The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-05-20

Spirit of the Northern Press.
To give our people a correct idea Of what
Northern people think, we publish the follow
ing from the Washington Express.
The Herald says Arkansas is the first State
the initial point Of the programme of re-
construction that the Radicals have finally
taken up-the State that they believe they
have fully prepared and that they are will
ing to try. How successfully they have pre-
pared it is to be seen. Mr. Stevens Arkan-
sas bill involves the same open absurdity in
its terms, the same ridiculous proposition,
that was the main point in the Alabama bill
presented and withdrawn some weeks SINCE
1t proposes to admit the State fer reason
and on Fundamental condition" The rea-
son is that the State has duly ratified the
fourteenth amendment; the condition is that
the State shall never change the constitution
under which it is admitted so as to deprive of
the suffrage any man ow entitled to it, mean
ing the niger, of course. Congress admits
State on a condition. and the moment the
State is admitted the condition ceases to be
binding. Before it could possibly come into
operation the condition must become nullity.
How wise to make it. Under the fourteenth
amendment the slaves have power to regulate
the suffrage as they please. They are to be
| admitted because they have ratified that
! amendment, out on no condition that they
shall not avail themselves of its terms and
shall leave the suffrage absolutely as it is
Could visionary nonsense touch a wilder ex-
IRENE? 1t has no doubt that every Southern
State that votes on the Presidency will go
against the Republican candidate, and thinks
we shall yet see this party Of fanatics put
down by combined action of united South
and Northern minority. 1t expects some
extraordinary developments Of policy under
the administration of "Old Ben Wade" but
not until after the ChicSsso Convention 1t
attacks Dir. Boynton, chaplain Of the House,
for his partisan prayers, and comments on the
volcanic eruptions on the Sandwich Islands,
the resolution to send a squadron to protect
American fishermen on the Northern coast,
the success of the Ahyssinian expedition,
and American and English artistes.
The Tribune denies that it charged bribery
on any Senators in the impeachment; it aim
ply commented on the statement in the World
that large amount of money was raised for
the Presidents acquittal Impeachment is
statesmanship, justice, peace. The Democrats
will not permit the Senate to do its impartial
work. Thay tried and acquitted the Prcsi-
dent long ago They fought impeachment
as emancipation, and their cant about the
Constitution means no more than during the
war. Itsays:
IF war was craftsmanship, what is impeaoh-
| ment ? In what essential do the issues between
Bingham and Evarts differ from those be-
tween Grant and Lee? The hopes Of loyal
millions hang as eagerly upon the success of
impeachment as they did upon the issue of
the war. Else wherefore the intensity of the
national feeling? Why do we see the Re-
publican party incandescent with zeal? Why
| is it that every convention every newspaper,
every public man, the solid mass OF represen-
tatives-nay, the great and mighty people
whose voice they speak, demands impeach-
ment with yehemence? Is it the clanor OF
demagogues Then why has the country
rested with so much content and patience
| Impeachment is the whin of the Tribune
| All, gentlemen, this is honor oyermuch
Go to Wall street, and you find gold cheaper
! than when impeachment was proposed.
The removal of Stanton is minor event
He longs to retire, but it is duty to resent.
the claim on which that removal is made,
and end this tendency to Cesarism. To &C.
| quit is to furl the national flag over the Capt.
| tol, and make tie President the arbiter Of the
laws. The Supreme Court would be sand
bank or snow reast-work and the President
| become absolute. It continues
It is therefore impossible to escape impeach-
| menS. The Senate must convict Mr.. John
son, or assume the responsibility of his sue
! ceeding policy, and share with him the obi
| UNI of his past career. The Republican Sen
| ators have voted hundred times that the
| President is an enemy Of che country Any
Republican vote now but one of impeach-
ment is therefore lie. If it is we'll to sus-
tain Mr.. johnson, then all the votes against
| him have been partisan and factious. It is
cowardly to claim an additional Irresponsible
ty of an OATH" If the new oath compels a
| Senator to change his mind, then every vote
| under the official oath is perjury. We could
wish unanimous vote on impeachment, but
the craftsmanship of the Democrats forbids
this. So it becomes the high and solemn mis-
| sion Of the Republican party. We accept
| it, just as we accepted the war, and emancipa-
ton as a consequence Of war
1t says the Herald has suggested innumer-
able candidates for the Presidency to the
| Democratic party, and none more worthy
than Mr.. Chase, whom it pronouuces zone Of
the ablest, perhaps the very ablest." Were
the Democrats to nominate him hewould come
nearer beating Grant than any other man
But Mr.. Chase would not Ensemble his de-
votien to equal rights, and it does not sup
pose there is the slightest chance for his
nomination. 1t briefly comments on the ad
dress of the Methodist bishops: It again
urges the Governor to veto the tax levy. Il
complains Of the refusal Of the State Senate
under the lead of Mr.. Folger, to act on Gov
Fenton's nominations, and pronounoes falls.
the statement that Gov. Fenton'g military
family costs halt million. - - $ d.. !
. t.t,.s i-i4,is t.,tii Il iit,.tst'i1.