Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-01-08

remarks, and when the crowd had be-
gun to break somewhat, there was loud
calls made for Captain john S. Wise,
which he acknowledged so far as to say
that his inaugural was not yet written,
and that his duty was at present with
his company.
Governor Holiday aud Ex-Governor
Kemper retired to the Executive man
sion, and General J. A. Walker and
| Lieutenant-G Governor Thomas to the
Senate chamber.
INAUGURATION OF THE LIEUTENANT
| GOVERNOR.
Judge Christian administered the oath
of office to General Walker in the SEN
ate chamber just before the Senate was
called to order.
REMARKS OF LIEUT.-Gov. THOMAS.
The retiring Lieut.. Governor (Thom-
as) addressed Lieut.-Gov. Walker and
the Senate as follows, the members of
the body having been called to their
feet by the gavel:
Lieutenant Governor Walker,-Ac-
cept my congratulations upon the hon
or to which you have succeeded; with
it the place of president Of the Senate of
Virginia, with its responsibilities and
obligations, is to-day transmitted to
your keeping. ..-.
Your well-known character and your
hitherto public services guarantee your
fitness for the high position.
1t is, too, matter of congratulatiOn
that upon the accession of the new Ex-
ecutive, Virginia and all of her sister
southern States have been remitted
through the policy of the Federal Ad-
ministration to their constitutional 10
cal governments, and that whatever
divisions of sentiment may exist among
ourselves we need fear no Intervention
from without. s-
I cannot leave this chair, senators,
without availing myself of the oppor-
tunity to express to you my thanks for
the kindness and courtesy always ex-
tended by you and the officers of the
Senate to myself. During my entire
service have not encountered single
disagreeable incident, and my duties
have in great degree been lightened
by your forbearance and partiality. I
beg that each of you will accept my
thanks and the assurance of my warm
personal friendship, and I shall ever
cherish with fond delight and pleasure
the remembrance of our pleasant assO-
Citations.
Governor Walker, beg you will again
permit me to offer you my congratula-
tiOns, and to invest you with the only
insignia of your Office, and to surrender
TO you this chair.
REMARKS OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
WALKER.
Upon assuming the gravel and taking
the chair Lieutenant Governor Walker
said:
Senators-In entering upon the dis
charge of the duties of presiding officer
of the Senate of Virginia I feel that
embarrassment which naturally results
from inexperience. Never having had
the honor to serve as a member of your
body, l must in the outset plead ignor-
ance of your rules and modes of trans
acting business, and throw myself upon
the kindness of each individual senator.
can only promise zeal, fidelity, and
perfect impartiality in the discharge of
my duties, and proceed to their per-
fOrmance with such skill as I possess,
relying with confidence upon your sup
port when shall be right, upon your
indulgent consideration when may be
wrong, and upon your generous DISPOSE
ton to do full justice to my humble eff
forts to merit the honor of presiding over
a body so distinguished for its dignified
and courteous bearing.
AS come to preside over your de-
lIOeTatlOuS WIIuOuC any OF CQ0 0umltleS
or rivalries often engendered by past
service in legislative bodies, I trust at
the close of tile session to merit and re.
ceive your esteem and approval of my
official conduct, which is all the reward
1 ask, and the only ambition I cher
ish.
thank the distinguished gentlemen
whom I unworthily succeed for the
very kind and flattering terms in which
he has been pleased to allude to me.
What can I say of him which is not
known to all who hear me? After
serving the State in many high places
faithfully, ably, and acceptably, he re-
tires from office for the present, respect
ed and honored by all who know him,
with no spot or blemish on his private
or official character, in the full maturi-
ty of all his powers, with a judgment
ripened by experience and mind
strengthened by exercise. "Well done,
good and faitful servant" the State
cannot long spar such ability and such
experience from her service.