Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-06-10
The Feeling In virginia.

Recently there was special election In
six counties In Virginia. The result of this
election was telegraphed as secession
victory and It was made the text for edi-
torials In the Radical press urging the ao-
solute necessity of comforting the privilege
Of voting on the Black man, for the pur-
pose of keeping the ''secessionists" in sub
ordinate position. Editorials Of this de-
scription have induced Hon. MARTIN +.
CONWAY, the well-known Abolition mem
Der of Congress from Kansas, whohas been
South bestowing some consideration on
Southern affairs, to write letter. In this
letter he says: o. f.a!R Tovrr, J.f,
"In the first place there has no general
election taken place in Virginia since the
restoration. The election to which allusion
is made was a special one. held but In six
counties and Of them returns have as yet
been received from only three. l am in
formed upon the best authority that of the
persons chosen in the three counties heard
from, all were Union men before the war,
except the ones from Alexandria. In the
next place, it Is fact that there are no long
en- a,g 'disuntonists' in Virginia. The people
are all for the Union. Having tailed In
their effort for separate Government, and
recognizing that failure as conclusive, they
accept the Union without reservation, in
tending to stand by it in good faith. The
| National Government is to be theirs and
| their children's forever; and to that Gov
ernment, albeit they would not have vol
UNFAIRLY chosen it, they will bear faithful
allegiance. This is the exact position OF
| ninety-nine hundredths of the people oil
| Virginia. bs-.5..-..i,'
II deeply regret to see, the spirit OF pro-
| scriptioD which many persons entertain to-
ward the Southern people In their present
conditions people whose kindred ssplood
and heroic character 70 say nothipg oi
their misfortuDes, should commend them TO
our sympathy and respect. This spirit OF
prescription is wrong. The slayeholders'
rebellion was precipitated by irresistible
forces, and 1t is unjust to hold individuals
responsible for it. 1t should rather convict
Thomas jefferson than Jefferson Davis of
being its author; but the truth is, 1t was an
event developed In the progress OF civiliZa-
tion, Shall we not be kind and forgtving
to those who have committed error, how
ever grievous, when It is manifest that their
error was ordered by Providence, in His
wisdom, to advance the interest OF man
Kind? With regard to the incidental ques-
tions connected with the war, | find that
the Southern people are as reasonable as
could be expected or desired. They con,
slider slavery dead and gone, and are GLAD
that 1t is so. They are disposed TO accommo-
date themselves TO the new system OF LABOR,
and to promote the well-being OF the black
man to the best of their ability AS to ne
gro suffrage, it is new idea here; but am
sure it will in some form or other, be ulti-
mately adopted by the people.
"Very respectfully, your friend,
J.. 3a' MARTIN f. CONWAY.
"Richmond, Va, June q" oI1c
Mr.. CONWAY, whose statement is certain
ly entitled to credit, states that 'there are
no longer any 'Disunionists' in Virginia,'
and that 'the people are all for the Union"
Gen. SHERMAN has, also, declared that there
are no Rebels now. Wherefore, then, the
propriety of adopting policy that carries
on its face the idea that the Southern peo-
pie are yet as implacably opposed to the
Union as when they were inspired by the
high hope that they would succeed in es-
tablishing an independent Government
The Radicals are evidently firm in the be-
lief that if they cannot make the country
believe that the late insurgents are as i'm
placably opposed to the Union as they
ever were, they cannot succeed in having
suffrage conferred on the Black man.