Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-06-12

Constitution adopted by the delegates OF 4
few counties at Alexandria, IN April, 1864,
aud not ratified even 10y the people repre-
SeuteG and cannot but regard any effort %
govern the PEG lie of Virginia, or 10 conduct
their elections for County, State OF Federal
offices, under the provisions Ot this COnStitu-
ton, as committing the Governments 10 tue
hands OF a very small minority Ol the loyal
people OF the State; as a mOckery OF repub-
hcan forms, as denial OF the right OF self
government, as wholly at Varlan e with tie
policy OF the President Of the United States
tOsardS our sister State of North Carolina,
and Is an unkind reUuSe to people who
have awaited themselves OF every opportunity
10 renew with an honest purpose tue.r tealJy
10 the Constitution, and the Union create u
by It.
-. That we, therefore, respectfully and
earnestly appeal TO Gov. Peirpoint, and
through biul, n necessary, to tue President
OF the United States, for such measures as
may be deemed best, for the carly summons
OF a tree and sovereign convention Of the
people ct this STATE, with aylew 10 the adop-
non OF Constitution suited 10 tle altered
state OF our society, and under such cOndi-
ti0ns OF qualification in the voter and the
representative, as are set forth and declared
in the Proclamation OF the President OF the
United States, OF May %, 1865, in relation
10 the formation Of a government fOS the
State Ol North Carolina, Or under such other
conditions as may secure beyond question
the loyalty OF the proposed convention Of the
people Of the State.
WINS OF GoyEzNOR rEIRPoIST.
The Governor replied that he had previously
received d copy of the resolutions, and had gwen
49,, dg. consideration and deIiberat.Un, and
only H.HRrFr f.F non
consequence contained IN them was the requ st
in the tElrd resolution thar either the Cover.
nor or t.e fr.s.jel o. the United States should
call a Convention OF the people 10 create 3 Con.
s.itui.Ou {. T the State. That he represented the
rast.rsI 1uyeral eut OF Virginia and that GOV.
ernmcat Nas recognized by Tie Presi-eut the
United states Us tie lawful government of Fir-
ciuia in June 1901, aud was also recognized by
10Th branches OF the COug,es3 Of tle
United states By the al mission OF mem.
bers Into DO d houses Of that body represent
i1r that Government; and, further, President
Joluson recognizes 10, as Is indicated ia his la.e
PROCLAMATION 70 Virginia and It's officers under
the revolutionary government lie supposed
that 10 was conclusive tha the President OF the
United states therefore, would lot issue the
PROPOSED poo .amatiOD. That, under the CCnsii.
tutIou be, the 6OyerGCr had no authority 70 is.
sue such proclamation; he could nix the
mum er OF delegates or the qualification Of dele
gates OF the qualic atom OF voters Tor the dele
gate. be having DO authority by Ia so 10 do.
That a Convention was not what Virginia
wanted at the present time, IN his estimauJn-
The people wanted law and order admin tered
by tie legally created civil authorities He
then stated for arguments sake, he would ex
De. mentally cOusiIer the pan proposed BY the
gentlemen from Allemarle, in order 70 fo.m an
spproxima ion Of The time required 10 put It
into actual erect.
Ten days would be required 70 prepare the pro.
clamat,on aud attend 20 the lie essay pFelini.
nares Owing 10 the deranged facilities OF ira.
vel twenty days would be consumed in tr rs.
hitting the proclamation 70 the remote counties
OF the state then 70 give the peVp3 full and pro-
per notice and time % select their candidates, II
Vas fair % pfesums tBat thirty days additional,
a. least would be required. supposiRg the cleo.
ton 20 have taken place, then twenty days, az the
lowest estimate, must be allowed the members %
arrange .heir aEIirs and reach The capital.
Thus, then, AZ he lowest estimate you have
consumed eighty days before II will be possible
- assemble the Contention. Jadging by past
experiences the number Of members Of the Cen.
veutOn would be based upon the nulbeT Of
members O., The Lower House Of Delegates, which
g. round numbers is one hundred.
or coarse the sOlest men will be selected from
eaca county as delegates, representing all posi-.
bic shadea Of opiniUn, from the extreme Seccs-
s.ooist 80 the ulta Un3u1ist; and considering
the muIlitpdnous and wriebty questions that
would arise during sCussion. it Would Dc natu-
raj their regulations being involved for them "
desire 10 place themselves right on the record in
regard % each. Under thss- circumstances, #
they succee ed in forming a Constitution in three
rnOnt-s tacv YOU'D be fortunate IA accomplish
ing the result with greater expedition than any
similar previous assem6l3ge that had ever Inc
IN the state.
This Constitution would have 10 be printed
and circulated among tae people, tor the infor-
nation, before they we've called % vote for It's
ratification. This would take 40 least another
month. Surprising the people 20 have voted,
before the result Of the election could be 0Gici-
aly declared, fifteen days again would have
elapsed Alter this, your Constitution being
adopted, thirty days would be consumed in the
elect on Of county and state officers under the
new Constitution.
Thus tEen a period Of eight months would
have elapsed before you would have your State
organized with civil Ulcers, AID this estimate Of
time may Do reg lrIed as rather under than over
the pe-iUt necessary.
During this tine we collect n : revenue, and the
Insane and DE and Dumb Asyiums are unpro-
yidel Tor, and the unfortunate inmates cry Tor
bead. The expenses Of the elections and OF the
Convention will have to lie ds,rayed, there viii be
no law administered nor order preserved over a
large portion Of the State, excepting through the
agencies of Provost Ma, shas. He geyer well
these officials might dis barge Their trust, il Is
not % be expected that satisfaction would be
afforded, az less, judging by past eXper ence
characterization and anarchy would prevail and
general license be Afforded for the commission
Of crime Of all degrees Of magnitude.
The Governor then proceeded 20 explain his
own views as 20 the mos. feasible and eNpedi-
tiOus method 70 bring about the desired result
and req lested the gentlemen 20 compare his plan
with their own. lie preisc iced his remarks BY
stating that he acted under what is known as
the Alexandria Constitution, and felt all the
force Of the fact that 10 was adOp:ed By a small
minority Of the people Of the state.
But 10 was done daring revolutionary times
when the greater poTi0n Of the State was en-
gagged in Oren war and rebellion against the
United states and had for its basis the principle
that the government Of the State belonged only
10 the loyal people Of the state. Open IObels a.e
not entitled 70 any political right from the go
vernment against which they rohel; and, when
the rebellion Is crush-d only to such ish.s IS
the government in JOS beaetcence, chooses Z
grant them.
Previous to lie formation Of this Constitution
the President Of the United States had issued q
proclamation Of emancipation and charged hi
Officers VITA carrying u out
All the officers Of the restored government Of
Virginia were sworn % acknowledge the Consu
tuition and laws Of the United States as the su
preme law Of the land and the laws Of Virginia
The Constitution OF Virginia recognized slave
~ as a legal institution, and prohibited The
Legislature from freeing slaves. Thus, IN en-
forcing the laws Of the state, the State officer
,vers brought in TO conflict with the United states
authorities. aud il was found impossible 70 pro
cead In the reorganizat'o on Of the state without
changing the organic law. And II the Leglsla
tures al AlsGandri and wheeling were Legis!a