Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-10-06


Er this. cur last issue before the election,
which takes place on the 18th inst, NC
cannot refrain from ealing the attention OF
,,.',r readers to its importance. The mem
ters of the Legislature to be elected Will 50
there. either clothed with conventional pow
ers Gov the voice Of the people, to change
the present proscriptive clause Of tac Constl-
futon. so as to allow eli former citizens to be
el,c,ed to and 10 hold cfIice, or merely TO SIT
az q Legislative hoey, without the authority
~ relieve q number Of good and reliable men
from a5eburdensosne prescription. We Go
not hesitate to assert our belief that the vast
majority Of the rcoplc Of Virginia VIII vote
wisely and confer the authority upon the
q Legislature to repeal the Froseriptiye clause
While this is Of Importance, the question
;nvosyea IN the Congressional election IS OF
more nlomcntous consequence to us at pres
ent. We know the people Of the South to
\. lovsl and DESTROYS Of so acting as to secure
the best interests Of the States and the Cnlon.
They desire earnestly q speedy restoration Oh
thc Inion. The great obstacle to the at
.a.n,acut Of this end, TO some, seems to De
the Test Oath which is required to be
taken By all members elect to Congress be-
fore taking their seats. We do not CONCEIVE
that the probability Of this oath's being re-
cuired 10 be taken, or the question Of It's uIa-
eonstitutionality, has much to do with the
coming election.
+ Some Of cur Northern exchanges say, that,
whether, our Representatives can or cannot
take the oath prescribed. is the settled poll
ev Of the Radicals, who had a majority In the
laet Congress. to prevent, if possible, any
Southern State from being represented IN the
next Congress, and that it Is likely that the
moderate Republicans will act With the cen
sarxstivcs on this issue, and thus throw the
majority in favor Of the Conservatives, which
will result in an early repeal Of the "Iest
Oath" Others say, while the Republican
Conventions Of some Of the Northern States
have endorsed the policy Of President Joan
ror,. that it was done in order not TO freak
with hin, at once, that they are now waiting
sul orming for the great fight in Congress,
and that the ''Tcst Gath" required will be
finally adhered to.
We give the above views 10 the one OF The
other Of which most Of our Northern ex-
changes lean, with the desire that our read
e-s may know the sentiments Of the Consery-
alive Northern press on this subject,
From all we can gather we incline to the
belief that the action of the Radicals will not
turn on the 'sTcst Oath" but with the fear
of losing the preponderance in Congress, by
the admission of Conservatives from the
South, they will endeavor by all possible
means, to prevent the South's admission toI
the Union by representation in the next
Congress, and especially on the ground that
the South is conquerd territory and should
he ruled as such.
Whether it would be better to have the
door of Congress slapped in the face Of rep
resentatives who can take the oath OF those
who cannot take it, we opine, is in reality
the question for our people to determine
We know that they will endeavor to act tor
the best interest Of the State and Republic
and we trust that they, BY their votes, will
aid IN strengthening the President and the
Conservatives who are the only real Union
men in the country.
L. mi al