Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-07-06

you may fully understand our situation, and may
| use your influence in moulding public sentiment
in the North and in Congress to the end tnat JUST
| and salutary measures may be adopted for the
protection Of the IoyaI people of Virginia, and,
| as we conceive, of the whole conntry' 10 tne eS'
Enlistment Of Stale Government Tor this State'
We have organized an association whose
branches are designed to extend over the state as
| fast and us far as they can be organized, and
| whose design is to unite and harmonlze the Union
element upon such course OF action as Will
| prevent the consequences set forth above.
That course OF action we are unanimously
agreed upou viz To secure the elective franchise
| to our colored population, as soon as II can be
safely done and, meanwhile, TO establish strong
and ioyal Cow rament, either military or terrific
rial. Our reasons for this are, many OF them,
such as will be readily suggested to the minds OF
| all rejecting persons who have given attention
to this subject and to the present condition Of
things.
Besides being just and right in itself and re-
Ouired by the principles of our Republican Gov
eminent, disloyalty without 1t will assuredy tri-
umph our State Government will be wholly con-
Quoted and controlled by those who have been
actively and prominently engaged in sustaining
the rebellion, and our representatives in Congress
will be just those who would have been returned
to the Rebel Congress had that body continued TO
exist The obligations of the State, issued to
sustain the rebellion and held by the people OF
the State amounting, II is said TO several millions
of dollars, will undoubtedly be assumed, and thus
the loyal people of the State, who have been son
the side of the Government In It's late struggle,
will be taxed once TO pay the cost Of putting down
the rebellion and again more heavily 10 pay the
cost Of sustaining It.
What may be the probable effect on our national
obligations end the Dayment OF the national debt,
as well as the effect upon the general legislation
OF the country by the admission 70 Congress OF
such representatives as We are sure to have if the
present state of things is to continue, il is unne
cessary for US to suggest, but II Is pertinent in
this connection to call attention 70 the increased
representation which the emancipation of the
slaves will give not only TO this but TO all the in
surrectionary States, and to the Increased power
which they will thereby WELD, either for or against
the Government
In view of all the foregoing we respectfully
ask that Congress regard the Administration of
Governor Perpoint as only prOvisional-that it
inaugurate measures TO call State Convention at
fit time, for the amendment of the old or the
formation of q new Constitution, the convention
to be chosen by the loyal people Of the state
without distinction OF color, and from which
ell who have voluntarily aided the rebellion be
cluded whether as members or electors-that un-
til such fit time arrive, 1t organize provisional
or territorial government upon such plan, as in its
judgment, shall seem best calculated 10 guaran-
tee the enjoyment of the civil rights aud peaceful
pursuits of the ordinary avccations OF the people,
aud to emancipate the blacks from the control OF
their masters, and educate them for the enjoy.
ment Of their civil rights, TO the end that when
State Cover nment is finally established it may be
upon such basis as viii protect the rights of
eli and afford additional guarantees for the per-
petuation Of that Union which gigantic war of
four years duration has been waged 10 defend and
secure. S. FERGUSON BEACH,
LYsANDER Hill,
w. J. CowING,
Corresponding Committee.
All letters of inquiry should be addressed to
the above committee, or to any single member Of
it.
Alexandria, Va, June 80, 1865.