The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-12-12
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Gentlemen ofMe Senate and House Of u

GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Gentlemen cfthe Senate and House Of Dele
gates:
In entering upon the duties and RESPONSE
bilities of legislation, the same great qnes-
ton rises that confronted you at the begin
ming of your last session, and occupied you
in one form or another during its entire
term. 1t Is the question Of auesti. ms for
Virginia, involving every other. There Is
not departmenr of the Government it does
| not reach. There Ia not an operation, how
ever apparently remote or small its detail.
that ia not directly or indirectly affected by
its existence or discussion. A long as the
State debt continues unsettled there is an III
cubus upon the spirit and a clog upon the
movements Of Virginia. When 1t Is settled
honorably and finally she will start upon a
career that will not he unworthy of her his
tory.
Every day I feel the heavy pressure of this
incubus and clog, and fully appreciate how
they Impede the growth and prosperity OF
the State. Men coming from abroad. seek
ing homes and investments In our midst, are
pleased with our country, but are driven
away by the constant clamor Of excessive
taxation on the one hand, or charges OF
threatened reputation on the other. The
question OF the State debt has been taken, in
the excitement OF debate, from the field OF
business where it properly belongs. and
dragged into the arena Of p0litics-as IL such
an issue was to be decided by mutual crimi-
nation and recrimination. and by the discus
sion, 1t may be aspersior, Of private charac-
ter.
Whilst this Is going on in private life or
upon the hustinRa the State is suffering. The
ignorant or nnisinformed Of our own citizens
are forming their estimate Of the real condi-
ton OF our affairs, not from facts, but from
prejudiees, and whilst they want their State
to do what is right, from the declarations OF
partisans they infer that she is poorer or
more careless than the truth would justify.
1t can readily be imagined that the stranger,
without the same means of information,
would form similar, IL not more detriu.en-
tai, conclusions.
She invites it cordially from beyond her
| lines. She offers climate and soil and re-
sources unsurpassed. She extends the hand
OF hospitality and welcome, and shows the
stranger how he can find a home, with what
ever that word implies. within her borders.
This he admits, but offsets it with tho state
ment OF the troubles and objections to which
have referred, resolved into the single but
powerful argument OF the unsettled c0ndi-
ton Of our financial affairs. /.
This Is prevailing. Capital is timid, and
labor is anxious for the security of its re :
ward. Neither is going where either Is
Observation-Disclosures by the heavy hand
| Of taxation or by the stronger hand Of VIC
leDce.
Our State might increase In wealth and
power by the normal growth OF her popna-
ton and capital. But this would require gen.
h
her sister States, drawing from the resources
Of the world, and striding with giant steps.
But let US have equal chances. Take awaythe
impedIments to the advent Of capital and la
Dor and they will soon flow in upon us from
abroad ,and, restoring our shattered fortunes.
place Virginia where of right she ought to
be, and where she has always heen-among
| the foremost In moral influence and material
| power.
Thus recognizing the Importance of the
settlement of this vexed and veXing question
| for the present and future Of the State, ]
| feel equally sure that 1t is not and cannot be
settled in the field of angry political discus
sion. Figures and facts are in no way illu-
| minated by passion and prejudice nor are
great moral and political problems solved by
| personal abuse. Whilst the day of settle
| mert by such courses is postponed. and loss
| incalculabe inflicted. in the end the fumes
pass away and the trouble is composed, just
as it ought to have been in the beginning, by
| calm and quiet and honest Judgment.
| ST. let it be now with us in this day ct
great responsibility and of Virginia's travail.
| Forgetting personal considerations and per-
sonal prejuflices, let lis, with single eye, de-
| termine that nothing shall stand in the way
| Of every honorable effort to harmonic views.
| thus securing conclusion which will re- es-
tablish credit and prosperity, and give
| A SOLID AND LASTING PEACE.
| No future Legislature can reach this end
| better, If so well, as this. We will not, per-
haps, have one shortly of superior personnel
| or Of greater devotion to the public interest.
At its last session, it is true, there was much
angry discussion and personal bitterness
This probably is unavoidable in such bodies
! when engaged in the consideration OF pro.
found and heartfelt questions OF public fame
and public policy, however much we may
! disapprove of like courses In our more quiet
moments. But have no more reason to
bring the charge Of selfishness and want OF
| patriotism against those who differed with
me than | feel that they have to bring the
same charge against me. On the great and
| sometimes :ar-reaching questions that arose
| doubt not they formed their conclusions at
| ter deep study-conc usions free from the
1 door OF any mean or unworthy motive.
| have right to demand the same charity and
expect it.
But in addition to the character OF this
| General Assembly, collective and individual,
no future one ought to expect to have larger
or more accurate information. Not only
| we've they elected with view to its discus
sion, calculation, and settlement. but the
whole Of last session, lasting for over three
months. was entir' ly consumed In the con
sideration, directly orindirectly, of the State
debt. Nota single subject OF any public im-
portancc engaged its attention that did not
tend towards, or centre upon, that one vital
issue. hence infer, and have righ'. that
no body Of men that can be convened in Vir
| ginia ought to secure more, or be able to &C.
complish more, towards the end in view.
| l Infer this. not only from the facts elicit.
| ed, but from the questions OF constitutions
| and legal principles that have been mooted.
argued. and decided, thus clearing the field
| for the full view of the central spirit and IL
nal issue of the controversy.
1t has appeared that
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS NOT THE GOV
EMINENT
of the State OF Virginia. There are two
other departments whose duties are as col
| emn and whose responsibilities are as pro-
| found. The same oath holds them within
the sphere of their respective operations as
bounded and defined BY the Constitution
no one ofthr departmental has right to shut
| file its duties upon another, thinking there
| by to eyade or avoid responsibility. Eacf
has taken an oath, which is quite as sacred
| ands to be kept, as that of any other, wher
the time for the performance of duty comes
This is the very essence OF constitutions
government as handed down to us by meI
wiser than ourselves. 1t is, AS they conceived
the only form in which the germ and spiri
of liberty can be preserved. The man witt
holds Office holds it under the Constitution
with It's grants and limitations. IL any suci
is willing to surrender to another singh
duty, he has already foresworn himself, ant
is unworthy the trust be has assumed, car
not to what department of the government
he may belong. Over us holding Office, hig
or low, is the Constitution, in which is ex
pressed the symbol of order, and harmony
and safety, and peace; and no man is wors
enemy to it than he who holds office under
and can be driven from the performance o
it's duties by camor and abuse.
Indeed, l can imagine no greater want Q
worldly wisdom than such course woul