The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-07
The Present One Should be Greatly
Amended or Rewritten,
LAND GRABBERS' LAW UPHELD.
Use of Money in Elections, Election of
Senators by Primary, Legislation
in Restraint Of Trusts, Mary
land Boundary Line and
Various Other Matters
are Discuss sed.
Commonwealth Of Virginia,
Governors Office.

Commonwealth Of Virginia,
Governors Office,
Richmond, Va, December 6, 1893.
To the General Assembly OF Virginia:
il is with peculiar pleasure that l well
come you 20 the Capitol, and extend TO
each OF you q most cordial personal greet
ing As the law-maklng branch of our
state government. the citizens look to you
| TO transmit 90 them in every statute
ald enactment the principles Of liberty,
justice and economy I'm public expendi-
lures. which constitute the trad tlonal
heritage Of this famous Commonwealth.
This is the last Legislature elected in
| The state of Virginia during the nineteenth
century and it is in your hands TO close
for this great century so full OF giant
progress and mighty meaning, the leels-
latNe history Of the Commonwealth Ana
while it is thus in you power TO impose
fitting finish and adOrnmeut 90 the struc-
ture 0f civil government so wisely planned
by our fathers, 10 is also .n your power
| lo provide for laying anew the constltu-
! uonll foundations OF your state govern
ment. on which those who are 10 come
/ after as may build and find room for
/ their best labOrs and most extended
/ growth
| AS a fitting preparation for the present
| duties, il may not be inappropriate 10
| AXE a backward glance over the century
| now cl0sing-surely the most inspiring
| century IN the life of our Engiish-speak-
| ng race Its beginning saw unfurled IN
/ the West the flag Of our new republic con-
! fined to the thirteen colonies along the
/ Atlantic sea coast, shut i'm by foreign
\ foes and threatened by lurking savages.
| Its close sees q nightly scroll OF States
/ unrolled from ocean % ocean, and seven
/ ty-dve million people dwelling in security
| and conscious power beneath the nag OF
/ our common country representative
| government, as prophesied by virginia
/ Henry. as planned by Nirg.n.as JeHer-
| SON as achieved by Nirgnia's WashinS-
! D. has vldcated itself and to-day our
| country is leading the nations OF the
world I'M thought action, power and free
| DOM But IL has been "a long vigil and
| never-dying purpose on the part Oh the
] successive generations OF American cltl-
! zens to bring us where We are to-day.
| Liberty has been a Jealous goddess, ana
| every turning aside ON the part OF her
] devOtees has been punished by the Will
! holding of her rare and choice blessings
! When We look back over the years that
| have gone and think OF the vast eXpeldl-
! mra of human brain and Drawn, ana hu-
| man blood required 10 erect mere our
! homes. establish here our system OF gov
| .rrr,ert and 10 maintain our manhood
and our liberty, Il is bound to stir lively
| aDoreCi4tion of the blessings we now en-
low and a deathless gratitude towards
those free and undaunted spirits from
/ whom we are proud 10 have descended.
| Go back an hundred years ana thlhk Oh
| tho American wilderness from Whoss
| shadows the antlered herds were rouseu
| bv rho blows of the WoOdmans axe, then
! think Of 30 as IL Is to-day, ribboned wiih
! intarninable highways of steel. beweDped
| with endless wires marked all over py
/ broad wagon roads. dotted with COM
| Portable homes. while from sea 70 sea-
| everywhere, great cities lie oeneath their
| canopy of smoke. throbbinS with ld
| fon,s commercial life and energy. Ana
| all IT,, development brought about oy the
| sn'rit and intelligence Of American clu-
| zensbin and resting secure and united IN
| tho Invisible bonds of constitutional I'D
| ertv But the price Of II all has been
| tha vigilance Of our citizens. Inc cla7h
| ~ debate and the free and vigorous eA-
| .h9nga of opinions have marked our
| every forward step. How much better tn's
| is than a land whose people take no n
| terest i'm their government. ana VINO
| either from prOfane ease OF ciusHtu 7Pii'
| turn over without discussion tneF oaeied
| rights 10 others But this matellal u'-
| vclopment. wonderful as 10 rs, is not 10
I be compared 90 the type OF American
| citizens. 10 the beauty OK the life IN the
American homes that has grown up upon
| this continent Here religion has FOUND
! fts home. and education has bf'bhtened
the life Of all our people. ana mas ueen
| brought I'm reach ~ the hunhlest en'idien
| Independence and mauliness have en-
tered into the very texture and fbre OF the
souls of our people, and they resent with
never yielding spirit the slightest en-
croachment upon their divine prerosa-
! lives. In IL all. Virginia has borne a royal
part and while maintaining her govern
ment az home and while leading m the
great humanizing and educational work
OF the union, she has also spared from
ont her lolns her noble youth 10 90 into
every part OF this union, and there erect
homes after the model OF those LEFT be-
hind and exemplify the manly spirit ana
intelligent freedom which they inherited
| from their fathers. Beginning win a
princely domain. with princely bounty
| she turned Il over 10 the general gov
eminent and out Of this. during the
century past nave iANA Ntlt -" f"t+t' -
the most powerful States Of the Union,
reservlng only space en- ugh FOR herself
I'm which her heroic heart could beat
She has borne the shock Of war and the
| oppressive rule Of the ignorant and arro-
| CANT the extravagant waste OF her credit
and her resources and yet to-day faces
the oncoming century never so bright and
hopeful. aye with never 80 much courage
in her heart The beginning OF our ma
tional life saw England lose her wealthest
domain and most powerful colonies. To-
day. we see Spain likewise lose the choice
remaining territory Of her once great en-
plre and these trusts. taken from their
hands. are now in our keeping. From
the Revolution 10 the present time VIZ
ginias representatives have been In the
vanguard or the nations progress direct
ing her course and making straight her
pathwaya These few remarks by way Of
Introduction. this swift backward glance,
Is surely pardonable when Virginia Gov