The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-02-19
Personal Explanation.

| In the House of Delegates yesterday, Mr..
| O'Ferrall rose to apersonal explanation,
and said:
Mr.. Speaker rise to a question of
| personal privilege and explanation. have
read with pleasure the message of His Ex-
cellency laid before the General Assembly
on Yesterday.
On the 7th day of this month, one year
ago, had the honor of addressing this
House on the subject of the state debt, ex-
pressing substantially the same views en-
braced in the Governors message, though
not so general or universal. was met, sir,
by the cry of reputation, and insinuations
were thrown out that | was un.
true to the sacred honor and
plighted faith of my state; that | was
striking blow at the very heart of my old
mother, from which she would probably
never recover. bore all these charges,
all these insinuations as one bearing within
his bosom consciousness of the recti-
tude of his own actions. l Iloved Vir-
ginia-her material interests, her grand
traditions and her unsullied honor-with
all the intensity of my nature. Beneath
her skies and upon her bosom I first
saw the light and breathed in her pure and
balmy air and feel, to-day, that can
exclaim in truth, "This is my own, my
native land" While | have suffered these
charges and insinuations to 60 unrebuked,
| have felt them but determined to bide
my time and await the dawning of new
era in the popular sentiment of our grand
and, trust, imperishable old common
wealth.
| have watched through the night,
when all around was dark, cold and cheer
less, for the morning star, bringing promise
oflight, and after patient waiting and hoping
that star has at last appeared, bright and bril-
liant, in the political frmanent Of our state,
and as it shot into position it was the noise
and crash of the thunderbolt, astounding,
but not dismaying, l am happy to say, the
ranks Of either of the late conteIding
forces.
Sir, let no man hereafter call me repu-
diationist. am bold now-I am fearless
shielded and protected as am beneath the
@gis OF the Executive fthe commonwealth.
Let no man dare now insinuate that | am
untrue to the sacred honor and plighted
faith of the land that gave me birth.
have never been repudiationist-I
have favored the assumption of the debt of
Virginia by the federal government, and
failing in that, then an equitable settle
ment with the holders of the bonds. but
never admitting the legal liability of the
state.
In conclusion, | congratulate this Gene
raj Assembly, congratulate the impover-
ished people of my state-aye, sir, con-
graduate the old state herself, Frustrated in
the dust, bleeding at every pore, and en-
veloped in darkness and gloom, at the rising
of this star which gives promise that the
darkness of night shall be dispelled and the
sunlight of day burst in upon us.
How true are the words of the poet:
Truth crushed to earth will rise again,
The eternal years of God are hers,
But error wounded writhes in pain,
And dies amid her worshippers.'
| have said this much, Mr.. Speaker, in
vindication of myself and in vindication of
the noble people whom have the honor
to represent in part upon this floor-a peo-
pie who have ever been true to Virginia in
peace and in war, in prosperity and in adj
versity, and who hold the true honor of
the State as sacred as their own lives.