Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-10-09
RICHMOND WHtG.
MONDAY MoRNtNG.........OCT. 9, 1865.
ADMISSION OF SOUTHERN REPREsENTA-
TIVES.

TIVES.
The admission of Southern Representa-
tives in Congress has become a question of
the greatest practical moment, and, as our
contemporary of the Louisville Journal OBJ
serves, is Justly engrOSsing large share Of
public attention throughout the country,
North and South, East and West.
The "test OATH" so called, has not been
rescinded, and remains in full force and
effect, and will, beyond all question, be
riEidly enforced at the opening Of the next
Congress. The radicals will make their stand
upon it, and hope through its agency to be
able to keep the South scout in the cold"
until they can force universal suffrage upon
her. 20 be forewarned is TO be forearmed.
The Southern people can, if they are wise
and discreet and cool, checkmate the radicals
and defeat them. There can be no doubt
that the President and the conservative
members Of the Cabinet and OF Congress
desire to have the South represented, by
proper men of course, but still represented.
But the test oath stands, and it is scarcely
within the bounds of probability that it will
be repealed prior to the organization of the
next National Legislature. The situation
must be met, therefore, as it is. Facts
must be accepted as they are, and not
as A, B, or C may wish them.
The idea prevails, perhaps, in some quar-
ters, that the representatives Of the South
will be admitted or refused admission in a
body. This we think an error. We think
the test oath will be relied upon to keep
them out by those who wish to keep them
out, and that no man who cannot or will not
take the oath will be admitted. All discus
sion, therefore, in the South as to the pro-
p1iety or conStitutiOnality Of the oath is at
the present time a mere waste of strength.
It will have and can have no effect. The
test oath exists, and it will be enforced.
What, then, is the duty Of the Southern
people in the premises What is it her in
terests and the interests Of the whole coun-
try 10 do in view Of the facts Of the case /!
Manilestly, to elect such men to Congress as
can and will take the oath. There is no
other sensible course left. Some men, We
regret to see, work themselves up into
great excitement about what they call the
absurdity and unreasOnableness Of the oath,
and scout the idea of taking it. They ex-
pect, it seems, that it will be repealed
at their request and TO please them! Sim
pie men If the people should unfortu-
nately send any of this kind Of men to Con-
Rress, they will Of course go there and pre-
sent their credentials, and then they l0iA haze
The pleasure Of going home again at their 0l0n
erperlSs. Such men are deceiving themselves,
and the only possible effect OF electing them
to Congress will be to cause the districts
whence they hail to go unrepresented till 9TH
or and wiser men can be chosen. Congress,
il should be recollected, is largely "Repub-
Hcan :" but there is as much difference Of
oninion between the different classes Of per-
sons who thus STYLE themselves as there is
between them and " Democrats" There
will be several divisions and subdivisions, we
presume, among them, some rallying upon
certain lines of policy antagonistic to the
President, while others will unfingngly in
dorse and support him. But there is not the
slightest ground for believing that majority
can be brought to abolish the test oath a.
present, and especially for the benefit OF
those who proclaim, in advance, their ina
bility to take it.
The Virginia and Southern people hold
this question now in their own hands, and
they can so dispose of it as to strengthen the
good intentions of the Government towards
tbsm, and hasten the day of the complete
restoration of their civil affairs and bind the
whole country together in golden links OF
friendship.
In conclusinn, as q distinguished Cabinet
officer recently observed, it would be far
better for the people of Virginia and the
South, under the peculiar and stringent cir
eumstances that surround them, TO elect TO
Congress any honest man who can sign his
name, and who knows enough TO say yes or
no. who is eligible, than to select the most
brilliant nan, who is not eligible. In the
former contingency, the representative will
be certain TO be admitted; in the latter, GER
tain 10 be refused admission.
We trust these considerations will be duly
weighed by the good people of Virginia, on
Thursday next, and that they viii then take
the only wise, prudent and safe course which
It is in their power TO take.
To TIE Polls, then, in a body, on next
Thursday, and discharge, learlessly and well,
your whole duty to yourselves and to your
much suffering, but still proud and glorious
Old Commonwealth