Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-03-05

attention to the recent act Of Congress, entitled
AN act to provide for the more efficient gov
eminent OF the rebel States. . The last six
years have made an eventual period in our
history. One crisis has scarcely passed before
another OF greater magnitude has arlSen.-
During the canvass of 1860 for President and
Vice President scarcely press, aud but few
politicians, advocated the secession OF The State
from the Union. In January, 1861, the Gen
eral Assembly called a convention, which met
at the Capitol on the 18th day Of February OF
the same year full vote Of the people was
cast at the election for delegates to this con
yention. The subject of Union and secession
was then distinctly before them, and wo-thlrds
of the votes cast were forth Union candidates.
4 vast majority thus declared that they were
unalterably attached to the Constitution and
the Union of their fathers They were happy,
with all their rights fully protected. The dec
laraton was made by leading newspaper OF
this city that the State should be dragged
out" of the Union. In less than seventy days
from the assembling OF the convention, the
| ordinance of secession was adopted, and the
terrible civil war through which we have just
passed inauguratcd From that day to the
present my whole energies have been devoted,
in the fear Of God, to do what l could for the
benefit of my native State. In no instance
have [ suffered caprice, resentment, or lll-wl
to govern my public action. <..-.s
In June Of 1865 recommended the removal
by the General Assembly, Of the disquaiGca
ton Of voters imposed by the State constltu-
ton, as then in force This action was die
tated by two reasons First, becauce | became
satisfied that in majority Of the counties Of
the Stale there could not be found half the
requisite number Of qualified men to fill the
Offices necessary to administer the laws. At
least ninety per centum Of the taxes Of the
State would have been paid by men who were
disqualified from voting or holding office under
the provisions OF the constitution lOattempt
TO organize and carry on n republican govern
ment under such circumstances. was out oil tue
question. In The second place, was prompt
ed 10 this action by maghanImly that |
believed existed in the hearts 81 i yaSl ma jorl
ty of the people Of the Northern States all of
whom rejoced at the termination OF the evil
strife which had brought sorrow TO 80 many
homes, and believed that the Southern people
had accepted the situation in good laith.~-
This opinion is confirmed bya recurrence TO the
history of the times. The terms Imposed hy
the commanding general were considered
magnauim0uS, and approved by the people,
and hot general still retains his popularity =
Previously to the action Of The Virginia !I'2Is-
lature the President commenced the establish
ment OF civil governments III the other South
EN- States where he declared no State govrlli-
ments existed--upOn terms even more liberal
than tie policy adopted in Virginia. He re-
habilitaed the people in those States who had
been engaged in the rebellion. IleaIsn entered
upon liberal policy Of granting pardnnS, under
an act Of Congress- 10 those who had taken up
arms against The Government Of the linicd
States, and had otherwise become liable TO the
penal laws. While these acts were TRANSPORTING
in the summer ana fall Of 1865, committees
from all parties in the Northern States, and
| believe, from all the States, waited on the
President to express thcirtull confidence in Ills
patriotism and their approval OF his administra.
ton Not convention north Of Mason and
Dixon line met 10 nominate candidates Tor
county or State officers but passed resolutions
commendatory Of President johnson and his
policy These resolutions, with the eulogies Of
the press of both political parties tol med part
OF the political literature OF that summer and
fall. On the assembling OF the prts:nt Con
gress, Joint committee ofbOth houses was APP
pointed, to whom all questions in regard 20 re-
construction were referred. That committee
continued its investigations for seven months
which resulted in the proposition to add the
proposed fourteenth article to the Constitution
of the United States and the section OF the act
Of Congress, under which the Pre-: itcnt vas
granting pardons, was not repealed for thlrtecn
months after Congress had it in It's power 10
stop these yardons by repeal OF Ihc law.
Shortly after pardOnS and amnesty began to
be freely granted by The President The South
crn press assumed Il bold, defiant, hitter and
vindictiyc tone Memorial associations and
various other movements were luaugurated,
which afforded opportunities for iutlalnmatory
lectures, orations, and essays, all calculated to
stir up and keep alive il the memory Of the
people of the State hatred OF the people OF
the Northern States ami the government OF the
United States. The most ohjcct:onal paris Of
these performances have been circulated
through the Northern press Some Of our lie
sislaton has not been of the most fortunate
character to produce a coed impression. Two
freedmen have fallen by the hand Of violence,
aud the ofence was scarcely notlcnd by the
officers Of the law.
The proposed amendment. as the 18th article
Of the Constitution OF the United States, Was
submitted to the Southern States for their
adoption or rejection Tennessee adopted it;
each of the others almost unanimously rejected
it. All these acts impressed Congress with the
idea that the situation was not accepted by the
Southern people in good faith and it is now
proposed to introduce a new element into the
governing power of the State in the hope OF
remedying the evil. The terms in the amend
meut to the Constitution proposed were con-
sidered in Europe and in tits country the most
magnanimous offer, to people situated as ours
were, recorded in history | so considered it
when | addressed to you my annual mess'g &c
at the commencement Of your present session.
then said 'rhe conditions are not nearly
so hard as they might be. The person OF the
citizen is safe ; his property is ror threatened
by confscation it is not proposed 10 admins
ter our laws by strangers the power over the
question Of suffrage is left with the Sta,cs.-
= For the sake Of securing peace
with its blessings, may it not lie an art OF ex
allied patriotism for portion OF the old and
middle aged citizens to yield gracefully to a
necessity they cannot avert? 1t only brings
the young men little earlier into public life.
and will tend to the earlier development OF
their energies" | deeply regretted your nc