Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-06-19
cOrretpOpdenec Of the N. =. Herald.


BoIIG. UA ~
Correspondence of the N. Y. Herald.
WASHINGTON, June is, 1865.
Reconstruction and negro suffrage are
now the great subjects of conversation 10
political circles at the national capital.
They are uppermost 10 The minds Of all
and in fact the alpha and omega of Wash
ington gossip just now. The trial of the
aesassins'ion conepirators no longer at.
tracts any attention or hardly comment.
On the other band, everything bearing upon
the reconstruction and the Organization of
The government in the several Southern
States is discussed in all its bearings. This
probably, in a measure, arises frcm the
fact that the President is devotipg bjs
whole time to that subject. In addition
10 this not day passes that delegations
from tho States late in rebellion, composed
of men whose names and former Ieputa-
tions are guarantee that their statements
are worthy of the fullest credence, do not
arrive in Washington. There are now
here delegations from Louisiana, Mississ-
ippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina
and Virginia. Some Of them arc men who
have in come way or other taken part In
The rebellion, while others, like John Minor
Botts, have held entirely aloof, and have
not in tbs least assisted the rebellion, ex
cept 60 fEr as they aided it by paying their
taxes. IT their statements are 10 Ee be.
lieved, and see no reason to doubt them.
the war has resulted far more fayorably
to the Union than the public generally
have any idea ct.
One of the most singular condolences
connected with these delegations is the
fact that each and every delegation piyes
essentially the same idea in reference 10
the feeling of the people and their COM
p!ete acceptance of the decision of the war
and their duty. Each and all-whether they
come from the sugar plantations of Lou
isisna, the cotton fields Of Mississippi, the
rice fields of Georgia or the Carolinas, the
mountains or tobacco plantations of Vir-
giuia, from the cities on the coast or the
agricultural sections in the iutericr-rep.
resent that the people, with but remark.
ably few exceptions, are ready and anxious
to render the national government oil the
assistance in their power towards restoring
the Union and placing their respective
States in their true and appropriate rela-
tions with the government. Nor do thew
manifest disposition to quibble on tech.
ricalities. They soy, tell US what you de-
| sire us to do and we will do it. From oy.
cry quarter there cones the statement that
the war has ended slavery, and thai they
are ready to accept that verdict without
any further question. These views arc
probably better stated by their own wsy
and language used in explanation. They
state that ever since the foundation of the
government there have been two theories
in regard to the meaning or Interpretation
of the constitution 10 regard to State rights
and slavery. The people in the South, as
a general thing, hive held to oue view, and
those Of the North another. The peouIe
of the Southern States Cndeayored TO se-
cure the endorsement and carrying out of
their views at the ballot box and in the
legislative halls; but they failed in getting
their construction Of the constitution and
the fundamental law of the land estab-
lished as the true and correct version
throughout the country by those means.
From the ballot box they appealed to .he
arbltrament of arms. The conflict came
aud passed away, reeultipg in the defeat of
| the doctrines of the South. In this decis-
ion they now cordially acquiesce. In other
words, they have been defeated in their
idess, and now cheerfulIy accept the
Northern version of the constitution and
its powers, and ask to be allowed TO re.
sume their relations with the government
under that version, foregoing In all par
ticulars their own constitutional doctrines.
and at the same time yielding aud Rbau.
dcniug the system of African slavery as
one OF the DEGREES or results of the great
struggle. These, repeat, are the views
expressed BY every delegation at present
here from the Southern States, which they
declare are the views of the people 10 their
different localities. AEl that they ask ia
the privilege of renewing their allegiance
to the government with that version.
This does not look as though the spirit
of the rebellion still remains uucououered,
but, on the contrary, that the physical
triumph through the Grbitrsment Of battle
has carried with it a greater and higher
triumph-a moral victory, which secures
the endorsement Of the same versien Of
the powers Of the constitution in both sec
tions, aud that the Northern. What more
could We ask2 What greater yindication,
what higher triumph can the people of the
North ask than this2 II this is the real
view of the Southern people, what sane
people in the North, except he is prompted
solely by political advancement or person
81 aggrandizemept, can fail to accept this
conversion OF the Southern people. aud
welcome them back into the Uuion2 These
delegations claim that their people have
been fully converted by the results of the
war, and are ready with almost universal
uuaniuity to prove this view of the affair
bp their cheerful acquiescence in that iu-
depreciation.
Since great deal has been said aud a
persistent Sffort been made by some of the
radiesl sheets to prove that there is q
strong opposition on the part of the pre-
tended people OF Virginia to the Peirpoint
adminiatraiion, and that the pretencs OF
tioyalty in that State is mere sham, the