Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1868-03-26
osToCK, VIRGINIA. THURSDAY, MARCH &c, 1868

Ii this law had been enforced 1t could
not by possibility have done much harm
No worthy or industrious negro would ev-
er have fallen under its provisions. But
its enforcement was prohibited by General
Terry, and therefore practically it has re-
manned upon the statute book dead letter,
and never did any harm
The Freedmen's Bureau in Mississippi,
under Gen. Gillem, in Washington CITY,
and in this State, has been constrained to
adopt compulsory measures in order to Sc
cure the very object contemplated by this
law, which has been the subject of such
4 bitter and continual denunciation.
I 8 Another allegation is that they are
not permitted to perform jury service. .
It is sufficient reply to this to say that
they are not qualified TO perform it, that
women and minors are subject to The same
/ disquaiifcations. and that intelligent white
jurors will be far more apt to reach cor
rect results
! These complaints are all clearly frivol-
Gus, and only serve to show that those who
make them are destitute of any solid, sub
stantial ground upou which to rest
| IL. Another reason assigned is that it
is necessary for the protection of the loyal
eehite men. Where is the proof? Occa-
sional instances of injustice have no doubt
occurred. but not more than might be ra-
tionally expected in a state OF society so
disturbed
| Suppose the so-called loyalists had been
in power during this period would not
the complaints have been more numerous
and more just? Would they not have
been in the proportion of thousand to
one? Indeed. except whore sustained by
the immediate pressure of armed force,
would not their administration of the laws
have been impractlcable?
Ill The third pretence is that the Re
construction Acts require that this should
be done. This is not the fact They say
that mhen a constitution shall be formed
providing that ''tho elective franchise
shall be enjoyed by all such per
sons as have the qualifications herein sta
ted for electors of delegates" Sc, the
State shall be entitled to representation in
Congress. and said law shall be imperative.
See 9TH sec. act March 2, 1867. This
does not declare that representatives will
not be recejued until this is done, but that
they will be received when it is done I
do not regard this as imperatire By the
very terms of the act Congress submits it
to the discretion Of the Convention IF it
did not, they might just as well have sent
US Constitution already formed, impos
ed it upen as by tie bayonet ard put it il
operation by tho same power. This would
have been cheaper, more direct and more
expeditions.
But if you are such great sticklers for
the letter of the law, why do you exceed
the requirements Of Congress in the follow
ing particulars. viz: LIST. Prohibiting any
from exercising the elective franchise who
are disqualified from holding Office under
the constitutional amendment That am
endment only disqualifies the classes there
in enumerated from holding Office; you
prohibit til EN- from roting.
%. Providing that any who are now
prohibited from registering under the Re
construction Acts sha. continue disfran-
chised under your Constitution.
Sd. Providing most odious oath of Of
fee. and thus inyidiously invading the
rights Of private Judgment, OF private opn-
ion, and Of conscience. This may prerent
many conscientious, highminded men from
going into office. while it will keep no
demonstrations man ont. This is in direct
violation of the spirit of the Bill Of Rights,
o,.l ,ro tho4 A. H.
yourselves to the text of the law, when it
does not suit you. and yet you profess an
awful reverence for twhen it does, or YOU
tb5nk 1t toes. But this last plea is not a
good one for YOU These Reconstruction
Actsare, by the confession of the gentle
man from Postsmouth, (Mr Clements
yo0r ohn acts. He has boldly avowed on
this ilool that they were passed at the soil
citation and upon the earnest entreatv of
the union men of the South These, then,
are your neasures Yol are responsible
for them and all the ruinouS consequences
attendant upon them, present and future,
and yet you come here and plead them as
your Justification for this still greater and
more enormous wrong!
Nv. Now, having considered the pre-
fences upon which this measure is sought
to be sustained, let US look at the grounds
Of protest against it.
/. object to it, first, because it propo-
ses a thorough and radical change in our
fundamental law
Well did the great expounder of the
Constitution say in hisspeech in Baltimore
in May, lS43 Depend upon it, gentle
men, it is change and the apprehension Of
change that unnerves every working mans
arm in this section of the country Chan
ges felt and changes feared are the bane of
industry and enterprise"
t'The essential nature Of the Immediate
evils of all bad governments uncertainty"
This change, which you propose, IN
volSes the introduction by wholesale of a
new and untried element into the body po-
litic, and justly inspires the liveliest dread
of the future.
All such changes should be slow and
gradual, if you truly consult the public
veal
The history of France since 1889 is full
of instruction and warning on this subject
The radicalred republican leaders of that