Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-03-12
TIE SITUATION.

session, mas the matter unQer amusement
Already the Senate has passed bill pro.
viding for the call of convention, to frame
a constitution suited to the emergency. AS
yet the House of Delegates has not acted
upon the bill, but the general impression is
that that body will also sanction the move
ment.
The Charlottesville Chronicle urges prompt
action upon tire people in the following Ian
guage when will the present law of Con-
gress giving suffrage to the negroes, be re-
pealed? Not in two years, for the Republi-
cans have three fourths of the present House
of Representatives, whose first session has
just commenced. Not in six years probably,
because'it will take at least that time to
change the complexion of the United States
Senate. And after six years We do not know
what will harpen. The probabilities are that
if the negroes vote for the next six years,
they will continue to vote after that time
But we may safely assume that they will vote
for six years to come; and if matters grow
no acOrsc, and tho South pursues a policy of
inaction, the military governments will also
continue for six years. This is the most ia
Uora5lc aspect of our prospects on the theory
of inaction. But there is danger that radi-
cal malignity will not allow matters to rest
here for one, two, or six years. They will
say, These people are contumacious, we must
give another turn to the screw and the first
turn may be confscation: if we still remain
''contumacious," the next turn may be the
Louisiana bill: ''lot u.s." they will say (and
they will be glad of the prctex), "give the
government of the South to loyal men,"
But this is not all: during this six years
will "tho Southern Loyallsts' Association"
remain idle? Will John NJ. Bolts, Judge
Underwood, Reverend Mr.. Hunicutt, the
Alexandria State Journal, the Norfolk Re-
publican, &c, remain passive spectators p
Will the Northern Radical Committees
send no agents down here to organize the
new suffragans into Southern Republican
party? Will nobody call convention to
frame new State Constitution in all that
timer Now, is this thing possible? Is
there any doubt that, if the lords of the
South refuse to have anything to do with
their political affairs, others will organize new
political bodies over their heads? Is it prob
able that six months will be allowed to pass
before Convention will assemble in Alex
andria-and give us a new Alexandria consti-
tuition ? Have we learned nothing from the
events of the past six years? Are we still
in doubt as to the character of the men and
the party who are directing the present revo-
luton? Have we forgotten West Virginia,
and Missouri, and Tennessee, and Maryland?
and the passage Of the Louisiana bill by a
two-thirds vote in the late House of Rrepre-
sentatives, and the approval given to that
measure by VIM. Cullen Bryant and Horace
Greeley, two of the most humane philoso-
pliers at the North? That bill was generally
endorsed by the entire Republican press of
the North. Do we not know that those PEG.
pie are as cold and as hard as the Finland
that they will put their foot upon six millions
of noble race with as little reflection as a
man in his morning walk will tread on. q nest
of ants?
Have they not already done tie decd p
Have they not in one moment emancipatcd
three millions Of slaves, many of whom know
not their right hand from their left? And
have they not in another moment, by paf&
liamentary edct, conferred ON this race, with
no qualification of intelligence or property,
without requiring even the payment Of taxes,
universal suffrage?
But we are to lean on the Supreme Court
AS if the people of La Vendee' had appealed
to the civil tribunals against the National
Convention as if the old blind king Of Han
over should appeal to the Prussian Courts to
give him back his crown. The position of
Congress is, that reconstruction is a political,
and not legal queston-and that the courts
have nothing to do with it-that is an extra
constitutional question; and whether their
view be sound or unsound, they will act on it.
Will the President help US? Can we live
on his veto messages?
Will the Northern Democracy help us p
They make capital cxhortations to other 1oco-
pie to fight, and when whipped to endure
But honor is involved : brave Southern
soldier is captured after desperate fight and
ChIlleNF III CudluS " L oIhC IOOAOuL: IL is the
depth of winter: and the prisoner is sick and
weary he is shown to his quarters: an apart
ment with two beds, one in one corner for a
negro, the other in another corner for him
He shudders, but must honor make him lie
out in the cold? The sentinel gives him
his choice-with an intimation that if he
makes much difficulty, thehegro may be put
to sleep ,cnh MIN. Who is dishonored here
or the prison authorities who force this upon