The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-03-01
virginia and the Military Reconsideration

Virginia and the Military Reconstrnct,o ,o,,
wr# Bill. ITs1 ~ Ss''~"- :
An informal meeting Of the members Of tha v;r..
g1nla Legislature was held in the Senate Chamber;
-7-v..l u.ueI
oy Governor PHRPoNT, who was invited to ba
present. The object of the meeting was to confer
together upon the political situation of the South
as affected by the SHERMAN Military Reconstruc-
ton Bill passed by Congress-. The Eraminer gives
the following sketch Of the remarks of Governor
P1EnPoNr: 'o--
Ihey had all seen the Act spoken Of. It care
1uliy abstalned from intin1ating any mode by which
q state Convention should be organized to make a
Constitution. Il gave the military no authority to
organize one This was logical, because the com A.
pla1nt was that the governments in other States
IL CID not ectrust the movement to the uroyision-
a. q governments now existing, because t1ev miebt
tola tner arms an5 refuse to act and thereby de-
clothed with ample power to keep the peace and
even yer suppress the existing civil government. -
to eosra parties tbe relying on the Supreme Court
lusory. The Supreme Court had some FORTY days
ago1 dehvcred an opinion in the Milhgan case, and
nad gone out Of the record and declared that Con-
had never authorized military commissios ig11ey by
fawi pat now while the words Of this decision were
lesn , 81 INC mouths OF the judges, the Congress-
mas passed the Act authorizing the commission
Wnlch was as much us to say now we have author,
Co "t"s Soo nave said Is unconstitutional: set il
as1de II you dare; and the Supreme Court has con-
sldered discretion the better part Of valor. and had
passed resolution for the present NOT to interfar
With political questions. -11'eA-'Ao .'','
He said there were two ways to make the Con-
under this act Of Congress-. The first
Is for Az who desire to enter into the movements
20 hcid their primary meetings in each county
Y ano elect delegates to central convention where
q tlhey VIII hx the number of delegates and appoint
sher commissioners to superintend the election Of
atelegates a to the convention to make Constitu-
non under the provisions OF the act S7TT-GI7:
The other mode was for this Leeislature to
promptly pass an act providing for HOLDING q
under the restrictions Of this act Of
Congress. This course was opposed by aone
and it was proposed for them to fold their arms
N indifference, and take no action in the nrem-
ses: He was in favor Of calling the cocyontion
u the mode last Indicated because it would be
done under the form of law, and he thonoht
would be more likely to secure m accentable
with this new elerient in the hodv
polite, who were to participate IN the elections
md government 9f .aer .a s. the mode FIST indicated
Htst ihitg6t get good constitution, or they NAV
get vesy unacceptable one. He supposed under the
let Of Congress there was not more than five per
.ent. OF the white voters excluded-perh ps less
The great body Of the people had their lands farn
les and debts, which they could not leave and it
Tas not in his opinion wise to say, because some
IF us cannot participate, none Of us will He had
long since, when he could not get all
40 wanted, to get the next best he could. In con-
,luson, he assured them if they did not provide for
making constitution one would be made for
them. s S5% n N E.
The Richmond Times saws that e. IL .;;;7 szl.