Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-03-12

chievous expenditures, and Mr.. Van
Lear, we are sorry to say, voted for
them.
From the Governor.
IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING COMMU-
NICATION FROM GOVERNOR HOLIDAY
TO THE SENATE.
On the 2Sth of February the following
resolution was adopted by the Senate
and transmitted to the Governor of the
Commonwealth
Whereas the 5th section of the 4th
article of the Constitution provides that
the Governor shall communicate to the
General Assembly, at every session, the
condition of the Commonwealth and
Recommend to their consideration
such. measures as he may deem expe-
dent and whereas no such commune
cation or recommendation has been
made; therefore,
''Resolued, That it is the earnest desire
of this body to have the same, and the
Governor is hereby respectfully and
earnestly called upon to respond to these
constitutional requirements"
ernor, on Thursday last, sent in the fol-
lowing interesting communication
which was read before that body:
To the Honorable, the Senate:
The foregoing resolution of the Senate
has been received.
am at less to know exactly what is
meant by your honorable body at this
late day OF the session, especially as my
predecessor, after four years experience.
in his message just thirty days before L
took my seat as Governor, covered the
entire ground, and laid before you in s.
paper of ability and with great minute
ness of detail, the condition OF the Com
monwealth; and, for two months, you
have been most diligent, night and day.
in the investigation of that very sub
ject.
1t seems to me that to attempt to in
struct you on the condition of the Com
monweaith," after the most laborious
and elaborate Investigations and reports
of your various committees upon every
question of interest and importance,
would, just now, not only be very
futile, but very presumptuous task. And
it would have been equally futile and
presumptuous, if not worse, after nay
predecessor had thus done his duty at
the beginning of the session, to have
interfered with your investigations by
throwing out my, it may be, in COM
parison, crude ideas ; T am sure, it would
have met with your disapproval, if not
reproof.
Nor do think, that if I had recon-
mended any measures to your considera-
ton, after your committees had been
formed of your best and ablest men, who
had gone to work with great industry
upon every subject that the outgoing
Governor had deemed it proper to bring
to your attention, or that your own wis
dom suggested was necessary for the
good of the Commonwealth would
have met with any more favor. You
would have been apt to have regarded
it as an interference with your legisla-
ton, and an insinuation that you were
neglecting your duties-the former of
which, have most carefully avoided !;
the latter of which, with my knowledge
ofyour honorable body, would have been
most unjust to you, and most discredita-
bic to me.
Am not right in saying, then, that
I am rather at a loss to know what is
meant by the resolution? Surely l can
throw no light upon subjects which have
engaged your committees SO laborieusly,
0uO w W Hull yOu, d. ~ OOuy. iIdFC SltCu
such diligent attention. It cannot be
expected that can have any knowledge
which is not already before you.
If the Senate wishes my views or epin-
ions upon any particular matter of leg
islatien, most cheerfully am 1 ready to
comply, according to my knowledge and
ability. For whilst would not pretend
to dictate, or thrust those views upon
you, who have opportunities and reasons
for being SO much better informed than
myself, l am not averse to giving them,
such as they are, wherever desired. ]
am quite certain we all have one COM
mon aim-the good of the Common
wealth.
The object of your resolution, then, is
left solely to infere nee, and I presume,
is meant to refer to the settlement of the
State debt. Around this all other in
quirleS CiuSto1--.Cwarus it all legislation
tends.
About it I have never had any doubts,
nor have my utteranees been open to
any question to those who chose to take
the trouble to read them when, from
time to time, given to the public. Be-
fore my nomination for the Office [ now
fill, spoke in language not to be mis-
understood, and said that the 'road to
Virginia's prosperity was not through
the door of repudiation-that was the
road to her loom,' and that 81 would
not beckon her in that direction for all
the honor any office she may have can
confer" and that "if the people of the
State were resolved to go back upon a
renown hitherto untarnished, by the
Reputation Of her plighted faith. they
must find some other than myself to do
their bidding
With this letter before the convention,
received the nomination, and was
elevated by the electors to the office of!
Governor without opposition. / have !
right to presume that both the conven-
ton and the people approved
have not changed my min tsince.-i
In all my public utterances, and in my |
inaugural address, [ express the same /
views-that q State IL no freer than an \
individual frem the obligation to pay its |
just debts-that it as no right to enjoy /
the benefits of tbs consideration and |
deny in whole or in part the contract |
which the benefits accrue. |
L, IN the beginning, and have always !
said. and now say, that the settlement!
of the debt is a matter belonging pro-
perly to the Legislature" 1t borrowed
the money, it is the proper body to pro-
vide for its payment. Indeed, I may
state it more strongly it is the only body
that can. But | need not say to your
honorable body, that it must be done
within the bounds of its constitutional
limitations; otherwise [ might as well
say that the individual can perform his
laily work ia neglect Of those laws on
which the tenure mis- life hangs.