The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-10

his views, with regard TO the policy of
the country, and take an active interest
in whatever political issues may
arise. The accidents of birth have moth
ing to dowith it, provided he be a citi-
zen of the United States. His home for
the time being is the place where he is
supposed to act for the best interests of
the nation, whether he be Virgipian
in Pennsylvania, or Pennsylvania in
Virginia. Who ever heard of an OBJ
lection being urged against a man in
any other State of this Union-against
his political rights or advancement-be-
cause he happened to be native ofVir-
ginia? AS she claims to be the mother
of States, of course, every State must
be filed with her sons.
Why the people of Kansas might
with equal propriety object to a
man because he came from Ohio or To-
wa-for the reason, forsootf, that they
are old Kansans, and the newcomer is
an alien1 Alien to what9 Tothe coun.
try, or to the State of Virginia? If a
citizen of the one, he cannot be an alien
to the other. Has he not the same in
terest in the government of the State of
Virginia that those born on her soil
have? In electing members of Con-
gress and Senators do the people and
Legislature of Virginia elect them mere
ly to represent their own particular In
terests, or do they elect them tOsfepfe-
sent the interests of the entire country?
We have always supposed that they
were the representatives of the country,
and not of any particular State, section
or party--and as such we think they are
paid their mileage and per diem out of
the public treasury at Washington; and
as such they vote on all questions in
volving the interests of the whole coun-
try, and direct our foreign and domestic
policy. If they merely go to Congress
to represent the domestic interests of
Virginia, why they might as well stay
At home. Then again we come to the
State government, in which it is al
legged these aliens are taking too much
interest. What is this terrible State
governments Little more than an ex-
pensive luxury--and which the people
would not miss were it abolished entire
ly, together with all the State lines
leaving us to get along with our county
and municipal organizations, and saving
an immense amount of taxation to sup
port its costly machinery. However,
we don't object to the State government
and are willing that it should be con.
tinued, as some kind of organization
may be necessary; but we do object to
the writer in the Republic objecting to
a number Of. gentlemen in Alexandria
criticising the action of the Governor
because, as he says, they are aliens, and
were not fortunate enough to be born in
Virginia. Perhaps the two hundred
thousand American soldiers, whose
Wondering bodies enrich the "sa
cred soilu from Washington to Rich
mond, were aliens too, and they
should not be permitted to have furth
er voice in the restoration of a loyal gov
eminent in Virginia. Perhaps the writer
will object to their voting, when robed IL
the habiliments of their humble graves
they shall presentthemselvesa the ballo
box. In his opinion, the men wht
sought to destroy what these men lait
down their lives to defend, must alone
be heard, while the representatives o
the dead who fell at Manassas are de
clared aliens, and are told they have NJ
right to voice in the work of restoring
the South to the Union and to loyalty.
Who Is this Mr.. Rigdeway, whom thu
Republic has lately found to be such I
marvellous proper man, and Whose
claims4as representative in Congress
are urged as so far superior to the claims
of these aliens? The editor we are in
formed of one of the most violent journ
ais in the South during the rebellion
the Richmond Wing. What did Mr.
Ridgeway do during the rebellion, aside
from villifying, traducing and insulting
the Government and people of thu
United States, that should commend
him to that people as one of their repre-
sentatives in Congress? What did an.
of these leading Virginians whom ths
Republic Is so anxious to have sent t.
Congress do to favor the Government o.
restore the Union during these four long
years of strife and carnage? Did they
endeavor to sooth the angry passions O
their constituents and counsel a return
to the old order of things, or did they
use their acknowledged abilities anc
immense influence to urge on the work
Of death, devastation and destruction
Did they visit the unhappy inmates o.
Libby prison, and feed, and clothe, and
comfort them in their terrible sufferingsi
Were their visits to Belle Isle to
inquire into the condition Of these
poor suffering soldiers of the Union,
frequent and sympathetic? Did they
daily lay before Davis and his Cab
met statements of the cruel and most
horrible treatment these prisoners were
subjected to by their keepers andguards,
and demand that more humane course
oJootodO MD thav do all hpse