New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-10-30
POLITICAL.
VIRGINIA.
THE ELECTION-wHAT DEPENDS UPON THE VOTES
OF NORTHERN STATES. .,

THE ELECTION-WHAT DEFENDS UION IHb NOlEo
OF NORTHERN STATES. f
To ire Ediior Of The Tribune
SIR: The first election ever held in Virginia
at which the colored men were permitted to cast their
votes has passed of quietly than any previous cleo
ton ever held in the State The cooed men have behaved
admirably respectful and cOnciaOry in their conduct,
they firmly asserted their right 10 vote as Their con
victiOu dictated Every possible agency was brought to
bear In this city and throughout the State to induce them
10 vote against Convection and for the Democratic can
didates but the result shows wonderful unanity Of
sentiment and action. very large majority OF the
White vote was cast against Convention and thou
sands Of men who would have voted the RepubllCan
ticket were kept from the polls 10y intimidation and
thousands OF others compelled 10y the pressure brought 20
bear upon them. TO vote against their convictions The
Rebels are again bold aud defiant. Inundated by the
action Of Congress III the passage Of the Reconstruction
Act and its supplements they FOR few months were APP
psrttv subdued and protested to yield the inevitable
Until they became Convinced that they could not control
the cOlOred vote they expressed their desire ana wiling
ness TO accent ne Acs OF Congress and at thar time tie
distinction between them and the loyal portion of the
people that they accepted the situation aud the loyal
ISIS haked Congress for Its policy. well accepted
the LAWS which were passed The SOcalled Conservatives
held meeting in this city last April, In
which they adopted resolutions Jqgoiing eoiOred
sng,gge. and picdging themselves TO accept and
support tie Reconstruction Acts Of Congress:
This platform for several weeks kept at the head
Of The inder now of the most bitter opponents OF
the Government and intensely diSloyal papers In The
south. Similar resolutions were adopted all over the
State by Rebels aud The most satisfactory CON
diiiou Of affairs existed which the State had witnessed
since the commencement Of the war This continuation
several months, but the elections IN Pennsylvania aud
Ohio and the grossly exaggerated reports Of the reaction
The press Of the State which is as Intensely dsioyal as
during the war, have wrought wonderful change rot
IN public sentiment hut in The expressions Of sentiment
from all classes Of Southern whites. They are,
as class bitterly. intensely, fanaticaly OPP
Of suffrage ard, defeated in this election.
already organizing to defeat te adoption OF any Consl
dece here of year., having been calm aud inpas-
stoned observer, largely engaged ~ ba'ness winch mas
brought me IN contact with hundreds OF nayes ia llr
cimia and North Carolina am forced 10 the conclusion
that the United States Government had better let these
States and form separate COY ernntt Tor nselNSs
than 10 trust the administration Of the laws ana tile rSht
native whites are still believers In tc right 81 Secession
and have regard for the United States Government
they profess any. The only loyal elements existing in
tins State the cOloed men and tue whites who are
right OF suffrage he restricted to the whites.
they would without exception. send 10
Congressman who were active IN the war. and who are
t Ha}{ zy,.S en- The s,'ti v1,iJ ~ Jtj tbs
Democratic party and would demand rcputiou ~ tie
National debt, and compensation for enEcplied slaves
The loyal men labor under tho great disadvantage Of
cepons like Mr. Hunnicuits New kGto,D against them
The columns Of their papers reek WIN aOse o. northern
ests Of the State, dare 10 differ In political sentiment, and
have Independence enough 10 do 40 publicly Whenever
am old citizen has The moral courage To openly JOIN the
Republican party every appliance IS al once brought
social relations, and all the agencies which
successfully used 10 force this State INTO
Secession are now being brought bar force the
Whites into opposition 10 the Congressional plan Of recon
strucon May God give Congress strength perSevere
in It's action Let the people Of the North manifest their
whole power OF the United States Government nccts-
sary Let Congress be but firm and consistent In its
present attitude and every Of these Southern States
viii he restored 10 the Union with republican form of
government before the next Presidential election Bnt
should NewYOIk give Democratic majority In The com
Ing collection loyal men of both coors will he compelled 10
leave this country. Let the people Of New-lOrk contrast
the tone the Virginia press Of to-day and since the cleo
ons Pennsylvania and Ohio with the tone Of the same
press the time between the passage Of the RecOnstrc
lion act and the holding Of these Northern elections. Had
Ohio gwen majority for colOied suffrage, and Fensyl-
vna elected the Republican ticket virginia would nave
given large White majority for COnrenhOn II New
York goes FOR the Republican party next month: and
Congress remains finn Virginia VIII give white majority
for the adoption Of Constitution IN accordance with the
Reconstruction act Men Of New-i the loyal men OF
the South and their wives aud children appeal 10 you MOI
10 desert them at this crisis In your hands rests IN great
The early reconsrncton Of these States and the
settlement Of the question: rDsed 10y the die war on
permanent and secure bnsis. Should you repudae the
action of Congress any Constitution that may be- adopted
by the Convention soon 10 assemble III Vrgia VIII bcre-
iected by the Rebels and the whole work remain To be done
again The fruits Of our our years bloody struggle
VIII be thrown away. ana virginia gwen over 10 the
Rebels bound hand and foot We cOjure you not TO 80
hjure this State and the entire country ana nov. when
the country is about TO reap the benefit O All te past hX
wears 10 deliberately cast them away and give up all
you have gained. The Union men Of Virginia place their
desnies in your hands. We beg and pray yon 10 be
faithful 10 the trust and to the country. We eok 10
NewYok for at least 10000 majority in favor OF the Re
The platform Of the Republican party in this State is
very moderate one The party III this city has been ex-
trene only in moderation aud concatlQn The address
OF the Executive Committee is calm and conciatOry In
It's tone, and unanswerable IN Its arguments The state
meus Of the Rebel papers In regard 10 fraud and violence
having been used TO Induce to vote the Republican
ticket are baseess fabrleatiOns The history Of this
country does not show more temperate, mme inteli-
gent exercise Of the right Of suffrage than exhibited
by the coored OF this State during the election Just
closed The fraud and violence all on the other side
Threats of all kinds freely INDUCED In toward white
or coored who should vote the Republican ticket The
press is since the close Of the election earnestly urging
tbe whites discharge all eOOred employ Is who voted
the Radical ticket In proof OF this scnd yon extracts
cut from Tile Llnchbng AcuS and Richmond Examiner,
and you could III yOur entire paper with similar ones.
Under these prOvOcauOns the conduct OF the negroes has
been most admirable. In many Of the counties the
whites when voting did with the most Insulting and
deuuucatOry expressions. The most common express
sion was, Heres good Rebel vote, aud 10 HI with
Yankees and liggcrs."
Nc are watching with intense sollcude the OF
the North and hooking with almost agoDized anxiety
for the returns from the great Empire state. God IN his
Infinite mercy grant favorable result. Yours truly,
SOUTHERN LoYALlsr
PeteySjuvg Va, oct q, 1867. ..I......