Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1871-12-14
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GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, !
EXECUTIVE CnAMBERs,
RICHMOND, Dec. 6. 1871.
Thursday Morning, December, IA ls7l


Gentlemen Of the Senate and House Of Dele
gates:
1t is with feelings of profound graft
tude to A mighty God, for the blessings
we have enjoyed, and the ills we have
escaped, as we'll of sincere qualification a,
the suspicious circumstances under which
you assemble, that extend to you a
hearty welcome to the capital of the Com
monwealth. You are the second l.egis
iature elected by the people under our
present constitution. Upon your imme-
diate predecessors devolyed the grave re-
sponsibilty of first putting in force. by
proper legislation, the provisions of that
constitution which they had solen,nly
sworn. as you have, to support and main
tain. Your task, however, is much easier
shan theirs Experience. that Just and,
seesre educator o mankind, comics to your
aid. aAd by the light Of its teachings, you
will be enabled to avoid some Of the er,
rors into which they inevitably fell, as
wella to improve and perfect the work
by them begun.
We have now had the benefit of near
ly two years experience under the new
order of things, resulting from the al
most nnan imous action Of the people in
1869. We are the first voluntarily to
inaugurate the experiment of universal
suffrage, and equality before ths law
Perhaps nowhere else could that expert
nent have been SO successfully tested
certainly nowhere else has it been SO
faithfully and go impartially tried. Radi-
cally opposed to preconcelved and well
considered fraughs as thought
full men we'll knew, with the graves pos
sibilities-neverthe less, our experience
has demonstrated that under favorab lie
circumstances It may be rendered not only
not antagonistic, but rather conductive &c
gaed and stable republican government
* x x
1t is your high privilege, by wise leg,
islation, by modifying, amending and
perfectiDg such laws as have been found
defective, and by the enactment of new
ones, to essen tally aid, not only in the
preservation of the high standard Of hon
or and good government which We have
ever main tanned, but also to foster and
encourage these powerful agencies which
build up communities and States, and
tend to the elevation of the condition and
fortunes of the people.
l know Of no questions of foreign or
domnstic policy which need distract youl
attention or create dieser tions in your
scaunsils
You assemble at one Of those fortunat e
periods when high resolve and noble as.
pirations for the good, the advancement
ana glory of the State, roay have ful
scope fer patriotic actions and gran(
results. The constitution makes it obli~
gatory upon the Governor, not only tC
Communicate to the General Assembly
at every session the condition of the Com
monwealth, ;" buta!so to recommend IL
their consolation such measurers as he MAJ
deem expedient.
The first measure to which [ desire Il
call your attention, and upon which
earnestly urge immediate action, is immi-
grafton.
The great need of Virginia TO day il
capital and population. With an area o
"a, 512, 900 acres. unequailed in richness
and variety of soil and productions, capa-
bic of sustaining population of five
millions, with more mineral wealth anc
greater natural commercial and man
ufacturing facilities than any Of hel
sister Allan tic States, she yet has
population of but one and a qual tel
millions, and but 8, l65 900 acres under
cultivation. Her vast mineral wealth i.
almost wholly undeveloped, and her grea
manufacturing and commercial advantage.
have been but little utilized.
Situated, as our state is, midway be.
tween the northern and southern po,tioni
of the Union, with climate unequalled
and with all these natural elements O
wealth and prosperity in bounteous pro-
fusion, now is it that Virginia is to day
the tenth instead of the State in ponula-
ton. and tho twelfth in wealth Thu
causes which have produced this result
are not difficult of entertainment, and i
is not necessary now to discuss them
\
We must transport the immigrant from
Europe to our shores and overland a.
cheaply and expeditiously is done q
tie North, and the INN igrsnts must b,
as well cared for and protected here as
there /; and lastly, we must secure home:
for them upon as advantageous terms, al
things considered, as can be offered then
in any portion of the country. Witt
proper organization and effort | am satisf
ed that we can successfully aecomp lisl
this.
Already a semi-monthly line Of first
class steamers has been established be-
tween Liverpool and Norfolk, expert
mental at present, but to be made per-
maneat if reasonably successful. We car
make it an assured success with successful
immigration. Thus can be secured the
transportation of immigrants from Europe
to our own shores at the same rates Is tc
New York.
From Norfolk to all portions Of the
State our railroads vii! afford equal
facilities for transportation, and at as low
or lower rates than can be obtained else
where. But we have no public lands to
offer them for homes at government prices
aud We have no organized system for the
care and protection Of the immigrants
until they are settled in their new homes
We have an abundance of rich and
accessible lands for sale, and at prices
much below the average cost of western
or government lands, when the salubrity
snd hsalthfulness ofour climate, nearness
10 market and cheapness and facilities for
transportation are taken into the account
But these lands are owned by private