Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-12-05
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTIONS.
GGVEEsNsSES'S EsEsS&esE,s
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,
GOVERNORS OFFICE.
RICHMOND, Dec. 4. 1ST

| GOVERNORS OFFICE.
| RICHMOND, Dec. f. 1878.
| Gentlemen OF the Senate GM House Of Uc!e
| gates:
| Ia cnefiug upon the iu,!.s ald rcsponalb!i
| ties CT legislation. tho saWo great question
| rises, that confronted yJu Ut the Geg!DoiuG o
your last session, and occEpied you ln 0Ee isra
or another durios lis entire term. 1t Is toe
| question Of questions for VirgiGia, Involving
every other. There is rot department ot tbc
! Government it does pot reach; there il n0t 40
operation, however. apparently remote or small
ire detail, that is not directly or Indirectly at.
fected by its existence or discussion. As long
as the State debt continues unsettled. there l5
an Incubus upon the spirit and clog Gpoon the
movements Of Virginia; when it is settled hoa'
orably and finally, she will start upon career
that will not bo uaworty Of her hattrj.
Every day feel the heavy pressure OF this
incubus and clog, and fully appreciate how they
pede the growth and prosperity of the State.
Men coniog from abroad, seeking homes sGc
investments 10 cur midst, are pleased With our
country, but are driven away by TIC constant
clamor Of excessive texatl0o on the one hald,
or charges of threatened Reputation Ga the
other. Tee question of the State dcbi has
been taken, iG the excitement OF debate, from
the field of busress whcro it properly bcloDgA.
and dragged into the arena Of ptlltic5-a5 1t
such an issus was to be decided by nuua!
elimination sad reorimioalion, aud by tho dis
cussicn, il nay DC asperslOp, OF p!l7ato cAatsc'
ter.
Whilst this is goirg on !n private life oE upon
the hustiors, the State ls suffering. The lgno
rant OF nisinfOrmed Of Our own ct'zsos are
forming their estimates of the real condition OF
cur affaiTs-not from facts, but from prejadloes,
and whilst they want their State to do what is
right from the declarations Of partl:ans they
irfer that she 5 poorer CT mere careless shao the
truth would just;fy. It en- readily be inagiG.
ed that the stranger. without the same mea15
Of Information, would form similar, il GO: E,oCo
dctrimeDtaI co1ou3lons
Virgiois wants capital ard labor. Sac Ia.
vites it cordially from beyond her ltcs. she
offers climate aud so!l and resources udSuF'
passed. She EXTENDS the band OF hospitality
and welcome, and BhoTs the stranger toH lie
can Gnd home, with whatever that word ia
plies, wishin hor borders This he ad2it9, Gu:
offsets it with the statement CT the trGupcs
aud ctjsc!ions to which | have referred, res7I7;,
ed into tho single, but powerful argument ci
tho unsettled condition Of our fiosucial affairs.
This is prevailing. Capital is tiula. and Ia
Neither is going Hhcrc either il thrcatcnce-
threatened By the heavy haoa o. taxat;oo, or
by the stronger hand of violence.
Our State might Increase ia wealth and pow
or By the normal growth Of her population aud
capital. But this would require generatio1s-
when brought into competition with her s;stcr
States, drawing from the resources OF the world,
and stridiog with giant steps. But ic5 Us have
euusi chgrcas; lake away tia lmpG0lGenis %
the advent G! capital aud labor, aod they vii!
soon Aaw in upon Us from abroad and, roster
ipg our shattered fcrtuues, piGc, Virginia
Ehere OF right she ought 10 DC, ard where ahc
hos always been, among the iajmost u E?@rai
influence AID material power.
thus recognizHg the Importance q :'!G ST.
t,epeut of this vazad and vezjrg question ios
the present and future Of tho State, ieai
eaEaliy sure that 1t IS r5G anG can2ot be settled
n the field ct ecgry political dia3uas;on E:2u'
res SID f.cs are 10 90 way ;!!uu!'rst2d ~ pas
sion ard prejudice; nor arc great mora! aad
political problems solved By persona! a5usc.-
Whilst ths day CT satt.tmcot ty such COURSES ia
poatpooed, an! lGss iEcuICuat'a i1il,c in TIC
c0d the fumes pass away AID tho trGGo2 is
composed, just as 1t ought to hs7a been il ttc
begilung, By G2!u a!I qr!et a9d i02eSt jGt2
meGt.
So let it BE- with us ia this 3ay oi sreat re
soo5sibiiity and OF Vireiaia's travail. toTga3
ting persousl considerations and personal pre-
iddicss, let us with single cyc, determine that
nothiog SHALL stand 10 the way Of every honor
able effort to harmGn;Z3 piews; thus securing
conclusion which will racsLab!lsh credit ard
prooperi!y aud gi7e so!ii AID lasting peace.
No future Legislature can reach this cod
better, if 90 we'll IS this. We will not perhaps
have one shortly cf superior pcr3oaneila CT q
greater devotion to the ru5ii7 intcrcst7. At Its
last aessiou, it is true, there vas much angry
discussion s6d personal bitterness. This p:ob
ably is unavoidable iG sueh bodies wh3n cGsag
ed ia the consideration CT profound and heart
felt qucssioos of public tamo and public p0l!o5,
however muah He may disGpgEoro CT like
courses 10 our more quiet moments. But |
have no moro reason to bring the charge OF
selfshuess and want Of patriotism against these
who differed with me, thaa L feel that they
have to briog the same charge against mo. On
the great and sometimes far reaching questions
that arose, doubt not they formed their con
cIusicns after deep study-conciusion free from
the odor Of cry mean or unworthy motive. |
have right 10 demand the same charity and
expect il.
But 10 addition tc The character Of this Cen
eral Assembly, collective sud Individual. &c
future enc ought to be expected TO have argtr
CT more accurate Information. Not only were
they elected with view to its discussion, elu-
cidation. and settlement but the whole Of the
last ses:ioD, lastirg for ever three naaths, Ta:
entirely consumed in the consideration, directly
or Indirectly CT the State deb. Not sioglc
subject Of any pubIis importance engaged it:
attention that did net tend towards or centre
upon tha! Que vital issue. henoo ia!er, and
| have right, that Cd body Of men that cau ot
convened in Vireoia ought to secure noro o!
be able to plish r.oTe to9srl5 the end il
view.
irf.r this, not oG!y ftoY the facts eciteJ
but from the questions Ct constitutional enc
legal principles that have been mooted, argued
and decided, thus clearing The field Tor the iul
view OF the central srri: and Gna! issue Of ii;
CONTROVERSY.
Il has appeared that The General AsseubI!
is not the Government Of the State Ct Virginia
There arc two other departments whose dutic