Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-10-29

souri,, and Nevada. Some OF these OtatcS vote
for Governor and State officers, but in Others
the ticket is only local.
The Convention Called---How to Defeat the
Schemes of the Radicals.
The election for or against Convention to
frame Constitution for this State, in accord
ance with the unconstitutional legislation of a
Radical Rump Congress, and for delegates to
represent the sovereignty of this glorious old
State in that body, took place this day week
ago, and the result is that the Convention, as
expected, has been called by a very large ma
jority, and the delegates elected by the worst
class of mean whites and by nearly the solld
vote of the negroes will constitute about two
thirds of that body whose duty it IS to frame
the organic law of the State. The large major
ity of the white and negro Radical representa-
t;ves in the Convention will know about as
much about framing Constitution as a pig
does about astronomy, and yet their stoild lgno-
rance is the least objection which the great body
of the people have to urge against them. 1he
aasiaaus which possesses them-the almost fiend-
ish spirit which actuates them-ther prede-
termined purpose to violate every principle OF
liberty and justice-it is this, connected with
their power, by virtue Of their controlling ma
iority, to give effect to their demoniac desires,
which so Justly inspires the minds ofour people
with such gloomy and fearful forebodings
It is not our purpose now to indulge in lugu-
brious complaints Or vain repinings that the
Convention has been called and will be constl-
tuted of such Objectionable components, or to
explain how these results were brought about.
We could assign reasons for it as plentiful
as blackberries in July" but that is not now
the work before us.
We propose to cheer the saddened hearts of
our people by showing them that there is still a
way to escape the direful fate which impends
over them-that all is not lost which is in dan
ger-that there is still possibility, yea prob
ability, that they may be enabled
''Frons the ,settLe, danger to pluck the Jtoacer,
SAFETY"
The Constitution which will be framed by the
Convention will be as worthless as waste paper
till it be ratified by the registered voters of the
State. The Constitution will fail to be ratified
unless at least one-half Of the registered voters
vote upon the question Of ratification. If the
number voting be majority Of the registered
yoters-including those voting for and against
then majority merely of those voting will rati-
f.. But as it requires at least one-half of the
registered voters to cote to effect ratification if
none will vote who are opposed to ratification,
it will require one-half Of the whole number of
REGISTERED voters to vote in faror of ratification
to effect that object.
This being so, it would seem that our people
should have no difficulty in perceiving that it is
the true policy of those who wish to defeat the
ratification of the Constitution to have it ana
uersaUy understood that none, SO desiring,
should vote upon the question at all. Then
ratification would fail, and the bottom would
drop out of the Radical reconstruction tub, un-
less the friends of ratification could rally vote
which would be equal to one-half of the whole
number of the registered voters.
By this mode of procedure, those who oppose
ratification would have the benefit Of erery reg
istered voter who failed, from any cause, to
vote, for such voter would count in the number
of registered voters, however he might have
voted had he gone to the polls, and the number
cast in favor of ratification must, in that case,
be at least half of the aclole number of voters
registered.
This mode gives the opponents Of ratification
the benefit of the regise cred vote, not only Of
every voter who agrees with them In sentiment,
but who could not or would not 60 to the polls
to vote with them, but it gives them also the
benefit of every registered voter who fails, from
any cause, to uote, however much he may have
differed from them. In this way, the strength
of their opponents may he made serviceabe to
them-every straggler from the polls would be
added to the force of the grand army practising
the strategy of mastery inactivity
To defeat the Radical schemes for radicalizing
and enslaying the people of Virginia, her citi
zens have two great duties to perform, one of &
positive and active character, and the Other
negative and passive. The former is, to in
crease as much as possible the number of reg
istered white voters; and the latter, to get them
to agree unanimously not to vote upon the ques
ton of ratifying or rejecting the Constitution.
Under the reconstruction acts Of Congress, il
is the duty of the Boards of Registration, after
giving reasonable notice Of the time and place
to open their offices for the space of .fUe days
commencing fourteen days prior to any election
under said acts. to revise the registration lists
and to add to such registry the names of all
persons who may possess, at that time, the re-
auisite qualifications, and who have not been
already registered.
We append Section 18th Of the last of the re-
construction acts which contains the following
provision
''The Boards of Registration shall have pow
er, and 1t shall be their duty. commencing four
teen days prior to any election under said oct,
and upon reasonable public notice of the time
and place thereof, to revise for period of five
days the registration lists; and upon being sat-
isfed that any person not entitled thereto has
been registered, to strike the name of such ner-
son from the list. And such Board shall also.
during the same period, add to such registry
the names of all persons who at that time DOS
sess the qualifications required by said act who
have not been already registered
Thorough and efficient organization should
be adopted to ensure the registration of erery
achite man who may possess the requisite quail
fcations at the time the Offices of registration
will be opened, fourteen days prior to the cleo
ten for the ratification or rejection of the Con-