The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-06-22

under the Confederate government,
members of the rebel Legislature, and
persons holding office, civil or military,
under what is known as the rebel gov
eminent of Virginia, except county Of
| ficers, are DISTINGUISHED. Also, persons,
offering to vote are required first to take
an oath to support the Constitution of
the United Stptes, and the laws made in
pursuance thereof, as the supreme law
of the land; also, to uphold and support
the restored government of Virginia, es-
tablished by the convention which as
sembled at Wheeling on the 18th day of
June, 1861, and that the person offering
to vote has not willingly aided the re-
bellion since the 1st January, 1854
The Legislature has authority to re-
store persons DISTINGUISHED by these pro-
visions, from time to time, as it may
deem best. At the last session, it re-
moved the disability from all officers who
were called out by the rebel State au-
| thority i'm 1861, and who had not gone
into the rebel army after they were dis
| banded.
Thus State Sovereignty-the status of
| the African race-the armed resistance
| to the government of the United States
are disposed of and we have arrived
at the important point of the res
| toration of our State to all of its
former relations ia the Union. This is
a delicate task, and one that demands
| teal issues have passed away; animOsi-
ties, created by the stern conflicts ofwar,
will pass with the subsistence of angry
feeling, and reason and calm reflection
| follow the feverish excitement through
which we have passed. Beyond the
| demands of public justice, any action
tending to produce irritation, or ere
ate new ceuses of difference, would be
not only inconsistent with humanity,
| but with sound and enlightened policy.
| The most important question which de-
| mands our immediate consideration is
| that of the restoration of political rights
to those who have heretofore enjoyed
| them. Since the restoration of the Seat
of Government to this city, have con-
| versed with intelligent gentlemen, of
every shade of political opinion, and
| from every portion of the Common
| wealth. Our intercourse has been of the
NEST frank and unreserved character,
| and / have been most favorable impress
ed with the earnestness and sincerity of
| their good intentions; and / am cOnvinc-
ed that, if the test of loyalty prescribed
by our Constitution is enforced in the
election and qualification of officers, it
would render organization impracticable
in most of the counties of the State. 1t
is folly to suppose that State can be
governed under a republican form of
government wherein a large portion of
the State, -twentieths of the
people, are DISTINGUISHED and cannothold
office. But, fortunately, by the terms
.f4 Al
sembly has control of this subject. The
restricting clauses of the Constitution
were devised in time of war; But we
have passed through this great and ter
rife conflict, waged on both sides with
skill and pertinacity seldom equalled.
When. the passions of men ran riot, and
blood was spilled like water; when, on
this side of the line, all between the
ages of seventeen and fifty were made
soldiers. and for want of faith in a de-
preciated currency supplies to these sol
diers failed, it is not WONDERFUL that men
responded to appeals for voluntary aid
in the shape flood and clothing to those
of their own family and household. In
deed, it would be wonderful ifthey had
not. But now, that the conflict is passed,
they accept the facts developed by the
logic of the past four years, declare that
they have taken the oath of allegiance
to the Government of the United States
without mental reservation, and intend
to be, and remain, loyal to the Govern
ment of their fathers. 1t would not be
in accordance with the spirit of that no.
be Anglo-SaXon race from which we
Jast our common origin, to strike fall
len brother, or impose upon him humili-
ating terms after fair surrender There
fore, if it were even practicable to organ
ize the counties under the disqualifying
clauses of the Constitution, should still
earnestly recommend their repeal We
must not lose sight of the great fact that
whilst man is social and religious be-
ing, he is, at the same time, a fighting
animal hence, whilst we commend and
encourage the milder and better propen
sites of his nature, we must not deal
too harshly with the other, lest we de-
feat the objects of wise legislation, and
degrade where we would elevate and en-
noble. atst' N;'f
All admit that a person disloyal to the
government which gives him protec-
ton should not be allowed to vote or
hold Office under that governments;
hence the suggestion of an oath of loyal
ty. would recommend the amnesty
oath prescribed by the President Of the
United States, or one of a similar char
acter, as that to be substituted for the
one required by the Constitution as it
now stands.
1t is of the utmost Importance that
the county officers shall be elected
without delay; the public welfare de-
.mands, and the people desire, that law
{ of order shall be restored as speedily as
possible, that they may conform to the
their broken fortunes, restoring the
waste pieces, and developing the great
resources of our Commonwealth. This
is to be accomplished under a new sys-
tenn of labor created by the war. We
have been taught by hard experience
that our old system contained a fatal
element of weakness; the new system
contains the elements of strength which
proved so potential in the late conflict.
The result will be homogeneous ma
ton inseperably bound together by COM
mercial, social and political ties, all VEN
Grating the name of Washington, and
maintaining the flag that is known and
respected in every land and and on
every sea. TO insure this consumma-
ton, let our ardent and earnest prayer be
Forgive us our tresspasses, as we for
give those who tresspass against u.s." If
we cannot forgive, how can we hope to be
forgiven? No mau ever entered the
kingnom of Heaven with animosities in
L I. A,tu