Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-07-14
ELECTORAL Votes of the South.

We are aware that it is the radical practice
to consider or treat the Southern States, either
as States or not States, as convenience may
suggest. But that they are States IN the Union
and have never been out of it, uotWithstand-
ing their ordinances Of secession, is thing
which has been determined more than once by
the decisions of the Supreme Court, and IN
view of this, and the results OF the war, has be-
come the accepted doctrine OF the whole peo-s
ple. Hence the great seriousness which ME.
Trumbull sees in the contingency OF the cleo,
ton of q President turning upon this disputed
point. In regard especially to Virginia, Cor
gress is estopped by its own action, ltltlcan be
stopped by anything, from placing Virginia IN
the condition above described. AS has been
latelv shown in the unanswerable statement of
an eminent Virginia jurist, John Randolph
Tucker, the: State government Of Virginia
existing at the date Of the reconstruction acts
was the government restored ct Vince ling in
June. 1861, by the convention which assem-
bled there, and declared the ordinance of seces-
sion null and void. Under this convention a
new State government, in all its departments,
went into full operation in July, 1861, with
the sanction and support of the Federal
authority Senators and Representatives were
elected who were admitted to Congress; the
LEGISLATURE consented to the creation Of the
new State of West Virginia, without which
consent the new State could not have existed,
and Congress admitted West Virginia into the
Union and its Senators and Representatives to
seats in the national councils. The ratification
bv the Legislature Of the thirteenth amend
ment Of the federal constitution, submitted IN
February, 1865, was accepted by the federal
government as q rightfu act Of ratification by
the lawful Legislature of Virginia. AS to the
nreteyt that the unreconstructed States have
no Legislatures to constitute electors, 1T is we'll
known that the uniform practice OF all the
States in late years has been either by State
conventions or central committees to nominate
an electoral ticket, with the single exception
of South Carolina, whose electors were named ol
by direct act Of the Legislature. a.,4 O., +. !. !,
With regard to the requirement OF the ply
that State shall have become entitled TO
representation in Congress, pursuant to the
acts of Congress iD that behalf, before being
allowed to vote 10 the presidential election It
is only an additional coerclve measure agalnst
each. To become entitled to representation ~
Congress under. the reconstruction Dills, IL lS
necessary tor State to adopt the fourteenth
amendment to the constitution. hence the
probabilities seem to be that Mississippi, where
lust been rejected, and Virginia, where the
State constitution may be rejected, and Texas,
where the convention is still in session. may
be shut out from the electoral college, the COM
stitution of the United States to the contrary
notwithstanding. In the case OF; Virginia bill
last week, passed the House OF Representatives.
and may be expected to pass the Senate
which provides that the constitution adopted
by the convention which met in Richmond, 80
December, 1867, shall be submitted for ratlti-
cation on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 18th,
18th and 18th of August next, to the voters OF
the State of Virginia who shall then be regis
tered and qualified under the ,reconstruetlon
acts Of Congress-an election TO be held at the
same time for members Of Congress, members
of the General Assembly and State officers
the General Assembly to meet IN Richmond
on Tuesday, the 1st Of September, 1868. The
probabilities are that, if q fair vote IS permit
ted in Virginia, the proposed constitution WILL
be rejected but if in that event, Congress re-
fuses to recognize her electoral vote, it will not
only set the constitutions but, as has been
shown, its own action at defiance. SO tar only
four States are entitled to representation IN
Congress under the reconstruction acts-Ar-
kansas, 10y separate similar bill,) Florida,
North Carolina and Loaisiana-but South
Carolina soon will be, it is presumed, by the
adoption of the fourteenth amendment; and
as the democratic members are being welded
out OF the Georgia Legislature, that, also, may
be brought right for the purpose. With
Alabama of course there will be no difficulty
when the radical Legislature meets. 1t IS
understood that Congress will not adjourn uu-
til the joint resolution ito regulate the rep,
rcscntation of certain States in the electoral
college" becomes law. The resolution has
already been sent to the President, and as he
will undoubtedly veto it,, Congress, It is pre-
sumed, will wait to repass it. -BolL San.