Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-06-18
Notes at the Capitol.

HE bill 70 continue Tue Ie0uN"0 D~iS'N
was before the Senate Tuesday, and there was
A running debate upon it. Mr.. Hendricks, by
his vigorous onslaughts, bad contrived to stir
No the whole Radical camp, drawing speeches
from at least three or four of them in reply
First. we heard the conclusion of violent ha-
rangue from Mr. Drake The latter remarked
that Mr. Hendricks had said good deal to
make him prominent for the Democratic nom
nation for President, and other Senators made
similar illusions Mr. Drake drew in question
the statement Of Mr. Hendricks, that 100000
white men had been DISTINGUISHED at the South.
Now, the only error in Mr.. Hendricks state
meut is, that it is much under the mark, as
reference 70 the files of the hteuigencer will
show. More than 800 600 voters have been
disfranchised in the ten excluded States. To
this must be added so 900 in Tennessee, 10000
in Missouri, and 10000 in West Virginia, by
the test-oaths obtaining in each State. 1t is
entirely within bounds to say that over half a
million Of white men have been disfranchised
in this republican America by what Mr. Will
son. Of Massachusetts,, would call the liberty
loving" party Of the country-liberty in his
Judgment being the license to commit any
crime that has the elements of cruelty and
meanness.
Mr.. Hendricks. in response, insisted that the
number DISTINGUISHED by the reconstruction
laws was much larger than the number dis
franchised by tie constitutional amendment.
He had been informed by prominent citizen
Of Alabama that the number disfranchscd in
Alabama alone was from $4,000 to so 600
persons. He denied that Congress had power
to regulate the question Of suffrage.
In answer to a question from Senator Hen
bricks. Mr.. Drake avowed himself for negro
suffrage everywhere. Mr. Hendricks declared
that the State governments were not destroyed
bv secession; that the ordinances were null
and void but that those governments contin-
ued as matter Of fact, not being destroyed by
the action Of tile individuals who composed
them. The State governments instituted I'M
der the auspices Of Mr.. johnson derived their
validity from the acquieScenCe Of the people
alone In answer to a question from Mr..
Howard. Mr.. Hendricks declared that neither
the President nor Congress had power to dis
franchise any portion Of the people Of State
He also proceeded to dcnounce the secret loyal
leagues. arguing against the principle of secret
political organizations in a free country.
The debate went on, and was marked by
one or two luminous remarks from Radical
Senators. Mr.. Patterson, of New Hampshire,
defended the loyal leagues from the charge Of
conducting their operations secretly, by plead
ing that any man could join them who so de-
sired Mr. Hendricks asking upon what prin-
oiple, if the State government of Virginia was
destroyed, and its relations practically abro-
gated. two Senator's from Virginia were adj
mitted, Mr.. Drake responded promptly, BY
the consent Of the body" This is undoubtedly
an able and satisfactory answer; but if he had
said that they were adp,;..ol ig 81 -. Lis
answer would have been equally argumenta-
tive, as we think, perfectly unanswcrabe.-
The bureau bill viii pass, Of course. 1t is
necessary to Radicalism. II has always been
a great corruption fund and political engine to
control the negro vote. So far, they could not
have got along without it. OF course now,
with the Presidential election on hand and the
negroes showing some disposition to fly off any
how, the bureau slavery and bribery fund must
be kept mp. Now it is rather hard that the
Northern laborer and taxpayer should be taxed
to keep up this institution to buy negro votes
for Grant. The object is bad, the means are
worse. The agencies are vile beyond deScrip-
ton. Probably there never was such a set Of
canting hypocrtes and kuaves as these bureau
agents all over the South. Nearly all of them
are corrupt. and have used their office for spec
ulation and personal gain. If any Of them
had had any scruples, they would have been
dispclled by the advice of Howard, the chief Of
the bureau, who did not scrupe to acknowl-
edge that he had advised his subordinates T.
invest "their little savings" in speculations
and running plantations" Was there ever
such profitable thing as political piety Nd
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