The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-07-01

For my heart is sad and lone;
| And ere die, let nae gaze once moro
On nay mothers cottage home.
From the National Intslirencssl
A STRIKING VIEW OF RECONSTRUCTION
IN VIRGINIA,
We publish below letter from one Of the
NEST gifted men and able jurists in Virginia,
addressed to Hon. G.. w. Woodward, Of Penn
sylvania, commenting upon the overthrow BY
Congress Of the Stats government Of that
Commonwealth, existing at the time Of the
passage Of tho reconstruction laws Mr..
Tucker shows that this State government,
organised under Mr.. Lincoln's auspices, at
lWhes!ing, in June, 1861, and called the re-
stored government Of Virginia was recog-
nized by each House Of Congress separately
by Congress, by the President, BY the Su-
preme Court, " and was "put into its Capitol
as the rightful government by the military
aim of the Federal Government" that is to
say, by President Johnson-in May, 1865,
without whisper Of dissent or cavil from
any man in the land north of the Potomac
river IF Congress could overthrow such
a government, where is the safety for that Of
Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York ?
| This view is a very striking one, and is
presented with great clearness and vigor Of
style. We commend it to thoughtful and
| honest men of all parties; and if there be
single member Of Congress who voted for
these detestable statues, who has any respect
for the pledged faith of the Government, the
Constitution, and his own character, we en-
treat him to peruse this appeal, and answer
it if he can. 1t is not to be answered by the
malignant and vulgar epithets of srebel,"
copperhead," chiyalry," and such like stuff
The time has gone past whep suffering and
disconsolate nation could be appeased by such
miserable catch-words:
MIDDLERpRa, LouDouN Co., Va,
June /, 1868.
Hon. G.. ~ Woodward,
Honse Of Representatives.
| MY DEAR SIR-You will excuse me, who
have ne representative in Congress, for call
ing your attention to some facts, most impor-
tant to the interests of this commonwealth,
and as important to every other State Of the
Union, North or South
| Under the Demonstration" acts of Con-
gress military ruler was assigned to Vir-
ginia, under the name of District No. /! By
military order, an election was held for menu
bers of convention which met in December,
1867. It has adjourned and presents pa
per to the voters under the reconstruction acts,
to be adopted Or rejected by them as con-
stitution for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
A delay in submission of the question to the
voters, because an appropriation Of money by
Congress is needad for the purpose, has been
announced.
| The facts to which shall direct attention
may, and should, stop all further proceeding
| in this matter, now and forever.
In the reconstruction acts, this State seems
to have been treated as if she stood on the
same ground with the other Southern States.
This is mistake; and while utterly repu-
date the idea of the constitutionality OF these
measures in relation to all the Southern States,
I insist that they are only applicable to Vir-
ginia if they are applicable to Pennsylvania i:
and unless the proceeding be arrested in
Virginia, it will be precedent for a like
proceeding in every State north Of the Poto-
| mac.
This proposition now proceed to estab-
lish.
| It may be conceded for the sake of this
argument, (but wholly denied for any other
pu pvse a - ,ss,ore Tho aorarnmenta If
.aasa Sa,s;her 6 etatos wb;cb , NV tho
.nese n1a .zen, This wa, VIZ H. 'e nol;ou If
wa Ha1 p zs.s,svs 's va understood q Rgt #
no 9l, =; 90 co S No
canaos ~ tlat tbe Federal Govsrnment cannot
poslr.sn .' s W. Stote calI
supslses - e to yoonla iea ,I ' s,}rsaa
eonesns o0t.b;sh nep const;tu.;on and set
.ne.s,u. I state government nndar Federal
a ~ mon the ruins Of the denosed