The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-03-01
Virginie nnd the Military Reconstruction
Bill.

Virginic and the Military Reconstruction
Bill.
An informal meeting Of the members Of the Vir-
ginia Legislature was held in the Senate Chamber,
in Richmond, on Saturday, which was addressed
by Governor PERpoNT, who was invited to be
present. The object Of the meeting was to confer
together upon the political situation Of the South
as affected by the SIBERIAN Military Reconstruc-
tion Bill passed by Congress. The Examiner gives
the following sketch Of the remarks Of Governor
PHRPoNT:
They had all seen the Act spoken Of. It care
fully abstained from intimating any mode by which
State Convention should be organized to make q
Constitution. It gave the military no authority to
organize one This was logical, because the com
plaint was that the governments Ii other States
South we're organized under military surveillance.
It did not eEtrust the movement to the provision
al governments now existing, because they might
fold their arms and refuse to act, and thereby de-
feat the object Of the Bill. The military were
clothed with ample power to keep the peace, and
even suppress the existing civil government.
Some parties we're relying on the Supreme Court
to declare the Act unconstitutional. This wRs il
lusory. The Supreme Court had, some forty days
ago, delivered an opinion in the Aillgan case, and
had gone out Of the record and declared that Con-
gress had no authority to authorize military COM
mi sions to try supposed offenders. Congress
had never authorized military. commission by
law but now, while the words Of this decision were
fresh in the mouths of the judges, the Congress
has passed the Act authorizing the commission,
which was as much as to soy, now. we have author
lied what you have said is unconstitutional; set 1t
aside if you dare; and the Supreme Court has con-
sidered discretion the better part Of vaor and had
passed resolution for the present not to Interfere
with political questions. III .,,....=.., :.
He said there were two ways to make the Com
stitution under this act OF Congress-. Ihe hrst
is for all who desire to enter into the movement
to hold their primary meetings in each county,
and elect delegates to central convention, where
they will fix the number Of delegates and appoint
their commissioners to superintend the election OF
delegates to the convention to make Constitu-
ton under the provisions Of the act.
:. The other mode was for this Legislature to
promptly pass an act providing tor holding .
convention under the restrictions ct this act or
Congress-. This course was opposed by some,
and it was proposed for them to fold their arms
in indifference, and take no action IN the prem
in the mode last indicated, because it would be
done noler the form Of law, and he thoEsht
would be more likely to secure an acceptable
constitution with this new element in the body
polite, who were to participate in the elections
and government Of the State. II the constitution
was left to be made under the mode first indicated
thoy might got good const tuition, or they may
act Of Congress there was not more than five per
cent OF the white voters excluded-perhaps less.
The great body of the people had their lands fam-
lies and debts, which they could not leave; and It
was not in his opinion wise to say, because some
of us cannot participate, none Of us will He had
determined long since, when he could not get all
he wanted, to get the next best he could. In con-
cluson, he assured them if they did not provide for
making a constitution one would be made for
them.