Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-05-03
The pestruction COMMITTED.


Tho report Of the miscalled Reconstruction
Cgmmitteeof Congress, offering degrading terms
to the people Of the Southern States, develops
the true object Of the Dsnionists under the
leadof Sumner and Steyens--to wit, the total
exclusion ofthe representatives of eleven States
until after the next Congressional and PreSi-
dental elections. A purpose so infamous can-
not receive the sanction even of the Northern
people, unless they are prepared to ignore and
discard every principle Of honor and honesty.
The projectors Of this scheme of disfranehise-
ment know perfectly well that it viii not be
adopted by asingle Southern State, even though
they be kept out Of the Union forever.
If the people were sufficiently abect to take
into consideration at all such proposition,
they could not by possibility adopt it in time
to give them voice in the Presidential election.
Take Virginia for instance. Her election for
members Of the Legislature viii take place on
the fourth Thursday in May. The regular time
Of meeting is the first Monday in December,
unless the Governor should call the body to-
gether in extra SesSiOn-an expense which, we
think, they are not willing to bear.
The Legislature must pass an act authoriz-
ing the call of a Convention Of the People, and
the specific object of such an assemblage must
be stated. Ifassembled, it is very certain that
the dishonoring propOsitieG would be rejected.
But if adopted by the Legislature or the Con-
venton, it is certain the people of the State at
large would repudiate it, not only promptly,
but with eXecration upon its authors.
The question is becoming narrowed down to
this. The dominant majority in Congress are
determined to perpetuate the disruption of the
Union-a condition only half consummated bv
the rebellion. They seem determined to make
the eleven Southern States bear all the burdens
Of taxation, and yet deny them representation
"a violation of the principle for which the
men Of the Revolution fought and bled. Can
the Disunionists maintain this anti-republican
position? Can they get the rank and file of
the North and West to enforce this proposition
by arms ? What becomes of the complete am
ncsty offered to the bulk of the Confederates by
Presidents Lincoln and johnson? The men
lately in arms having accepted amnesty, by
what right does an accidental majority in Con-
gress attempt to violate the terms of the am
nesty?
The erratic Gov Wise, in the preliminary
movements of the Southern Rebels, advised
them to fight for their rights IN the Union, I'M
der the old Union flag, and not for separation.
His advice was UNDECIDED, and the whole South
have suffered the dread penalty of an unequal
and bloody contest The Radicals are fast
bringing about this mode of testing the measure
ofnghts They first declared the Union must
not ard could not be disSolred, and the people
Of the North and West seconded that idea
they fought for it and conquered. Now it is
oontended thai the Union lras dissolved by the
Rebels. and the occidental majority in Congress
basely desert their own platform, and impu-
IDENTIFY offer what they call terms of RecoRstUe-
ton
They are forcing an iss1e, under the idea
that their late adversarleS me now helpless,
but they will find that 6gi 'cit %R the Union
will be very different thing from contest to
get out oft. The Northern people themselves
win not sustain their DisumOR leaders--who
are traitors to the principles Of the C2nshtu-
ton, and enemies to civil iberty-in this work
Ofdestruction; this work Ofinamy. It's time
that the leading Northern traitors should shaSSi
the classmates with Davis and his coadutors, \
for, if DisluiOn was the object of the former, !
it is now palpable that perpetual Disruption is
the purpose Of the latter.