Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-11-01
uAIL VIRGINIA !


The Mother of States records her verdict
in favor ofloyal Reconstruction on the basis
prescribed BY Congress The struggle has
been arduous, and the result doubtful; for
the wealth and social power of the State
were nearly all against us. The Press was
against us, bitterly, furiously, venomously.
Even TIE Richmond IFhjg, which would
be Republican ifit durst, was coereed INTO
supporting the Conservative ticket at
last. Probably not six journals in ell, and
they mainly new ones, stood unhlnchingiy
by the Republican colors, while sixty OF
eighty were doing their utmost to defeat a
Convention and to elect CONSERVATIVES
thereto. The leading organ Of the Reaction
called Justify on those Whites who employed
Blacks to discharge every one who should
vote the Radical ticket; yet ninety nine ~
every hundred Colored voters wouId Nete
no other, and nineteen ofeyery twenty "2aid
not be deferred from voting. And thus
every district which had majority OF Coi
ored voters on its registry with several 9th
ers, has chosen Radicals to the Convention,
giving US a clear majority Of at least twenty
delegates, and carrying the Convention by
over Ten Thousand-pcrhaps by twenty
Thousand - Republican majority lhe
White preponderanee over the Blacks m
the State exceeds Twenty Thousand men, OF
whom not more than Six Thousand arc DIS
franchisod for conspicuous treason 10y the
Reconstruction acts, and these, we trust
will, upon giving evidence Of present loyalty
soon be restored to all the rights OF ircemen.
1t is instructive to note that the most
Radical counties and districts are those
which, in the times now happily past, were
the strongholds Of Slave-driging Democracy.
Halifax. Brunswick, Mecklcnburg, Louisa,
Caroline, Sc, &c, were Democratic Gibral-
tars. when none but shareholders and their
white satellites were voters but, now that
the Laboring Glass also vote, they are cita-
dcls of Radicalism. Rockingham, Shcnan-
doah, Page, Warren, &c, which were
Democratic without being preponderantly
slaveholding, constitute the only notable ex-
ceptions to the general rule. We may joy
fully expect to see the districts heretofore
represented in Congress by Meade, Goode,
Dromgoole and other ychementy pro-Sa-
very fanatics, hencefoTth honoring and bles-
sing the Republic by sending to her councils
apostles of Liberty and Equal Rights for All.
And it will be found that the Convention
lust elected IS not only Radical, but, in the
truest sense, Conservative also. We did
hope to see Gov. Peirpoint name head the
Republican ticket in Richmond, for we be-
lieve it would have insured the choice Of
that ticket by large majority, and would
have been a pledge to the people generally
that Liberty for All would be asserted and
secured without giving just cause Of alarm
to any. Mr. Hunnicutt has probably said
some of the harsh things about Rebels that
are attributed to him; but we are confident
that. should he seek to inaugurate policy
ofconfscation, or anything ike it, he would
find himself in a very small minority. The
Convention viii strongly assert the Equal
Rights of Men; but it will be moderate and
cautious il so using the triumph Of genuine
democracy as not to endanger its Ferpetuity.
Reconstructed Virginia takes her place
among Republican States, and there she will
remain. Her aristocracy, stimulated by ex-
aggerated reports of the recent aehieyments
of It's confedorates in California, Ohio, and
Pennsylvania, did its very utmost to retain
It's ancient power and prestige, but, happily
in vain Henceforth, Virginia, which en-
bosoms the ashes of so many gallant sons Of
the Republic, eonsecrates herself to tire
maintenance Of that Liberty and Union
which they laid down their lives to maintain.
Long live the regenerated Old Dominion -
Nclg York Tribune.