The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-08
While you have passed several bi1s e g

crave doubts, have never fnterp0sed Tobs
lections to their becoming laws, passa ~
merely upon doubts. hen entlrely saL9, l.n
fed, however, that the provisions Oh III! 2.I
were clearly in conflict with tne Consltit Conslt u,
ltion. 7 have never tailed, and never snai
fail. to fulfil INV constitutional obligation TO
arrest its further progress. This is'onap pA
the gravest and most Important duties Ge'
yolved upon the Executive. In its exercise
the Constitution manifestly contempiates
that he shall have five full days FOE the cXs
animation and consideration OF every esi
passed by the Legislature. While TINS ~ y
neither necessary nor praetlcap ~ ~.
cases, vet occasions do arise when nYe GAYS
even are insufficient for the proper inVesIt M
cation of questions involved In Q singie pnsS
especially when the other Official sdulaes
daily incumbent upon the Executive are,
taken into consideration. Scarcely pll
has been presented to me thus far, however,
FLOR the consideration Of which could de-t
vote q single day. The usual custom. has
/ been to present y large number Of bills Eos
pether. for the examination of all OF which
| out five days were allowed. On the day4og
your adjournment In July last over seventy
bills were presented to me, some OF them
lengthy, of; the highest Importance, and 1l;1 1
volVing the grayest questions OF policy. ana
constitutional law. The entire legtsla.
ton of your October session was Ilaids
before me during the last ten dtys, and the;
majority of it during the last FIVE days prior
| to The day fixed for your adjournment ane
die. and considerable of IL 0ns tiiat day:
without considering for a. moment ehe fnt.'
mense labor which the mere reahngsoa (,
these bills deyolyed upon me, how Was .lti
possible for me to give to each 6h !nas;
careful consideration which the obligations
of my official oath and my duty TO the pe6.s1
81, 4 3o12 a nj %
|transactiDg this business must not ltongeTys
prevail. There is no necessity for j, and IT,
is alike unjust to the people, the Legfsia-
ture, and the Executive. 1t can be easily :
remedied. Whenever blu has passed both 9
Houses of the General Assembly, let It be-
at once enrolled and examined by the ems ..
rolling committee of each House, and then
let il be promptly signed by the presfding
officer of each branch OF the Legislature !
and forthwith presented to the ooxelngI.' M y
The present Executive will guarantee the Il
prompt performance Of his duty, and pre-
clude the necessity Of al hours delay IN :,
the adjournment of the General Assembly
on the. day fixed by it, or by aw, or the :,
Constitution. s.rls..s,,.s ,3lata/ .
CODIFIcATIoN OF THE LAWS, #&5
thrust that before the close ofyour present q
session you will make provision for tue ap-
pointment of commission of at least three
able lawyers and legislators for the codifica-
ton of our laws. The necessity for har-
monious and well.dieested body Of laws 2
must be apparent to all. Many years have
elapsed since an authorized codliicatlon pas
been made. In the meantime great changes
have been made In our fundamental ana u
statutory laws, and more or less of coniu. :
sion necessarily obtains. A commission or .
ganized by you, with energy and diligence, !
could be prepared to report at the first ses-
sion of the next General Assembly. 2o8A''
There arc other subjects which will enlist!
your early attention, and upon Which L.
purposed to express my views, but the pro-
grown admonish me that should bring 1t :
| to close. The large number Of laws which
YOU have already passed have gone into full .
| force, and are everywhere respected ana
obeyed. ur people everywhere are adapt. .
| ing themselves to the changed condition OF
affairs with q promptitude, wisdom, and d
moderation worthy of all praise. In obe-
dience to law, in the maintenance OF order,
aud the performance of all the duties apper-
tanning to good citizenship, the people OF
Virginia challenge comparison with any
State In the Union. Everywhere within the
| broad limits of the Commonwealth every cit
iizen is safe and secure in his " life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness" Emerging
from the terrible ordeal Of four-years
baptism of blood, stript Of everything saVe
incorruptble honor, the people Of this Com-
monwealth have again resumed their place
| in the Union of their fathers with an earn
est purpose and Il fixed determination to
Iulfl all the obligations OF American c1ti-i
zens. More cannot be required Of them
less they will not perform. -
| GILBERT G. WALKER.
The message being read, on motion Of
Mr. BuDD, $500 extra copies were ordered
to be printed. fs (
The Clerk of the House reported an abb
stract of the reports Of the courts OF the
State. Laid on the table. l.,s !: "a
On motion of Mr.. WooD, the House ad-
iolIrned ia. So. f,sgE ...