Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-05-29
RICHMOND WING.
wN. IRA SMITH. Proprietor.
Iha New Regime.

II Is certainly great relief TO the people
Of this portion Of Virginia, who have oeen
deprived of civil government for severai
weeks, to know that an organized govern
ment, recognized and sustained by the Gu
eral authorities, has been installed al the
capital Of the Commonwealth, and viii pro-
casd M once 10 restore civil law and order
to every portion of the State, and establish
those Landmarks" which will enable every
man TO have q just conception Of his rigAts'
5r,ie, and responsibilities. 1t is quite natu-
raj that some Iepugnance to recognition Of
this government should exist among a Peo-
nls who were so thoroughly identified with
the l,te effort 10 establish "SOuthern Con
t.dsr,ev.n but We trust that this feeling Will
rsDidly give way under the influence oil re-
ase,ion and "sober second thought" In
stead of regarding the new government as Al
abrasive and alien repository of power thrust
npon the people, We should DO glad thAt II
has a recognized existence, because through
-. .,encv we will the sooner be reinstAted
% onr former position in the Union, ana
bsvs restored to US the immunities and priv
usgss heretofore enjoyed. Other States
- bs cleft out in the cold" for an inden-
ri,s psriod. but Virginia will be rehSbilitated
without delay. This is an important point
,.i,ss Instead of fling prejudiced obJee-
-, N Gov. Pierpont and his associate
o#.,.,s We should feel grateful to them
,,r having maintained through so many
vi.;ssitudes and trials the reins OF
.rorar,rsnt which they now hold. This
oDi,ion NAV conflict with State Rights
,saor;ss but our first duty now is to secure
.tbs greatest good to the greatest NUMBER
.,a ,bs. result will be best attained by CIV
ing a cordial support to the restored Govern
ment. -,
7, I, proper, perhaps, that we should
oualify our expressions of satisfaction a. tne
Ia,,o-,tion Of civil authority with disclAim-
- Of spy reflection upon the military rulers
who have exercise authority here since the
axnlo,ion of the COnfederaey. We take
Measure in bearing testimony to the moderS-
tion and efficiency with which tie military
administration of affairs has been conducted
Rr, ,b,re are civil matters which can only
he properly regulated by civil law and II Is
NTH reference TO this class Of interests that
-. -sioics Al the restoration Of civil au-
thority.
One reason which probably Restraints some
Of our prominen. men with Union 'ympa-
tbiss from coming forward in recognition and
support of the new government, is the con-
sciousness of their Acknowledgement by the
new Constitution adopted at Alexandra In
SEMINARY last. The first section Of the Sd
article Of that Constitution disqualiies from
voting every white male citizen Of the Com
mouuealth Who, since the LIST day OF JAnua-
~. 1864, has voluntarily given aid or as
sis,,pce. N AMI WAY, TO those in rebellion
AGAINST the Government of the United States
for the purpose Of promoting the same"
very large majority Of the people Of Eastern
Virginia are dlsfrAuchised By this sweeping
clause.
But, fortunately, the Constitution author
ICES the Legislature TO pass an act or acts
prescribing means by which persons who
have been disfrAnchised by this provision
shall OIL may be restored to the rights OF yo-
tiers.
We hope, therefore, that Gov. PisrpOnt
will call the Legislature together at an early
day, in order that the question OF . modin-
cation of the disability may be considered.
A majority of the members elected constitute
a quorum. We do not see how the counties
heretofore disloyal to the United States can
be recognized until this primary step is
taken. We have every confidence in Gov
PisrpOnt's purposes, and are satisfied that
he will do everything within his province
which is proper or expedient, to redeem, re-
generate and disenthrali the Old Dominion.
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