Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-12-11

Canal and the uncompleted roads and railroads
He gives some hints also looking to restrictions
upon fishermen and oystermen The militia re-
view shows that out of one hundred and thirty
six regiments of the line, one hundred and
seven have organized; and for the first time,
for many years, we learn that the penitentiary
is self-sustaining. He recommends change in
the vagrant law so that negroes may be provided
for otherwise than by the Bureau On the
subject of the stay law, he hints at an extension
of its benefits to debtors. but repudiates the
idea of reputation; and in the matter of
'usury,' suggests, as paramount matter of
necessity as well as policy, the adoption of a
maximum rate of interest amounting to ten or
twelve per cent. The message then enters up
! on the discussion of questions concerning land
scrip, unfinished railroads, county levies, &c.
After giving the proposed constitutional "a
mendment, which we have heretofore pub
lished and deem it unnecessary to publish now,
the Governor says
''There is no ambiguity in the language of the
proposed amendment it is before you for your
mature consderation-for adoption or rejection /;
you are fully acquainted with all the circum-
stances which led to its proposal. The Congress
Of the United States has made its acceptance a
condition precedent to the admission of repre-
sentatives, in the councils of the nation, from
States now unrepresented.
The President Of the United States disap-
proved of this amendment, and insisted on the
immediate admission into Congress. from all
the unrepresented States, of such representa-
tives as were loyal, " who had been elected &C
cording to the forms of law. What he means
by the term loyal, is a subject of controversy
A number of his friends have explicitly
affirmed, that he meant only such as could
truthfully take the oath prescribed by Congress
to be taken by all persons before entering upon
the duties of any office under the Government
of the United States. 1t is claimed by a ma
jority Of Congress and those who support them,
that the people of the States now unrepresented
voluntarily withdrew their representatives from
the councils OF the nation, and attempted to set
up an independent government or confedera-
ton, and thereby inaugurated great civil war !;
that the people in those States have committed
grave offence, and security for the future,
the Congress of the United States has authori-
ty to prescribe the terms on which they shall
be readmitted to representation, and to deter
mine by Constitutional provisions, that certain
persons shall be disqualified from holding Fed
eral or State offices as punishment for having
participated in the rebellion
On this great question, OF such vast interest
to the people of ten States, a clearly defined
separation took place between the President and
the Congress of the United States Each APP
pealed to the people of the twenty-six States
now represented, to decide the controversy at
the late elections. The elections are over, and
"a very decisive majority has been rendered in
favor of the congressional view of the subject.
Three points-as the controversy is suscepti-
e I i
tinctly submitted and decided at these elections,
viz:
First: That the unrepresented States shall
not gain additional political power in the Con-
gress of the United States by reason Of the man
omission of the slaves, where the right Of suf-
fage in those States is withheld from the negro
population.
held executive, legislative or judicial offices un-
der the government of the United States, or of
any State, and have engaged in the late civil
war against the United States, shall not be eli
gible to like places without the consent of two
thirds of Congress.
Third That the terms upon which repre-
sentatives shall be readmitted to Congress from
the States lately In rebellion, and disabilities
imposed on or removed from those who particl-
pated in. that rebellion, shall be prescribed by
Congress and not by the President.
There is an effort being made at the North
and in the South by politicians who support
the Presidents policy, to induce the legislatures
of the non-represented States to reject the con-
stitutional amendment, in the hope that in an
other contest before the people they may be
more successful; and they predict violent
conflict between the executive and legislative
branches of the general government, by means
of which he may obtain the majority in Con
d. ba 10
auspices for the Presidents policy under which
the late political contest was inaugurated, he
having been elected by the party which now OPP
poses him, supported by able cabinet officers,
and some of the shrewdest politicians of the
country of the same party, in the hope OF dlvl-
| ding that party by means OF the power and pat
ronage of the federal government, in some In
stances bestowing that patronage on former po-
| litical friends, In others, persuasveiy holding
out the emoluments of office to be conferred at
| ter the election-and that in Opposition to all
| this the President has been defeated, it is not
| likely that another campaign can be SO faVora-
bly, inaugurated for the supposed interests of
| the Southern States as the one just closed
| The people Of the South ought not again to
be beguiled by the promises Of these protested
allies and friends at the North, The same
promises were made in 1860 and 1861; [ need
not remind you how they were fulfilled. 1t is
wise to look at the material, as well as numbers
of which party is composed, from which aid
or support is expected, That party which sup
ports the President at the North, numbers in
It's ranks many wealthy and intelligent men; it
has also small portion of what may be termed
the middle substantial people. But its
great numerical strength lies amongst the most
| ignorant classes, and those representing the
least property. You have in this party, then,
those who aspire to be the aristocracy of wealth
and refinement, supported, for the most part,
in the large cities, by the poorest class. A par
ty composed as this is, cannot be relied upon in
case of a physical contest. The wealthy are
timid, and cling to their capital; the greater
portion of the residue of the party being poor
and ignorant, shrink from the contest for want
of interest, looking little beyond their physi-
cal security.
The congressional party is composed of a
large class, the equals in wealth and intelligence
of the leaders Of the party of the President; by
the middle classes amongst whom are dlstrlb-
uted by far the greater portion OF the property
and intelligence OF the country, and by the In
| dependent laboring classes of the manufacturing
and agricultural districts 1t now embraces the
flower and strength of both the old political par
| ties in the Northern States, brought together
| by the late war, and now held together by a
| common sentiment and sympathy Young men
arriving at the age of manhood naturally fall in
to, and thus swell its ranks. It will become
| stronger for many years to come. This may be
| termed the dominant party, led by the ardent
and cultivated intellects now representing it in