Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-07-16
rue yIRGlsIA ELECTION.


The Democracy are loudly boasting Of
grand victory in Yirgiuia which has goae
for the conservative ticket toy about 10000
or 10000 majoritgand for the new eonst-
tutQu without the disfIanchisiug clauses iy
about 60,0)0 In order to a true under
standing Of tue situation in Virginia at
present it Is necessary to state that there
was no copperhead, rebel, or Democratic
ticket, that both Wells the defeated, and
Walker the successful candidate for Cover
nor are Republicans. Wells was the more
radical of the two and favored the adoption
of the Constitution with the disifanchising
clauses. Walker has always been a Uuion
man and republican and is firm supper
ter Of Grant and his administration, but
favored the Universal Suffrage and Uniyer-
sal amnesty theory Of the most advanced
repuJlicauism. The fact that Walker was
in favor Of universal amnesty and opposed
to the disfranchising clauses Of the new
constitution gained for him the support of
the Democrats and late reEels, and thereby
secured his election That many who voted
for the new constitution but against the
disfranchising clauses and at the same time
for Wells, is shown by the fact llat the
constitution is carried By a majority Of co.
600 while Walker is only elected by some
$4,000 majority Walker still aairms his
repubHcanism but is regarded as conserya-
IL. ~ -.-t-7 T.
preference 10 the other republican caudi
date The majority Of the Congressman
elected. also claim to be republicans and
were supported by many republicans but
were elected because in addition % the re-
publicaus the rebels also supported them.
Whether the victory is to be regarded as
Republican or Democratic remains to he
seen and viii only be determined, when it
Is ascertained what course the officers elect
ed will adopt and what party they identify
themselves with. AT present they support
Grant, who to day represents the most adj
yauced RepubHcauism and is a warm sad
outspoken advocate OF Universal suffrage.
IF the result is accepted as "A Democratic
victory, Democracy has certainly made a
vast stride IN advance Of its late position
If the adoption Of the new constitution
which they have SO uacquiyiccaly coa-
demnad, the election Of negro Congrcs men
Of whom they have always rraleeej s,rh a
holy horror aud the adoption of ghs f.
tcenth Amendment. MI tuey have So ,e-
hemantly opposed and denounced aye
claimed as Democratic victories, we may
surely be permitted TO congratulate them on
the great advance they have suddrul, made.
Indeed We can hardly see haw ilsy c1n oJ-
ject to coming directly INTO ,bc Il publican
ranks, as the position Jhey .hu- occupy is
not only far from anything ev.r before
coun.enanced l5 the Democracy, but IS that
Of the mo advanced Bapublicani>in.
Surely the age of wonders hasuo vet ceased.
We, long ago predicted that the Democracy
would not only eventually aecept negro suE
flago and negro office holding but would
also become the most ardent seekers after
negro votes. Iftheir present claims to We
tory in Virginia be true, cur prophecy i.
fulfilled even sooner than we expected. Foi
they not oaly elected negro ofIic.r rs but
also had the majority Of the negro votes.
We hope they will now be consistent enough
to drop the negro question IN this state and
not court the negro in Virginia, aud mob
him iu Pennsylvania.