Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-06-21
sTRIKING ADMISSIONS.

In his speech closing the debate on the proposed
amendment 70 the Constitution, Mr STEVENS made
some strange a. well as striking admissions show
ING that tbe danger Of losing party ssc'ndsney was
The main reason Tor abandoning the direct issue Of
nazrO Suffrage, and seeking that object by indiree-
ti0n
lie began by The insolent declaration that II was
aproposi;ou 10 De submitted 10 the people for the
admission Of an og.latrsa community into the Priyi
l,Ses and advantages Of civilized and free gov
ernnent" Very eiTi!izsdi
sThe great danger Is said be- that The seeeders
NAV soon overw helm the loyal men IN Congress
me hast. urged upon us by some loyal but lmpetu-
GUS men their anxiety to embrace the representa-
tves OF rebels; their ambition 20 display thtir ue&
terity ia ;hc OF the broad mantle OF chaTt ana
especially The danger arising from the unscFNpu-
llu3 use OF patronage, and from the oily or1iOns oi
false prophets, famous for six-dGy obligations and
for protested political promises, admon-h Us 10
make no further delay
lie did not like the clause which substituted " 'he
ineligibilty Of high offenders to- thcdisiTaacAisc-
nCnt Of oil rebels until 1870"
With lach-ymose tone he added
ct opcns the elective franchise to such as the
states choose 10 admit. In my judgment. itendan-
gers the Government of the country, both state and
national; and may give the next Congress and
President % the reconstructed rebels. With their
enlarged basis Of representation, and exclusion OF
the loyal men Of color from the ballot-boI, see no
hope of safety unless in the prescription of proper
enabling acts which shall do Justice TO the freedmen
and eniOin Acknowledgement as a condition preee-
dent"
Here the " CALLED jade WINGED" Opening the e
lectiye franchise to such the States choose to ad
NIT might "give the next Congress and President
TO the reconstructed rebels" That is what called
forth signs and groans from the almost despairing
leader He found that his hitherto obcdicnt bands
were becoming FESTIVE. He dreaded delay; he
dreaded desertions from his ranks; and here il is
proper 70 give his doubts and fears in his words:
"The danger is. that before any constitutional
guards shall have been adopted, Congress will be
flooded BY rebels and rebel sympathizers. Who
ever has mingled much in deliberative bodies must
have observed the mental as well physical ner
vousness Of many members, impelling them, too Of
ten, 10 iniudiciOOs action. Whoever has watched
the injudicious action of this House during the te
diOus months of this session, listened 10 the impa
tent Whsperings of some and the open declarations
Of others especially when such able and sincere men
as the gentleman from Ohio propose or move to
CRAFTY predictions by breaking the ranks Of the
Union forces and presenting to the enemy a ragged
front Of stragglers must be anxious to hasten the
result and PrercRth the decentralization Of our friends
Hence, say. let Us no longer delay; take what We
can get now, and hope for better things in further
legislation, in enabling acts or other provisions.
Aye, take chat you can get for you well know
that the Southern States viii not swallow the vile
proposition, and that Won will thus keep the Union
divided until after the next Presidential election,
and thus perpetuate power in the hands of the pre-
sent disunionists.