polity, originated amid the throes Of the
Revolution of l776. and partaking OF its
spirit, made venerable by time and sacred
in the eyes Of the people, was suddenly
overthrown by the rude shock of reyolu-
ton. 1t fell amid the roar of battle and
"thc clash of rcsounding arms" It's
"broken and dismembercd fragments J"
are to be reverently gathered up by you,
and with these and the new materials
which experience and the needs Of the
present demand YOU are to rebuild
the edifce of. State. The foundation is
already laid for you. 1t was designed and
executed in this very hall two years ago.
To-day what matters it to you or Inc by
what, if any, authority it was done? What
matters it though rude, inexperienced, and
incompetent workmen were employed In
this great and delicate undertaking? 1t
has been done-it is an accomplished fact.
The wonder is that it was SO well done.
You, and l, and the people of this Common
wealth, have, in the most solemn and deli
berate manner, accepted it-yes, and dis
charged both the architect and the work.
men. But we have not banished them.
No; for from it. We shall require, and
trust will have, their active aid and assist
ance in rearing the new superstructure,
| which may be more grand in its proper
| no nd mr. ino1
| than the former edifice. Whether it shall
be so or not rests mainly with you. Sue
cess or failure is in your hands. The foun-
dation is ample. 1t has been laid broad
and deep. Let the superstructure but equal
even the foundation, and no fears need be
entertained of the future growth and glory
of Virginia. The more our Constitution is
studied-the more it is considered and under
stood-the more will its chief provisions
commend themselves to our approval. True,
it contains provisions which, in my judg-
ment, might be improved, but what might
consider defect you might esteem virtue.
What constitution ever met with unanimous
approvali Are not all constitutions com
promises? I doubt if ever in the history
of popular government there was consti
tuition adopted with the unanimity Of ours.
And while that unanimity may not be the
correct measure of its popularity,-while
other and extraneous causes rather than its
real merits undoubtedly contributed to this
result the mandates of the
Constitution must and will be observed as
the sovereign commands of the people. Who
desires or will presume to disobey them
Not you nor l. No; the Constitution shall
be faithfully and honestly executed. Its
provisions shall have O fair and impartial
trial, and when, if ever, experience shall
demonstrate the inutility or impractical
bility of any of them, we will proceed to