The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-01-01
Governors Inaugural Nj essage,

Gentlemen ef the Senate
and House Of Delegates:
Assuming the Executive Office at gra We
epoch in the history Of the State, and n.vo-
king the favor of God for the future, } cor
Orally greet you at the beginning of our
joint responsibilities and labors.
1t is an unusual circumstance. arising
from recent changes of law, that the Lepis-
lature and the Executive are now both ipau-
gurated at the same time. NV official re-
latlons and my access to off cial sources of
information begin as this m essage is comma.
nicated; and it is not to 'ue expected chat
the incoming Executive, at the MON ant Al
installation, should tram nit to the General
Assembly detailed info rn alton. wiz recom
memdations enbracir. 2 all tn, 1.r;s, ;otar
esss u sne comm onTealtt, which claim
your attention and care. H .reafter, aud as
occasion e snail from time to t; me require,
such further deaaied and spec ,fic recommen-
cations a. VIII beE addresse d to ven from this
once as shall sc deemed use I'll in facilita-
ting tho d's charge Of your eighty trusts.
~ olS,anlze at an era hich is destined
20 shape tue fort ones of Virginia for gsner-
a.l o;l 20 come. Before !, ou proceed to ex-
elcise Inc laW-making pr ,ver it is we'll that
' We pause cd calmly 60 mprehend the politi-
1F-s sovERNMES OF THE RACES.
We have devolved mo, no today tho On.
80 VI '"is sreas problem: How to make
anA au",hlstsf laW so as to secure life, lib
ivy "no property so as to establish endur-
aas psaov' oruer' justice and prosperity, in a
oo.n,n uni'y ooniF osed Of two distinct races,
.' laiss!y oihs ring in numbers, but dissmi-
lal ~ s'a!aihs intelligence, color and other
wal ao'eiiStiGf races hitherto star.ding to.
wa,u eacn os .ler in the relation Of master
ana siaVe, o. 1T now suddenly and by inviola
De organic law clothed with co aal rights
Although such problem has not elsewhere
or 10 any age been PEACEFUL or successfully
| soiyeu although Our great, ancestors recor
oeu :" slr opinions declar ing it impossible Of
soiutf N, yet [ do not estate to affirm, SO
eneo araging and decis we mas been the prog
less OF the last four ears, so clearly develop.
eI/ by the past are nc obligations Of to-day
lat if we are but guided by prudence, il
VIC 60 forward " til courage tempered with
forbearance, ana if no Federal legislation
4 shall lnterven to disturb the relations be-
tween the Races, We cannot fail to bring oul
great exper .iment to successful and pros
Iperous iss .ue. 4
I One tatriotic aim, controlling our coun.
sels % impelling us to avoid the example
OF ey tremists of whatever section or class
mu' It always be to establish and perpetuate
re ,ations of cordial cooperation. and good
vGll between the races and this is to be &C.
f complished not merely by distributing equal
burthens and benefits to each, but by pro-
:, :, noting such connections Of kindness, con-
~ fdence, and interest between them as will
- without imparing or touching the social in
: dependence of either, enlist each in increas-
: ing the prosperity Of tne other, and both in
iadvancinga common veal. In this direc-
a ton instructive and significant progress has
- been made in Virginia within the last four
u years. The Constitution made it obligatory
upon the General Assembly to provide for
y the gradual, equal, and fall introduction of a
= uniform system of free schools into al the
y counties Of the State by the year 1876, Our
! predecessors, undismayed by the impoverish-
- ed condition of the people, and rejecting all
:. arguments for delay, proceededin 1870 to
= organize a comprehensive system of free ed
ucation, now fully operating Throughout the
~ State, which challenges comparison with any
:. organized scheme of public schools elsewhere
J. under which sum of money is being annu-
e. ally expended, in impartially educating both
Y, races, not far short of the amount required
Is to meet all the other current expenses of the
Government, and this system has received
the deliberate sanction of the white race,
) who chiefly contribute the means by which
a. it is maintained. As respects all other in
j. terests as we'll as that of education, our peo-
e pie are subject to no State laws except such
as provide equally and alike for both races,
: without single discrimination. At no time
/ since the people of Virginia resumed the
/, control of their domestic affairs has the in
n terposition Of the Federal Government been
o occasioned upon any complaint or pretext of
injustice or inequality in their code Of laws,
or ID its application and enforcement be-
q tween tie races. Nor has our past policy of
e according equal justice and benefits to both
A races been wanting In bene6cent results
Recent events prove how futile, and how dis
- astrous to its authors, must be any future at
. tempt to array the colored race as political
RI, combination upon any principle of antago-
l. nism between the races. All such attemp.
tSO Soli1piuatlUue VI IAO pau oio uiooois01
and dispersed, and we are afforded the gol
den opportunity for settling forever the in
= ternal jealousies and dissepsions which have
hindered our material progress, and for com
> pleting the paeifcation of all the elements Of
l. the body polite. Ii devolves upon the white
u race now to consummate such settlement and
J. pacifcation. 1t view of their ack Aowledged
/ superiority in education and intelligence, as
- we'll as in numbers, their dominance in every
% department Of the public service: their own
y ership of the great mass of taxable prop
erty, it would bring lasting opprobrium up
; on them ii, while local self-government con-
g tnues unimpared, they should permit the
y existence Of any pretext upon which ad-
i venturers might, by fomenting discord be-
IS tween the races, distract the peace and re-
It tard the progress Of the State or upon
which any Federal legislation or Intervention
whatever might be invoked TO the inevitable
disturbance Of internal tranquility. Non
residents, whatever their claims to eminence,
!, ability, or philanthropy, can never understand
II the character and circumstances or wisely
administer to the wants of our colored popu-
h lation. Ourselves and no others are qualified
= to perform the task ass gned us by Provi-