Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-12-15
GOVERNORS MESSAGE
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,
EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS,
Richmond December 6. 1871.

Rachmond, December 6, 1871. }
Gentlemen ofthe Senate and House Of Dele
gates
1t is with feelings of profound gratitud
to Almighty God for the blessings we hav,
enjoyed and the ills we have escaped, a
well as of sincere qualification at the auspi
cious circumstances under which you as
semble, that I extend to you hearty wei
come to the capital of the Commonwealth
You are the second Legislature elected by
the people under our present Constitution
Upon your immediate predecessors devolved
the grave responsibility of first putting ii
force, by proper legislation, the provisions
of that Constitution which they had solemn
ly sworn, as you have, to Support ane
maintain" Your task, however, is fal
easier than theirs Experience, that JUS
and severe educator of mankind, comes tc
your aid, and by the light of its teachings
you will be enabled to avoid some of the
errors into which they inevitably fell, az
well as to improve and perfect the work by
them begun.
We have now had the benefit of nearly
two years experience under the new order
of things, resulting from the almost unani
nous action Of the people in 1869. We
were the first voluntarily to inaugurate the
experiment of universal suffrage and equal
ity before the law. Perhaps nowhere else
could that experiment have been SO success
fully tested-certainly nowhere else has ii
been so faithfully and 50 impartially tried
Radically opposed to preconceived and well
considered opinions -fraught, as thoughtful
men well knew, with the gravest possible
ties nevertheless, our experience has de-
monstrated that under favorable circum
stances it may be rendered not only not an.
tagonistic, but rather conductive to good
and stable republican government.
Certain it is that since the restoration OIL
civil government in our State we have en-
joyed a degree of peace and good order, Of
obedience to law and respect for authority
equalled by few and excelled by none of oul
sister States. While it it true that this is
due in very large measure to the law
abiding character and high moral sentiment
of our people, it cannot be denied that to a
certain extent it is due to the fact that every
citizen of the State, no matter what his race
Or present or previous condition is, or may
have been, has been fully protected in all
the rights and immunities of citizenship.
Progress and prosperity, the natural and
in this country, almost inevitable sequence
of peace and good order, also obtain. L
is undoubtedly true that all portions Of thu
State have not yet felt the quickening in
fuences of new life and new energy, but i
is at the heart, and will ere long be fell
throbbing through every vein and artery
revivifying and reiuvigorating every por
ton Of the body pclitic.
1t is your high privilege, by wise legisla
ton, by modifying, amending, and perfect
ing such laws as have been found defective
and by the enactment of new ones. to essen
TALLY aid, not only in the preservation of thu
high standard Of honor and good government
which we have ever maintained, but also tt
foster and encourage those powerful agencies
which build up communities and States ane
tend to the elevation of the condition ane
fortunes of the people.
know Of no questions of foreign or do
nestle policy which need distract your at
tention or create dissensions in your coun
ellis.
You assemble at one of those fortunate
periods when high resolves and noble aspi
rations for the good, the advancement, ane
glory Of the State may have full scope fol-
patriotic action and grand results. The
Constitution makes it obligatory upon the
Governor nor only to Communicate to the
General Assembly at every session the con
dition of tie Commonwealth, but also te
recommend to their consideration such
measures as he may deem expedient"
The first measure to which desire to cal
your attention, and upon which [ earnestly
urge immediate action, is
IMMIGRATION.
The great need Of Virginia to-day is CAPT
tai and population. With an area Of "a,
$4,000 acres. unequalled in richness and
variety of soil and productions, capable o.
sustaining population Of five millions, with
more mineral wealth and greater natura
commercial and manufacturing facilities thar
any of her sister Atlantic States, she vel
has population of but one and quarter
millions, and but 8.165, 900 acres under
cultivation. Her vast mineral wealth is al
most wholly nndeveloped, and her grea
manufacturing and commercial advantages
have been but little utilized
Situated as our State is, midway between
the northern and southern portions of the
Union, with climate unequalled and viii
all these natural elements of wealth and pros
perity in bounteous profusion, how is it tina
Virginia il to-day the tenth instead Of tn
first State in population, ami the twelfth ii
wealth ? The causes which have produced
this result are not difficult of ascertainmen
and it is not necessary now to discuss them
The question rather for our immediate
consideration is not so much the cause of TIL
evil as the remedy for it. The remedy TO
this-that which is to place Virginia in tn
position which her advantages entitle her t.
occupy-is to be found in system Of i'm
migration which will attract to her territor,
population that will develop those natura
resources and superior advantages witt
which nature has endowed her. Much dis
cussion has occurred upon this subject, an
many plans have been suggested, togethe
with some abortive attempts at execution
To fully understand the requirements neces
sary to success we must clearly comprehen
the conditions to be met In the first place
we must place ourselves III the position t
successfully compete with all systems an
combinations now in active operation. -
Heretofore the tide of immigration has sc
westward, and as consequence large an
prosperous cities have sprung up as if b
magic, and great States have been forme
filled with an energetic, prosperous, an
progressive people. This immigration ha
been induced and controlled by combine
ton Of the great railroad, steamship, an
moneyed corporations at the North and El