The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-10

Submission 20 the dictation Of their former
slaves was a depth Of degradation into which
they were decidedly opposed TO sinking.
As soon as the Underwood Consultation was
completed and placed before the people, the
white mems party began 10 move in earnest On
May 8, 1868, they held another convention at
Richmond placing gubernatorial and Congress
sonal tickets in the field, and mapping out the
details of a most thorough canvass of the State
Their leading men were Immediately scattered
through the State, and by their harangues so
intlamed the minds of tho white element OF the
population, and brought 80 much obloquy upon
the Underwood Constitution, that its friends and
the advocates of reconstruction in general saw
certain defeat staring them in the face. Under
these circumstances, General Scho6eld, the late
Secretary of War, who then commanded the De-
partment of Virginia, declined to assume the
responsibility of ordering an election, and
turned the whole question over TO Congress, the
leading members of which body, fully acquainted
with the situation, likewise declined TO take any
action for the time.
Up to this point the main objection urged by
the white mems party against the Underwood
Constitution was the negro suffrage provision.
On this they joined issue with the reconstruc-
tionists, and the result of the issue would evil
IDENTIFY have been fatal to the latter; but the tri-
umphant election of General Grant to the Presi-
dency, and the certainty, thence resulting, that
on no other terms could the State be restored to
representation in Congress and relieved from
military rule opened the eyes OF some of the
most prominent leaders of the white mans party.
A split in their ranks resulted, the seeding por-
tion declaring themselves for negro suffrage on
condition that the Rebel element should have a
- I.zIl
features of the Underwood Constitution
should be expurgated from that instru-
ment. During the latter part of April a
convention was held at Richmond under their
auspices at which the anti-reconstruction can
didates placed in the field nearly year before
were withdrawn, and their support rendered to
the Walker ticket. This ticket had been placed
in nomination by certain so-caled Republicans
who were dissatisfied with the action of the
Petersburg Convention, held in March, in select
ing II. H. Wells the candidate for Governor.
G. c. Walker, the opposition Republican candi-
date for Governor, is a resident of Norfolk, but
not many years have elapsed since he left New
York, carpet-bag in hand, in search of just such
a streak of fortune this. His associates upon
the ticket for Lieutenant-Governor and Attor-
ney-General are both natives of the State, of no
particular standing ability.
In this shape then, stands the contest at pre-
sent. The former opponents of reconstruction
who have now given in their adherence sup
port the Walker ticket, and the Walker Repub-
icans in return for this accession to their ranks,
will oppose the test-Oath and disfranchisement
clauses of the Constitution and the election of
negroes TO office. The issue being thus shifted
from negro suffrage it became necessary for
Governor Wells to effect change of base, and
this he accomplished successfully in a letter
written May l, and since given to the public. In
this letter he rccounts the circumstances which
have led TO the orders for the approaching con-
test NJ the polls. On the Sd of April he visited
Washington to secure the passage of bill by
Congress providing for an early election. Fail
ing in his effort to secure the cooperation
of the Republican leaders in Congress. he ap-
pealed to the President himself and the result
was a message advising Congress to do just
what it did ultimately do before adjourning-
pass law authorizing the President to order an
election at early day as he might deem ex-
pedent, with the provision that he should sepa-
rate certain clauses of the proposed Constitu-
tion from the body of that instrument, in order
that the people of the State might have an
opportunity to vote upon them separately
After recountng his part in this movement
will reject whatever portions of the proposed
Constitution the President selects, to be sub
mitted to a separate vote, and further declares
that
'sIf majority of the qualified voters should decide
that the test-oath ought to be stricken out then
man could withhold his approval, but all must give
their cordial assent to this authoritative decision"
Practically, therefore, the two tickets which
will 90 before the people of Virginia on the 9th of
July will stand upon the same platform, and as
the Walker ticket has no merits over and above
those presented by the Wells ticket, while it la
bors under the disadvantage of being supported
largely by the Rebel element, there can be but lit
tie doubt of the election of Governor Wells, and
the ratification of the Underwood Constitution,
without the test-oath. disfranchsing and other
proscriptve clauses. This result will certainly be
hailed with delight by every lover of peace and
Union, and Virginia, the historical Old DOmi-
MON, the mother of Presidents, and the seat and
source OF empire in the past, will once more re-
sumo her honored position in the sisterhood of
States, never again. we trust, to be disturbed in
the harmony of her relations to the whole coun-
try.
THE COMMERCE. or THE UNITED STATES.
FROM the last monthly report of the Deputy Special