The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-02
Convention Of the State Legislature and Reading
Of the Governors Inaugural Message.
The Fostering Of the Rights and
Welfare of the Colored
Race Recommended.
The National Government Asked to As.
sumo the State Debt - More
Currency Demanded.

every member Of both houses being present. The
organization having previously been arranged In
caucus, the election OF officers was speedily got
through with, and resuited in the reelection of all
the officers Of the last session except the Sergeant
alarms. That olace was filed by the election OF
j. f. Wall, OF Frederick county.
The Senate and House then went into Joint SEES
sion and proceeded to canvass the returns Of the
recent election for Governor and Lieutenant Gov
ernor, with the following resut:-For Governor
James L. Kemper, 12O,72s; r W. Hughes, 93,499;
majority for Kemper, 27,239. The majority for
Colonel r. e. Withers for Lieutenant Governor was
27.54o. Immediately after the conclusion OF the
count the Governor elect was notified and he pro-
ceeded to the Executive Mansion, where the oath
OF office was administered to him by Judge Pltz-
hugh, OF the Chancery Court
Governor Kemper then sent his inaugural mes
sage to both houses. In referring to the circum-
stances arising from the recent changes OF law
that the Legislature and Executive are both in
augurated at the same time he says it is not to be
expected that he should transmit detailed informa.
ton with recommendations OF the government.
EQUAL RIGHTS OF RACES.
or the black ana white races he says - 81 do not
hesitate to affirm, so encouraging and decisive
has been the progress Of the last four years, so
clearly developed by the past are the obligations
OF to-day, that II we are but guided by prudence II
we 60 forward with courage, tempered with for
bearance, and II no federal legislation shall inter-
vene to disturb the relations between the races,
we cannot fail to bring our great experiment TO
successful and prosperous issue.'
He then refers in iatterinR terms to the uniform
system OF free schools for educating both races
which challenges comparison with any similar
scheme elsewhere. He says:-"Recent events prove
how futile ana how disastrous to It's authors must
be any future attempt to array the colored race as
political combination upon any principle of an
tagonism between the races; and, further that
non-residents, whatever their claims to
eminence, ability or philanthropy, can never under
stand the character and circumstances or wisely
administer to the wants Of our colored population
Ourselves and none others are qualified to perform
the task assigned US by Providence. Not re.
strained and thwarted by superior power, we will
perform duty res0lutely and efYectualy by pro-
noting the best interests OF both We intend
to perform 1t by scrupulously guarding the newly
acquired rights Of the colored man."
He next refers to
IMMIGRATION AND CAPITAL,
as the two great material wants OF Virginia, and
says the highest interests OF the whole country
demand the speedy establishment of lasting recon-
Citation and the return OF complete normal rela-
lions between the people Of the State, on the one
Of the United states on the oshee
political party relations the Governor says vir-
ginis, recognizing no such obligations bind her
TO any national party organization, maintaining
her fidelity to all who are and who shall be-
come allied IN the defence or measures cal
to cooperate cordially with men OF whatever
party in upholding these measures, by whoms0ever
proposed, supporting those who support them and
opposing all opposition to them. He recommends
the reamrmation by the Assembly OF one OF the
articles Of the conservative platform, Judging the
ofciai actions and cooperating in every measure
Of his administration which may be benefcent in
design and calculated to promote the welfare Of
Throughout the Union.
THE OLD STATE DEBT.
He alludes to the fact that the dismemberment
of Virginia during the war has left the Old state
responsible for the whole debt, with such conflict
and leaves both states without q remedy. The
government OF the United States, by It's action has
and interviewed between Virginia and her cred
itors. without any discussion OF the power OF the
he argues that If the governments OF the United
States should now, IN the plentode OF ITS
%sas State and by 1ssG Se. 70
burden on the national Treasury, bat grt LAS 70
US In our own poverty-it would only "A q small
which the munifcence OF Virginia endowed the
Union in its weakness and infancy. He refers TO
the fact that as result Of the war the burden OF
the state is greatly increased in the education OF
the freedmen and support OF colored paupers,
leaving W the
care and education OF more than half million
OF the wards OF the nation, without
being provided with the means OF executing the
trust. He would deplore the interference or the
federal government with the public schools OF the
state as certain to result in their destruction.
Yet justice humanity, and the best interests of
the colored race and the country at large demand
that the national government should furnish the
state with the necessary means to educate them.
VIRGINIA WANTS MORE CURRENCY.
He claims that Virginia has less than One-third of
her proportion OF national currency and demands
that the government should either arOrd her her
due proportion or repeal the existing tax on State
bank notes, thus allowing Virginia to provide CIR
cuating medium OF her own. He urges that every
effort be made by the State herself to provide for
the public debt He advocates liberal provision as
true economy In the care OF our public in.
situations, educational and eleemOsynary, and
refers especially to the University OF Virginia.
He recommends the renewal Of every EFFORT to fur
Their the construction of the central water ltne the
consummation OF which Is destined to signalize
the present period Of our history, while he thinks
the advantage to Virginia ana West Virginia would
be greater II It should he constructed by private
capital; yet Its maintenance as a national water
way, ree to all people, would be intellectually more
beneficial to the common country. He concludes
by making various recommendations looking to
economy IN the administration OF the affairs OF the