The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-03-05

twO.thlrdS oil the VOTES cast were Tor the
Union candidates. A vast majority thus
declared that they were unalterably at
tached to the Constitution and the Union
Fsfrtheir fathers. They were happy, with
all their rights fully protected. The dc
claration was made by leading newspa-
per Of this city that the State should be
"dsagged ont" of the Union. In less than
seventy days from the assembling oil the
convention the "ordinance Of secession :
was adopted, and the terrible civil war
through which we have passed inaugurated
From that day to the present my whole
energies have been devoted, in the fear OF
God. TO do what could for the benefit OF
nv native State. In no instance nave
suffered caprice, resentment, or lii-"iii "
govern my public action.
In June Of 1864 recommended the re-
moval Iby the General Assembly OF the
disc ratification of voters imposed oy tne
state Constitution as then in force. rms
action was dictated by two reasons flrst'
because became satisfied that in ma
iority Of the counties Of the State there
could not be found half the requisite num-
Der of qualified men to fill the offices ne
cessary 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 Consti-
tuition. To attempt to organize and carry
on republican government under such
circumstances was out Of the question. In
the second place, | was prompted to this
action by a magnanimity that / believed
existed in the hearts Of vast majority OF
the people of the northern States, all OF
whom reioiced at the termination Of the
civil strife which had brought sorrow to SO
ern people had accepted the situation in
good faith. This opinion is confirmed by a
recurrence to the history Of the times.
The terms imposed by the commanding
general were considered magnanimous,
and approved by the people, and that
general still retains his popularity. Pre-
viously to the action Of the Virginia Le-
gislature the President commenced the
establishment of civil governments in the
other southern States (where he declared
no State governments eXisted) upon terms
even more liberal than the policy
adopted in Virginia. He rehabilitated
the people in those States who had
been engaged in the rebellion. de
also entered upon liberal policy Of
granting pardons under an act OF Congress
to those who had taken up arms against
the Government of the United States, and
had otherwise become liable to the pena
laws. While these acts were transporting
in the summer and fall of 1865 committee,
from all parties in the northern States
and, believe, from all the States, waited
on the President to express their full con
fdence in his patriotism and their approva
of his administration. Not convention
| north of Mason s. DiXon's line met tc
nominate candidates for county or State
officers, but passed resolutions commenda
tory of President Johnson and his policy
| These resolutions, with the culogies of the
press Of both political parties, formed 6
part Of the political literature of that sum
mer and fall. On-the assembling of the
present Congress joint committee of boil
Houses was appointed, to whom all ques
| tions in regard to reconstruction were re-
| ferred. That committee continued it:
investigations for seven months, which
resulted in the proposition to add the pro-
posed fourteenth article to the Constitu'
ton Of the United States, and the section
of the act of Congress under which the
President was granting pardons was moi
repealed for thirteen months after Congress.
had it in its power to stop these pardons
by repeal of the law.
| Shortly after pardons and amnesty be-
gan to be Seely granted by the President
the southern press assumed bold, defiant
bitter, and vindictive tone; memorial as
sociations and various other movement:
were inaugurated, which afforded oppor
tunities for iuhammatory lectures, ora
tions, and essays-all calculated TO stir VI
and keep alive in the memory Of the
people of the State hatred Of the people
of the northern States and the Govern
ment of the United States. The most OBJ
jectionable parts Of these performance:
have been circulated through the north
ern press. Some Of ourlegislation has not
been of the most fortunate character K
produce good impression. Two freed
men have fallen ~ the hand of violence
and the offence was scarcely noticed by
the officers of the law.
The proposed amendment, as the 14tl
article of the Constitution of the United
States, was submitted to the southern State:
for their adoption or rejection. Ten
nessee adopted it; each Of the Others
almost unanimously rejected it. Al
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
new element into the governing power
of the State in the hope of remedying the
evil. The terms in the amendment to the
Constitution proposed were considered II
Europe and in this country the most mag
unanimous offer to people situated as our
were, recorded in history. so considered
it when | addressed you my annual mes
sage at the commencement OF your pre-
sent session. | then said: "The condi
lions are not nearly so hard as they nigh
be. The person of the citizen is safe; nj
property is not threatened by contiscation
it is not proposed to administer our law!
by strangers the power over the question
of suffrage is left with the States.
For the sake of securing peace, will
its blessings, may it not be an act of eX
allied patriotism for portion of the ole
and middle-aged citizens to yield grace
fully to necessity they cannot avert' /
only brings the young men little earlier
into public life, and will tend to the earliej
development of their energies" | deeply
regretted your action on this subject
That opportunity is past. We have nov
to conform our action to the new terms
proposed in the late act of Congress above
referred to. 1t is as follows:
An act to prouide for the more efficient Go
vgIunent Of the Rebel States.
Whereas no legal State government o.
adequate protection for life or property
now exists in the rebel States of Virginia
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
Alabama. Louisiana. Florida, Texas, Mis-