The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-08
Opinions.

op1u1OuSs
Mr. Joseph Segar has an opinion and the
opinion of Mr.. Joseph Segar is" that the
Legislature [of Virginia would, in certain
contingencies, adopt the constitutional
amendment as the only remaining means of
avoiding a acOrse alternative" From what he
personally learned in certain interviews with
"many members" of our Legislature, Mr.. Sc
gar has arrived at the opinion that the said
Legislature is likely, here in our own State
CAPITOL to break down with its own hand
the last remnant of the Constitution whose
principles Virginia endured a long war ex-
pressly to maintain, is likely to give up to a
Congress at Washington the power to en-
force by appropriate legislation" the preten-
sion of that Congress to dictate to US who
shall, or shall not be citizens of the State
and is likely to brand the stamp of felo-
NOUS crime upon all the best and truest men
in the community, without exception. This
is what Mr.. Joseph Segar is led to believe
our elected legislators would do "to avoid
eoorSe." 1t is an /" individual opinion" he has
formed, and whatever may be the grounds
and reasons of it, he repeats emphatically-
and this is the main point-that g it is his
opinion"
And if Mr.. Segar has an opinion, we find
that a Mr. McCaleb Wiley, of Alabama, has a
conviction. This latter gentleman has just
returned from Washington too-a city in
which men are not likely to adopt convic-
lions lightly. And Mr. Willeys "convic-
ton" is, that Alabama and other unrepre-
sented States would be restored to the adop-
ton of the constitutional amendment, and
that liberal policy would be pursued in
reference to those of our people who labor
under political disabilities" Which means
that our considerable population of perjured
traitors would be literally dealt with
Such is the conviction of MI. Wiley, of Ala
bama
We also have an opinion and conviction
first, that the Legislature of Virginia will
not. " in certain contingencies" do the filthy
action above described, Notwithstanding the
that if it should so prostitute its functions,
and shame and betray its constituents, Vir-
ginia would not with all respect to the con-
victions of MIR. Wiley be admitted to rep
resentation in Congress, but would still be
left out, with her felony stamped uselessly
upon her brow with her own right hand
And further, it is our opinion that if Vir-
ginia were indeed to do this deed of shame,
she would stand alone in her infamy Ali
the intelligence we receive from the other
States of thelate Confederacy is to the effect
that the more this precious amendment" is
studied-the better it's purposes are under
stood-the more underhand negotiation and
hole-andcorner Conferences are held in
Washington by oficious persons to form
opinions and convictions about it, Just the
more rooted becomes the adherence of the
So uthern people a this foul attempt to de-
grade them. They say let it come, that
iworse" with which we are continually threat
ened, and yet worse-nothing can be so bad
as pleading guilty to felony first, and COM
mitting real felony afterwards
Of the various opinions and convictions
above expressed, Mr.. Segar's Mr.. Willey's,
and our own, the reader will adopt such as
he likes best.-Rich. Dispatch.
The above is specimen of the defiant
and rebellious spirit which pervades Vir-
ginia. 80