The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-08-14
The Loyalty Of Virginia
from tho Richmond Times.l

| Since the the collapse OF the late Con-
federacy and the proclamation of Presi-
dent Johnson's amnesty, no State has
manifested more prompt sincere and
universal loyalty than Virginia. Ac-
cepting the proclamation of the Presi-
dent as the sacred ark and covenant of
peace, forgivness and good will, her citi-
zens have so conducted themselves as to
merit the applause of all conservative
friends of the Union Without mental
reservation, without reluctance or sui
lenness, Virginia has assumed all the
burdens, duties and responsibilities i'm
posed upon her citizens by the stern, in
exorable logic of the war Phe follow
ing are but few guarantees which she
has given of her sincere. and honest 10y
atty:
| |. The restored State Government"
although established by the votes of a
handful of voters in the border counties,
has been sincerely. honestly and cordi-
ally sustained by the people of the entire
State. Governor Pierpoint has again
and again expressed himselfa as thorough
" convinced of the present loyalty of
the whole people of the State.
III. Without dissenting voice, the
people have conceded that secession"
and "disunion" now belong to history
those issues having been forever pnt to
| rest bv the result Of the civil war.
III. They have practi cally admitted
| the extinction of slavery, and cheerfully
acuuiesced in the decision of the fate of
| t hat institution.
". They have prac ticed no cruclties
upon the free negroes and are both anx-
| ious and willing to make them happy
and, useful as free laborers. Their pow
erty alone has prevented them from Civ
| ing employment ana support to all
| of this class who are willing to labor.
V.-They have promptly and in good
faith taken all the Oaths required by the
Federal Government, and now desire
speedy and perfect reunion of the
States.
VI. They have voted for no candidate
for office who has not been fully and UNI
conditionally pardoned, and Of whose
present and sine ere loyalty they have
entertained q doubt.
VII. They have not counter anced the
candidacy even of any citizen of the State
who was prominently identified with the
movements which brought about dis
solution of the Union.
VIII They have religiously respected
and carried out in good faith the policy
of President Johnson in sustaining for
Office none but those who have been free
" and fully forgiven by him and rehabil-
| tated by the Executive as fully i'll their
civil rights asif they had neveraided the
| Confederacy.
TX They have never, by word or deed
furnished the slightest pretencc or eX,
| cuSe for the repeated and unlounded ac-
cnsations of which they have been the
victims and they are now and have been
for mouths past willing and anxious to
show their loyalty to the Government
whenever IN opportunity has been al.
forded them of doing SO.
y Conscious of their integrity of pur-
pose, The people of Virginia claim the
poor privilege of moi having their sacred
pledges questioned and doubted, until
| they have given evidences of disloyalty.
The work OF misrepresentation cannot
long obscure OF conceal the sincere aud
genuine loyalty Of Virginia. Slowly it
may be, but surely will her integrity and
honest allegiance to the Government he
| recognized by many who were Temporal
rily deceived by the clamor of those who
have ministered to the enemies of the
Union in traducing her Let her people
be patient, loyal and faithful to the end
and all will yet be well