The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-11-18
The Alexandria gain.

more proscriptlve than the Howard amend
mcnt.' Very true but have not its pro-
scriptive features been repealed by compe-
tent authority"
This is the question which we would have
settled. The facts of the case are as fol-
lows: The Alexandria Constitution pro-
vided mode of amending or altering that
'-".rument. The Legislature assembled
lnS.- %. 1865, and submitted TO the
here IN Ju~~. A"'her it should be so
people the question Wa, ':sfranchised
amended as to enfranchise thea. NO
classes and qualify the disqualified. 49,
people decided the question affirmatively.
An election took place at the same time OF
. Legislature that was to make the neces-
sary changes. But unfortunately the peo-
pie elected many members who were dis
qualified under the Constitution as it stood
ut the time of the election and of conse-
ouence at the time when the Legislature
met. These members did not wait until
their disqualifcations were removed oe1ore
taking their seats, but assembled with the
rest. and took part in the organization OF
the General Assembly. One Of them (Hon.
JOIN B. BALDWIN, was elected Speaker oil
the House of Delegates. The General AS
sembly afterwards amended the Constltu-
ton so as to read as it now does.
Governor PErRPo1ST and the rest OF the
leading Republicans hold that it was Just
nj this time. and in consequence of this
action, that Virginia lost her status as a
loyal State. 1t was upon this action that
the Congress. in the reconstruction laws,
based its declaration that "no legal State
government exists" in Virginia. State
which otherwise they could not well have
included with the other seeding States.
During the recent campaign it was repeat
edly asserted by Democratic papers, and
not ONLY hv them but by the New York
Herald, that if Virginia had no right to
vote in the Presidential election West Eir-
GINA had none, seeing that the latter had
no constitutional existence unless the re-
stored government Of the former was con-
stitutional. But Congress had what it pro-
fesses to consider n sufficient answer to this
argument in the facts we have stated, hold
ing as that body does, with PEIRPoTNT and
his co&diutors that although the restored
government Of Virginia had constitutional
existence up to December, 1868, and had
No to That time been recognized AS a State
by all the departments OF the Government
ct Washington, vet that the new Legisla-
ture then trampled upon the Constitution
to which il owed it's existence, and that the
power again passed into the hands Of dis
derstard the case, CONGRESS- holds that the
"proscriptive features" Of the Alexandria
Constitution have never been removed by
competent authority" And we have been
confirmed in the belief that there is a cat
in this meal-tub from hearing that the
Radicals of this State are themselves in
favor of the admission of Virginia into the
Union "under the Alexandria Constitu
ton"
Our object in writing the article to which
the Enquirer alludes was simply TO put the
white people of Virginia upon their guard.
We do not know that there is any intention
on the part of the Radicals to cheat them.
But we are not inclined to the belief that
Congress will for a moment entertain the
idea of admitting Virginia into the Union
under the Alexandria Constitution as it
now stands, or as it would stand were the
third article so amended as to admit negroes
to the right of suffrage. 1t may be set
down as certain that Congress will not (to
use slang phrase) ego back on" the re-
construction measures. We shall not be
expected to do less than these require. We
will not be allowed to throw contempt upon
them in the act of returning to our place
Nor will we be permitted to remain four
years longer under military rule. We shall
be dragged into the Union, "neck and
heels" if we refuse to 60 in ourselves in
manner acceptable to Congress.
1t is true the Radicals profess to be will
ing to deal fairly and, as they term it,
generously with the people of Virginia.
GREELEY has come out in favor of enfran-
chising every man in the South, white and
black. He declares that he does not desire
the blacklist negro nor the most uncompro-
missing "rebel" to be disfranchised, ana
would have few or none of the Leading
rebels disqualified for holding office. on-
fortunately for the success of this pro-
gramme, the whites of several of the States
which have already been reconstructed ana
passed out of the hands of Congress are as
franchised and test oaths exclude them
from office. But the people OF virginia
NAV he saved from this condition. They
are not yet disfranchised by an accepted
Constitution, nor disqualified by ratified
test osths. The Constitution proposed for
our humiliation has not yet been SUBJ
mitted to the people for their verdict as to
its merits or dement's. 1t cannot be &c
submitted unless either Congress or the
military give the needed authority or or,
ders. If, then, Congress has sincere de
sire to deal literally with us, it will cause
this Constitution to be submitted in sections
first striking out the odious test oaths which
the miserable carpet-baggers inserted in i
for the sole purpose of rendering all deem
men ineligible to office, and thus forcing thu
people to confer the Offices upon them
There are features in it as it now stands
which cannot be and will not be ratified By