The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-01-02
Opinions.

Opinions.
Mr.. JOSEPH Sugar has an opinion: and
the opinion of Mr.. JosRpH SrGAR is
"that the Legislature Iof virginia. would
in certain contingencies, adopt the con
stitutional amendment as the only re-
"msining means of avoiding ,corSe alter
"native." From what he personally
learned in certain interviews with "many
members" of our Legislature, Mr.. SEGAf
has arrived at the opinion that the said
Legislature is likely, here in our own State
capitol, to break down with its own hand
the last remnant of the Coz tuition whose
principles Virginia endured long war cx'
pressly to maintain, is likely TO give mp to
a Congress at Washington the "po"er 10
enforce by appropriate legislation " inc
pretension of that Congress to dictate TO
us who shall, or shall not, be citizens of the
State-and is likely 10 brand the stamp OF
a felonious crime upon all the best and
truest men in the community, without ex.
ception. This is what Mr.. JOSEPH SEGAD
is led to believe our elected legislators
would do "to avoid ,corse." 1t is an i" in
dividual opinion" he has formed, and
whatever may be the grounds and reasons
of it, he repeats cmphaticaily-and this is
the main point-that "it IS his opinion"
And if Mr.. SEGAR has opinion, We find
that a Mr.. McCALEB WILEY, of Alabama,
has O conviction. This latter gentleman
"has Just returned from Washington .
too-a city in which men are not likely 10
adopt convictions lightly. And Mr.. WILEY 5
conviction" is, "that Alabama and other
"unrcpresentcd States would be restored
"to the Union on the adoption of the con-
Institutional! amendment, and that AJcrdI
"policy would be pursued in reference to
"those of our people who labor under po-
ethical disabilities" Which means that
our considerable population Of peUurcd
traitors would be literally dealt with. Such
is the conviction of Mr.. WILEY, Of Alabama.
We also have an opinion and convlc-
tion-firSt, that the Legislature of Virginia
will not, "in certain contingencies" do the
filthy action above described, notwithstand-
ing the deliberate Judgment of Mr.. SEGAR;
and next, that if it should so prostitute its
functions, and shame and bctray its consti-
tucnts, Virginia would not with all respect
to the convictions Of Mr.. Wiley be ad-
mittcd to representation in Congress, but
would still be left out, with her felony
stamped usclcsSly upon her brow with her
own right hand. And further, it is our
opinion that if Virginia were indeed to do
this deed Of shame, she would stand alone
in her infamy. All the intelligence we
receive from the other States of the late
Confcdcracy is TO the effect that the more
this precious amendment" is studied
the better its purposes are understood
the more underhand negotiations and hole
and conferences are held IL
Washington by otiicous persons toltorm
opinions and convictions about il, just the
more rooted becomes the adherence Of the
southern people at this foul attempt to de-
grade them. They say let it come, that
"worsc with which we are continually
thcatencd, and yet worse and worse-no-
thing can be 50 bad as pleading guilty to
felony first, and then committing real
felony afterwards.
Of the various opinions and convictions
above expressed, Mr.. SEGARs, Mr.. WMEY'S,
and our own, the reader will adopt such |
u he likes best.