Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-06-15
Thursday Morning. June Is.
WE nave been referripg briefly foE aev.

we thiuk are calculated to give our read
ers an idea of the condition Of public senti
meot now prevailing in Virginia as re.
CARDS the Union question, and slso az af-
fording reliable idea of the prospects Of
Governor PeirpoinTs administration. As
we stated yesterday, the suffrage question
is ;hc 6rst great difficulty that confronts
the Governor. The objections to an ex.
tension Of the ballot are as yet theoretical
They have not been reduced to a prac.
teal test. 1t ia feared that once the ball
lot lie given to all those who are relieved
By the amnesty proclamation from the
penalIies of treason. Union men, aud not
Secessionists, will be put under ban. tits
alleged, as in the case of the Aecomac aud
other recent elections, that no real, straight
out Union man, can stand as a successful
candidate, unless votibgis confined e1clu-
sfvely to those who have been loyal, On
the other hand, We must meet the inqui-
ries boW pFopounded on every hand, Do
you propose TO govern Virginia by q mere
handful OF voters2 Do you propose that q
meHgTe minority shall make the laws
for the great MACS, and enforce them With
the assistance of the United States armies 2
II so, how lopg do you propose to keep up
that method Of government An other
question ia this: If the President of the
United States, in the exercise Of the powers
coufded to him, RENTS by his amnesty the
penalties of treason to certain classes aud
grades of people, has the legislature of
Virginia, or of any State, the power to step
in between and say that such persons shall
not exercise the rights to which they are
restored by the amnesty of the PRESIDENT
These are questions which are now press
ing daily upon Gov. Peirpoint. Sooner or
later action must be taken upon them
Already we see the Governor has called
the Alexandria legislature to meet at
Richmond, for the purpose, as it is sup.
posed, Oftxtending the right of suffrage, in
accordance with the discretion allowed In
the Alexandria Constitution, to those per.
sons who are amuestied by the Presidents
proclamation.
As regards the Accomac election, and
the objections raised in that case, it is not
to be cited as fair test. We see it stated
that the candidate who was elected is
Union nAn-sn original Union man-who
was a member of the last Alexandria
Legislature. and as such, hearty and con-
Bistent supporter of Governor Peirpoint.
The Issue between him and his defeated
opponent, who complains so bitterly of his
"S'S'''' 49, S-'----E-. D-ss.EIsm.
Most certainly, if We hold the public ex-
Prcssious Of opinion now reaching us in
the Richmond newspapers, as indices of
the policy toward the general government,
aud toward Governor Peirpolnt, we are
bound not to attach much weight to the
Accomac election. In the Richmond Re.
public, of the 10th, we fiud the proceedings
OF a mass meeting in Albemarle county
the seat of the Virginia UuiVersity-one OIL
the weRlthiGst and most intelligent sections
of the State. A large number of prominent
names figure among the officers aud com.
mirteemen of the meeting. We note es,
peciaIly the presence OF Alexander Rives
whom we have no doubt, IS Chairman o.
the Committee, drafted the following pre-.
amble and resolutions, passed by the meet.
iug. We give them as in our opinion af
fordiug a specimen of what the real sen.
timeuts and intentions of the people Of
Virginia are at this time:
THE termination of the war devolyes or
the people of the State the gEavest respou.
sibilities and duties in the reorganizatior
OF their civil polity. These should be mel
and discharged in a spirit of manly forti.
Iu6e, aud with wise and prudent con,
iormIIy to the Inevitable demands of tn,
occasion. Entitled to q republican form
otgOTernment BY the provisions of thu
Federal Constitution, to which they are
now remitted, they cannot, without a de.
reelection OF duty, shrink from asserting
their rights to the same, nor eleave theiI
silence TO be Interpreted into acquiescence
when measures are impending that contra
travene the fundamental principles of such
government. AT the sAme time they should
acknowledge the duty and manifest the
spirit of a loyal submission to the propis.
EOnGL authorities, both civil and military.
which, by necessity, suPPlant the Govern. .
mentthat has been Overlhrowu; aud should
be neither paralyEed nor reduced TO a
sullen indifference the results of the
war so as to fail OF support 10 these an !.
thoriIies, or of seusibiliIy to tho great in
terestS aud inestimable rights Of self
government. They cannot disregard the
arbilrsment which the sWsrd has made of
the great questions involved in the late
coufIct, nor the imperious duty to con.
form, 10 spirit of proud and honorable
fidelity, to the requirements made of them
by the ine1orAble fate of war and the viii
of Heaven While it is not to be expected
that tho whole process of restoring civil
oonsistw with their former liberties, and
much consideration is therefore to be ex.
tended to their rulers while imposing such
restricuoUs as they shall find absolutely
necessary 10 the interest of peace. order
and reform, it is not reasonable 10 suppose
that the people could, or would ultimately
in