Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-04-02
EDITORIAL BRRvIr1Es-

with the position to command a trade con-
trolled by but enc State in the Union. with
every prospect and every germ of 1nanufac--
turing greatness, containing an unlimited
water power. material wealth untouched as
yet-coal to run the furnaces of continent
iron to build the machinery for worlds fac
tories, and has within her borders the ele-
ments OF every branch of material prosperity.
1t is this view of tho case which makes us
hope on for the future prosperity of the old
commonwealth. Such country. with half
chance, must ultimately rise above the evils
OF the day, and recover from her present con-
dItIon. The question, how long? we cannot
answer God grantthat the time of affiiction
and distress may soon be over.
- The instructions to the Military Com
mittee Of Congress to enquire whether Ma
ryland had Republican form of government,
and the action of the Senate il. delaying the
admittance to his seat in that body of the
lion. Francis Thomas, indicate pretty clearly
that Maryland will be made to run the
reconstruction gauntlet. There will follow
generous int;mation to Pennsylvania, Ohio,
New York, Michigan, New Jersey, and all
other Suites having the word :swhile" in their
constitutions, that their form of government
is not Republican" for universal negro suf-
trage is the explanation of the term ssRepub-
l!can" as here employed To be consistent,
the gentlemen who have invested the negroes
OF the South with the high privilege of yo
ting, will have to see to it that their own
State constitutions harmoni2e with the Sher-
man-Shellabarger bill. The ball is in mo-
ton and will have to roll on.
- A colOrcd mass meeting to ratiry the
Radical platform recently adopted by the
Union League of Charleston, South Carolina,
was held in that city last week. -Four or five
thousand of both sexes and of all ages were
present. Addresses were delivered by four
white and several colored speakers, among the
former being the U. S. Marshal Epping and
Scion Robinson of the New York Tribune.
A torchlight procession took place in the eve
ming, during which some negroes made an
attack upon the street cars and took posses
sion OF one Of them. The cars were subse-
qucnt'y guardedby policemen. Considerable
excitement was reported to prevail through
out the city AID grave approximations of fur
Their trouble.
answer to letter of inquiry, from citizen
| Of Texas, as to the operation Of the Military
Reconstruction bill, says that the law in oucs
ton does not disfranchise the rank aud file
OF the soldiers of the Confederate armies who
have never taken oath to support the Con-
stituton of the United States. lie goes On
to state that "the Constitutional Amendment
disqualifies from holding Office certain persons
who have taken an oath to support the Con-
stitution of the United States aud then en-
gagged in the rebellion. or gave aid and COM
fort to it. This class of persons are disfran-
chised, and all other persons arc allowed to
vote hese persons mentioned in the
Constitutional Amendment so that all persons
Will know who are disqualified and disfran-
chised-"
- Senator Wilson. Of Massachusetts,, on
the 22d, introduced resolution in the U. S
Senate regarding Jefferson Davis. 1t con-
cludcs that moderate justice, sound public
I policy, aud the national honor are united in
recommending the speedy trial or release on
bail Of the prisoner" 1t was laid over under
the rules Mr.: Wilson has of late abatcd
much of his luminosity towards the South, and
manifested disposition to conciIiate rather
than estranse our people. cHe exhibits some
emotions of humanity and christianity,
Gen. Howard, Commissioner Of the
Freedmen's Bureau, has received report
from COL Burnford Assistant Commissioner
for the State of North Carolina, showing the
condition of affairs in that State during the
month Of February. He states there are at
least 5000 persons in North Carolina suffer
ing from want Of food, Of which number two
thirds arc white. The accounts from Ala
bama, Mississippi, and some other Southern
States, are equally distressing. The misery
and suffering are widespread. Poverty, in
its worst forms, prevails.
- 1t is understood that 6Ir. Bolts de-
ciares himself left out in the cold " by the
s. S. S. business. The coloved people will
not touch him, lie says, because he opposed
allowing them votes. The whites will net
vote for him, because they know him so we'll
He is reaping the just reward of trimming
selfish and irritating policy, by being ssunan-
imously rejected by all classes alike
- Captain William Fitzhugh Harrison.
native of Virginia, aud for many years a
resident of the Chickasaw nation. was bru
tally murdered in January last near Doggy
Depot lie leaves family and large cir
Gle of friends to mourn his untimely loss
As member of the council, he opposed the
return of rcncgades into the nation. and it is
supposed was assassinatcd therefor by some
of this class.
- The National LnteHiyenccr says that
IN the first ward of Washington City, ,45O
eOIored voters have been registered, which