Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1865-09-12
WHOM SHALL WE ELECT z

WHOM SHALL WE ELECTa
The question which seems TO be per-
picking the minds of the citizens at this
time is: "What manner of men should
be elected to represent them in the
Halls of Congress p Some maintain
that they should elect only such as are
willing to take the oath embodied in
the Congressional act Of July 1862,
thereby swearing, without any mental
reservation or purpose of evasion" that
they "have voluntarily given no aid,
countenance, counsel or encouragement
to persons engaged in armed hostility"
to the United States-that they shave
not yielded a voluntary support to any
pretended government, authority, pow
er or constitution within the United
States hostile or inimical thereto" We
showed in our issue of last week, by
quoting the qualifications Of eligibility
prescribed in the Constitution, that the
act of Congress, requiring such an oath
to be taken by applicants for seats in
Congress, is palpably unconstitutional,
null and void. The object of the Con-
stiiution in granting to the people the
privilege of electing members of Con-
gress is that the sentiments of the peo-
pie may be represented. Itrequires e.
lections to be held every two years that
Congress 1aight always be true reflex
of popular sentiment. No man who
can conscientiously take the Congress
sional oath wonld be fair exponent
of the sentiments of the people, and any
who would take it otherwise than con-
scientiously should not be respected,
much less chosen as the honored Repre-
sentative and guardian Of the public in
terests. If the people should elect men
as their Representatives who can take
that unconstitutional test oath, they
would be responsible for the course they
would pursue, however Objectionable it
might be to them. Rather than be
represented by persons who have not
entertained the sentiments of their con-
stituents, it would be better TO have no
representatives at all for it IS far bet
ter not to be represented than to be
misrepresented. The people should
elect at this time their ablest, most con-
servatiye and most prudent and discreet
men.
Whilst the voters have the right to
choose any man who possesses the Con
stStutaonal qualifications, we believe that
duty and sound policy now require of
them to choose such as have not been
prominently connected with the rebel
lion, and against whom no reasonable
objection can be urged. Then if the
radicals in Congress should deny them
admission on the ground of their refu-
sal to take an unconstit utional oath, the
outrage would arouse all the latent con-
servatism of the awaken it from
its Rip Van Wrinkle sleep-and cause
the radicals to be overwhelmed with
popular indignation. We should do
our duty to ourselves, boldly and fear
lessly, and leave the consequence in the
protecting hands of a gracious Provi-
denee. We believe it would be better
for US, if Our chosen Representatives
should find the doors rudely slammed
in their faces, and admittance perempto-
rily denied them. If we should be de.
MED representation, we should be ex-
empt from taxation for the great prin-
ciple involved in the war of the revolu-
ton was, ':that there should not be tax
alton without representation" The
radical majority in the next Congress
will be so great that our Representa-
tives,if admitted will not have the pow
er to control legislation, but, by their
Intellectual opposition, may only add
increased hostility to the tyranizing ma
lority. If We were allowed choice
between Intellectual representation with
taxation, and exemption from taxation
without representation, we would pre-
fer the latter.
Virginia is either one of the United
States or she is not-she is either IN the
Union or she is out. If she is IN the
Union, she is entitled to be represented
in Congress by such men of her choice as
possess the qualifications prescribed in
the Constitution; and ifshe is ont of the
Union, she is entitled to free and in
dependent Government Of her own.
She considers herself member of the
Union, and, as such, recognises her OBJ
legations to the Constitution Of the Uni
ted States, and claims the right to be
represented in Congress by persons pos
sessing the Constitutional qualifications,
and denies the right of that or any 9TH
er branch of the Government to impose
any restrictions upon eligibility other
than those specified in the Constitution.
She knows her rights and will maintain
them. "Old Virginia, never tire"
The State Constitution.
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