The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-01-02

BANGS. J. R,iANpKasos. and j. ID. MORRISON
were appointed on the part OF @the-ao
The report Of the committee was iono ,N:ei,
| by a message from Governor KEapEE, Wnica
was laid on the table and one tnotlSan.
copies ordered to be printed. -
lmotioD of; Mr.. TAYLosi korfoik,
the House adjourned at l,6 ; n.
7z5a =.--
Governors inaugural Message.
- 49, COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,
r-n,-,,vr OFFICE, 1st January, 1874.
| Gentlemen of the Senate 4... -.
c 's = "'''a and House Of Delegates:
Assuming the Executive office at a grave
enoch in the history Of the State, aud IN
ypSing the favor of God for the future. |
cordially greet you at the beginning OF our
Joint responsibilities and labors. -
It. Is an unusual circumstance, arising from
recent changes Of law, that the Legislature
and the Executive are now both inaugu-
rated at the same. time. My official reia'
| tons and my access to official sources ot IN
formation begin as this message is commu-
nicated; and 1t is not to be expected that The
incoming Executive, at the moment OF in.
H.
Assembly detailed information, with recon-
mendations embracing allthe varied interests
of the Commonwealth. which claim your. at
tention and care. Hereafter, and as occa-
sion shall from time to time require, such
further detailed and specific recommends
| tons will be addressed to you from this
Office as shall be deemed useful in facilitating
| fine discharge of your weighty;trusts.
Nrrf orr III
70 shape the fortunes of Virginia for genera
tions to come. Before you proceed to exer-
else the law -making power it is we'll that we
pause and calmly comprehend the political
situation. se
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE RACES.
We have deyolved upon us to-day the so.
luton of this great problem: How to make
and administer laws so as to secure life, lib
erty, and property so as to establish endur'
| ing peace, order, justice and prosperity, in
community composed OF two distinct
races, not largely differing in numbers, but
| dissimilar in training, intelligence, color, ana
other characteristics races hitherto stand.
ing toward each other in the relation OF
| master and slave, but now suddenly and by
| inviolable organic law clothed with equal
| rights. Although such problem has not
| elsewhere or in any age been peacefully or
successfully solved; although our great an
cestors recorded their opinions declaring il
impossible Of solution, yet 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 obllga'
| tions of to-day, that if we are but guided oy
prudence, if we go forward with courage
tempered with forbearance, and II no Federal
| legislation shall intervene to disturb the re-
lations between the races, we cannot tail TO
| bring our great experiment 10 successful
aud prosperous issue.
One patriotic aim, controlling our counsels
and impelliny us to avoid the example OF
extremists of whatever section or class, must
always be to establish and pelpetuate re!a-
tons of cordial cooperation and good will
| between the races; and this is TO be accom-
plished not merely by distributing equal
| burthens and benefits to each, but by promo
Ting such connections Of kindness, conf
dense, and interest between them as will,
without impairing or touching the social IN
dependence of either, enlist each In increas-
| Ing the prosperity Of the other, and both in
advancing a common veal. In this direc-
ton instructive and significant progress has
| been made IN Virginia within the last four
| years. The Constitution made il obligatory
upon the General Assembly TO provide tor
| the gradual, equal, and full introduction of a
uniform system OF free schools into all the
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, proceeded In 1870 to or
ganize comprehensive system of free edu-
cation, now fully operating. through
out the State, which challenges Comparison
with any organized scheme Of public
schools elsewhere, under which sum OF
money is being annually expended, in i'm
partially educating both races, not far short
| of the amount required to meet all the other
current expenses Of the Government, and
this system has received the deliberate sane.
| ton of the white race, who chiefly con-
| tribute the means by which it is maintained.
| AS respects oil other interests as we'll as that
of education, our people 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 do
nestle affairs has the interposition Of: the
Federaf Government been occasioned upon
Eany complaint or preteyt of injustice or in
equality in their code Of laws, or In its APP
plication and enforcement between the
races, a Nor has our past policy of accord
| ing equal Justice and benefits TO both races
been wanting In benefcent results. Recent
events prove how futile, and bow disastrous
to IT'S authors, must be any. future attempt
to array the colored race as politi-
cal combination upon any principle of
antagonism I between = the races. ALI
such attempted combip itiOns of the past are
dissolved aud dispersed, and we are afforded
the golden opportunity for settling forever
the internafjeal and discussions which
have hindered eur material progress, and
for completing the pacidcatlon Of all the
elements of the body polite, 1t deyolyes
upon the white race now to consummate
such settlement and pscifcation. In view of
their acknowledged superiority in education
and intelligence, as well as in numbers,
their dominance ia every department. Of the
public service, their ownership Of the great
mass Of taxable property, It would bring
Fasting opprobrium upon them II, while local
tself-eoyernment continues upimpaiTed, they
should permit the existence Of any pretext
upon which adventures might, by foment.
ing di<cord between the races, distract,the
peace and retard tfe 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 the character and cir
cumatances or wisely administer TO the wants
OF our colored population. Ourselves and no
others are qualified to perform the task as
signed US by Providence. II not restrained
and thwarted by superior power, we will
perform It resulutely and eaectually by pro-