The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1860-01-19
THE REPUBLICAN SENATOR AT RICH
MOND.

| MOND.
Alfred Caldwell, ESQ.,, the Republican State
Senator from the northwestern counties OF Vir-
ginia, finds himself in anything but comfortable
quarters at Richmond 1t is said that he has
been treated with hyperborean GOODNESS, that
no one has anything to say to him, and now
leading Democratic paper, the Petersburg
| Press demands his expulsion from the State.
The Richmond Wing, also, which in 1882 was
stalwart champion of Emancipation, taking
even more decided position than that occu-
pied by the Senator from Wheeling, now gives
It's sanction to the intolerant suggestions of the
Democratic organ. The Press says:
1--WE have no words to waste on the perhdy
| of this man. 1t is our deliberate opinion that
the Senate of this State owes it to its own dig
nifty, to the sentiment of the people, and to the
Just expectation of our sister States OF the
South, to purge itself of the disgrace which a
further recognition Of Caldwell would imply,
by his immediate expulsion. The ninth section
of article fourth of the Constitution of Virginia
gives power to each House of the General AS
sembly to expel a member, by two-thirds vote,
aud there can never arise filter occasion for
the exercise of the prerogative.
| "If however, there should be found techni-
cal difficulties in the way of expulsion, then it
is the bounden duty of every patriotic Virgin
ian in Richmond, whether within without
the Capitol, to place the traitor under the ban
of social exclusion. Let him not be spoken to
or considered, in the House or out Of the
House, and let the Senate and city bear the
nuisance until the people of the Wheeling dis
trct shall have the power to vindicate their
loyalty, by consigning Alfred Caldwell to prae-
teal oblivion"
To which the Wing adds:
awe have reason to believe that this inter-
esting individual aspires to the honors of mar
tyrdom. Expulsion from the Senate is proba-
bly, the object at which he aims. We therefore
hope that the alternative suggestion of the Press
will be adopted. Indeed, if we have not been
misinformed, that course has been already
pretty generally pursued by the members of
the Senate. The public at large would be
pleased to know that it was pursued by all,
without exception. Let the Senate, on re-as-
sembling, welcome back with silent contempt
this conspirator with the enemies of the State"
We will venture to predict that the con-
temptuous treatment to which Mr.. Caldwell
is subjected at the hands of the slavery-propa-
gandists will in no degree inure his popularity
at home, or dampen the ardor of the Free-Soil
sentiment in that quarter.
The Republicans of Mr.. Caldwell's district
have two sterling advocates of their cause in
the Wheeling btelligencer daily journal of
wide circulation in the northwestern part of
the State, and in the Wellsburg Herald, a
weekly paper published in the Panhandle "
or extreme northern district. From the latter
journal we take the following article, which
shows that Republicanism has taken firm hold
of the public mind in that portion of Virginia
From the wellsburg Herald.
Some Of our old Virginia contemporaries affect
very magnanimous moderation in regard to
the treatment advised to be bestowed upon
Senator Caldwell of this district, for what they
are pleased to style his tratorous Black Repub-
lcanism. The cue seems to be, "to let him
alone severely" This freezing scorn and dig
nifed contempt game, doubtless, is as fully un-
derstood as it is edifying to the Senator, who
is condemned to toast his shins in solitary
! grandeur around his own private stove, smoke
his own Wheeling tobes, and pay his own bills
at the bar, with his own money. 1t is distress
ing to think of the misery his fellow-members
are inhicting upon themselves by their self-ab-
negation Of the society of the Wheeling Sena-
tor. We hope they will have grace sufficient
to support them in the trial, and especially that
sufficient strength may be vouchsafed him to
sustain him in his integrity.
| The truth is he was not sent to Richmond
to serve as pattern and monument Of urbani-
| ty but representative of the peculiar senti.
ment that prevails in the Panhandle in regard
to the slavery institution and his fellow mem
| bers well enough understand that while they NAV
snub Alfred Caldwell with IMMUNITY, to under
take, officially, to snub or insult his constituents
might prove altogether another matter There
has been no movement yet, among those who
! elected him by an overwhelming majority to
repudiate his course; and until his conduct is
dsavowed at home, it would seem very difficult
! to get properly hold of him, so as to be able to
! nflict legislative censure or dishonOr much
| less expulsion, as has been suggested by some
Of the peddler lynching, schoolma m-expelling,
parson-whipping editors and asses of Old Vir-
| ginia.
Caldwell's sentiments on the labor question
were as well defined and as well understood at
! the time his election as they are now; and he
is not to be punished or his constituents dis
graced, because those who would disgrace him
have made fools of themselves since. We ven
ture to say that to day Alfred Caldwell is a truer
Virginian in all the attributes Of patriotism and
! loyalty to republican institutions than any man
who traduces him, notwithstanding he will not
throw up his hat with the majority, and strike
hands with the disunionists and treason-plotters
of the capital. The minority is often nearer
right than the majority, and we believe this to
be case of it.
The fact of whether Caldwell represents his
district might be easily ascertained, if any re.
spectacle party seriously doubt it; and, in the
mean time, courtesy to his constituents de-
mands that he should be treated with consid-
Grafton and respect, Notwithstanding the fact
that he differs in opinion from most of his fell
low-members. Any movement toward expul-
sion or impeachment should come from home,
in case where malfeasance in his office is the
ground of complaint. If he truly represents us,
well and good, it is our duty to back him in the
discharge of his duty; if, on the other hand,
he misrepresents us, it is ours to rebuke and
recall him. No other charge is alleged against
him, except the indefinite one of being Re-
publican. If that is crime to be punished for,
there are many more in this quarter ready to
be martyred. But, In his case, it will require
very different process from that employed to
expel poor Yankee schoolmaster, as will the
consequences be much more pernicious to the
pet institution. The disposition to rebellion may
be transferred from the blacks to some of the
whites, should the coulter be run too deep; and
in place of harping on the beatitudes of
Southern Confederacy, the harpists may have
need of all their music to maintain the integri-
ty of the Commonwealth from eternal commo-
| ton. We repeat, it is fear of consequences,
rather than moderation, that suggests the g" Sc
verely let alone policy" of the fire.eaters at
Richmend, and they can take from it whatever
4. -, ho,,c IL 4