Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-02-06

| originates. That such document can have any
weight with Legislative body, even With the
present 7. s. House Of Representatives, We
can hardly believe,
ITO the Honorable Senate and House Of Rep-
resentatives III Congress assembled:
I'VE, the undersigned citizens Of The Urlged
States residing in Virginia, respectfully repre-
sent, that as soon as the military power OF the
nation had conquered the country so long hejl
| by the Confederate Rebels, which included
Virginia, the same traitors who had set d price
upon the heads Ct lnacy Of IL because We WoT2
Union men; who were Implicated III the !nur
der Of our neighbors tor tho saD,e reason, and
had DESTROYED by starvation aud 0 her crne!leS
thousands of National 80ldicrs possessed
themselves Of the political contro OF affairs
within that portion OF the lately conquered
territory known as Virginia. and their l.egI@-
lature now ASSUMES 10 make laws Uadlg it'0n
the people.
One of the acts proposed, or already passed
by thar Legislature, provides for taxing tho
people OF Virginia to pension the WidoW u
Stonewall Jackson. Others aim tot3isfranc1isa
loval men by requiring a residence Of i've years
are intended 20 degrade and hulnllate the
benefits Of their freedom, and to subject them
to the power Of the whites, By .ieans OF unjuS5
and intolerably oppressive yagrant laws and
others, passed to satisfy the positive require
ments oI the National Government, 0stenslb'y
allow coIored persons the right to testify II
cases 20 which such persons parties. f!}t
give justices Of the Peace the power TO decide,
0rbityGnM and pere1nI2torltU upon The cTedi-
bility Of such testimony, and to eNc]u1e II rom
the jury, without appeal from sucil decision.
TIE only comment eli The above measures
that IS needed IS contained IL rhc TACT tbaG Tic
! body which is about to enact tnem Into laws
received with great applause, ooiy a few days
| since, Il suggestion from It's Presiding otlcet
| that Robert f. Lee should be made Governor
| Of Virginia. Meanwhile, the :najority Of the
people who were lately in oi'en Gebel!lon; are
not behind their Legislature IN respect to dis
| loval conduct. Their feelings toward che Gov
ernment of the United States are well lllust1a-
ted by their dcmeanor towards It's irlends-
They arc preparing new indgritles tor their
! loyal neigbbor>. aud have III an organized ana
official ca canacity, through he medium Of thelr
so-cale;3 Courts Of Justice, a!leady gone So Tar
| that the Lieutenant General Of our army has
been OBLIGED to Interfere: and prohibit the exc
cuton ci the 0ecrees Of these courts, during such
time as the military power It the Government
! NAV extend to US its protection.
:'They have With entire unaol1nlty, excluded
Union men from all participation 10 the .nail-
agpnent CT 1hc ao-cal:ed state government,
| and are even threatening to cali 3 state Con
vention, for the purpose Of YemoVlnglts Hxecu-
! tive head. who has at length arrived at point
where be seeu.s dis posed to acI mere firmly IL
dealing wit these dangerous 1ncn. They as
sumo that they have done 40 VIpng bat acted
nob}v and honorahjy in rebelng against the
| Government Of the United States and still wear
inc their Confederate uuuor1ns they demand
as u riGit, admission at " asuington 70 q tllil
participation with loyal mes In 5tIe control OF
the Genc1al Government:
t:Fipay we're anything more needed I'd
exhibit rhc state Of feeling On she. part OF me
people Of Virginia, We ietor TO the report UI
Major General Uarl ShurlZ 70 Pre5lCiont John
son. as being L correct and truthful description
Of it in every particular. Nor has tee '1oYefn-
ment Of the United Sta!ea been All Idle SpecEa-
to,. Of all these things slace the surrender OF
the military fo,ecs of he rebellion, 4 part OF
IFS army. which for iyt years past has been
ennIoyel ;n srbduing rebellion III the her, IS
now emnloyed III subduog rebellion in the So
called "I,ecislature of Virginia, and lta pres
ence among us is called for only by the noto-
rous disioyalty Of these people, who are. SO
aoxious 70 lo admitted to the rights ant, privi,
ieges Of State government. -,
1.-THE moment the military power Is with
drawn from among u.s. and the loyal men OF
Virginia are lett 10 the protection OF the So
called ';;State Government. their only safety
will be in immediate fig}lt.
''Such being the facts, we respectfully repre-
sent that the experiment CT State government
in Virginia has proven an utter failure, ana
o17r on|v hope lies iu a Tdyrj!oyjul Gogcrnn1en5,
under the Immediate control ct the National