Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-07-29
rvE4E PROPOSED "TeECONSERUe-
TE6sN.' OF VIRGINIA.
T1,e PLAN or ssGovernor Wells"

When the bill for ''thc more speedy organl-
cation of tie States OF Virginia, Mississippi
and Texas" was under discussion in the House
of Representatives Mr.. BECK, of Kentucky,
spoke as follows:
"Why is this new order Of things proposed?
Gentlemen on the Reconstruction Comm1ttee
will bear rae out iu saying that, so Tar at least
as Virginia is concerned, this Is an effort on Inc
part of the ultra Republican leaders there to set
aside and nullify the reconstruction acts IN tnat
State The object Of this bill, though l DO not
think the committee concur IN that OBJECT inc
real purpose of the men who manipulated ana
projected this bill is to put all power into the
hands of a few ultra Radical leaders IN that
convention, and to deprive OF the right OF
suffrage twenty-five thousand white men IN thaG
State. The present provisional governor u
Virginia, Governor Wells, came before the he
construction Committee, and when called upon
bv our chairman to state what he wanted he
said. almost in the very words which now
repeat. land The committee will sustain me ID
the statement that in the first place he want
ed liberal appropriations to carry on the cleo
ton. That we have given them we have ap-
nroDriatcd 5000. He wanted no tutherr reg
istration, because, as he said, there were o,day
twenty-five thousand white men III tho state
of Virginia, who under the present reconstruc-
ton laws, arc entitled to be registered and vote
and if registered they would carry the State
against the Republican party. Lie wanted to
distranehise twenty five thousand white voters
in that State He further said that II they
were permitted to adhere to the registration
which took place last year, when great many
white men refused to register, that they would
carry the State. as they could, if an carly day
was fixed, get the negro vote solld and ger
enough white votes to give them a majority
for the constitution and the Radical Candidates
The Reconstruction Committee treated the IN
famous proposition with the scorn and con-
tempt it deserved There was not a member
Of the committee who did not refuse to ADOPT
that proposition. 1t was afterward urged tlhle
and again, before us by msn by inc nai1l0 "
Williamson, an cmlssary or the haulcalS III
Virginia, he undertaking to argue ana TO sho"
that Wclls's opinion was, that under inc re-
construction laws it was not necessary nor prop
or to open the registration Tor revision aS r.
ouircd by the seventh section oil the act OF ~
" 1857. although it had been done every
where. and appropriation after appropriation
had been made by Congress for that purpose:
He even prepared bill striking out or the Dill
which 7 had drawn and which the committee
adonted and this House passed, all that part
Of the fourth section relating to the board OF
registration, and out Of the first section when
submitted the proposed constitution to the ne
voters of Virginia in August next, who shall
then be Registered and qualified as such IN com,
pliapcc with the acts Of Congress known as the
reconstruction acts" and inserting IN lieu
thereof "who were registered and quaIlcd TO
vote for delegates to said convention, ana none
Others"
His proposition was at once rejected as
Wells had been. The proposition 20 set a5!ue
all the reconstruction laws aud dtSlranchiSc
twenty-five thousand white men who were as
much entitled to register and vote as any men
in Virginia. was an outrage too monsiroaS 10
no toIerated or entertained for moment, mere
" 10 place few partsans in power.