Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-01-26
Before the Reconstruction Committee.

StOuIC d uioulHCdtIOu VI Tie OuucIWoou OouN3
stitution, and the Radical committee from
Richmond striving to prevent it, has been be-
fore the Reconstruction committee Of the
House of Representatives. Gov. Wells heads
the delegation of Radicals from Virginia who
are working like beavers to prevent Congress
from asserting to any change OF the Under
wood abomination. He is accompanied and
aided by Whittlesey, Fields Cook, Geo. Rye,
Clements and others
On Thursday last, Gov. Wells and Geo. Rye
made statements on their side of the question
before the Reconstruction committee
AS reported by Cowardin of the Dispatch
Gov Wells said that he did not believe that
loyal men would be safe from wrong and out
rage if the white people of Virginia were all
enfranchised he believed that the only mode
of protecting them would be to adopt the con-
stitution made by the Underwood convention
as it was he was satisfied that the adoption Of
the plan of the committee of ''nine" would
break down the Republican party and destroy
the last hope Of 'loyalists' in Virginia he
was sure the people, whatever they might say
now, would in few years take away the rights
of the negro unless the Republican party be-
came strong enough to protect them and the
only way to secure strength to that party was
to give it power to direct the restoration of the
State-none but the Republican party could Sc
cure justice to all classes and rebuild the State
there could be no justice, no education, no
prosperity, save through the Republican party
that party would invite immigration, insure
the safe Investment of capital, and put Vir-
GINA In way of rapid improvement. He as
sured the committee that there were ten mil
lions of dollars ready at this time to be brought
into the State under Republican auspices to
build railroads. etc., etc. He declared that the
new movement had not the support of Virgin
ians--that he did not believe that ten thousand
white people in Virginia would supportit; that
if it was carried it would have to be carried by
Republican votes but the Republican party
would not vote for it-they were opposed to re-
constructing Virginia 10 that Way; they would
be willing to see the whites enfranehised after
few years, achen at could be done safely; but
not now. 1t was asked whether, if the plan Of
the nine succeeded, the loyal men would have
anything to compensate them for the concession
that wonld be made. He replied, "None
whatever"
Geo. Rye endorsed the statements of w ellis
though he had previously declared that he diff
fered widely from him. The old man could not
Withstand the pressure that was doubtless
brought to bear upon him by his fellow radicals.
Immediately after these proceedings, one L.
G. Tibbetts, hailing from Virginia fled with
the Reconstruction Committee charges against
General Stoneman. They were received by
Mr. Boutwell,, who remarked that the subject
was beyond the jurisdiction of the committee,
yet the committee would look into it. The
charges mey be put under the general head Of
disloyalty to the reconstruction acts and
thwarting the loyal plans in Virginia.
On the next day, Friday last, COL Baldwin,
as the Representative of the Conservative
Committee of Nine" addressed the Recon-
struction Committee. His address was of con-
siderable length and was yory able. The fol
lowing is the account Of that days proceedings
before the Reconstruction Committee as fur
nlSUoQ ny Lu0 hSSOCldtcU ItSS OCSpdlCu
Colonel John B. Baldwin, of Staunton at
| the request of the committee, first explained
! fully the legal aspect ct the Methodist Church
Property question, and tie bearing Of that
question on the peace and harmony of society
in Virginia.
Mr.. Phelps, representing the Methodist
Episcopal Church North was present, and be-
gan bis reply, but gave way to allow Colonel
Baldwin TO state, On behalf of the Virginia
committee, their views in rGgerd to the constl>
| tuition advocated by Governor Wells and the
| means Of successful reconstruction. Colonel
| Baldwin spoke eloquently for an hour, and was
! listened to with marked attention. In reply to
questions Of the committee, he expressed his
confident belief that the people Of the State
would support and carry out IN good faith the
plan which he advocated.
Mr. Boutwell,, the chairman of the commit
ice, said that Congress and the people OF the
North were anxious to remove political dlsabll
tiles at the South as soon as they should feel
| that it could be safely done. He could not see
how guarantees could be given By Virginia that
| loyalists would be protected, but would like to
hear Mr.. Baldwin on that subject.
Mr.. Baldwin, in reply, said that, upon his
own responsibility as a Virginlan and gentle
man, they would be as safe in Virginia as any,
where in the world, and thai the people and
courts would give full force to the laws and per
feet protection to all men and all classes.
Mir. Franklin Stearns, of Richmond, at the
request of the committee, spoke on the sub
ject. He said that since the defeat OF the
Democratic party the people of Virginia were
ready to comply with the reconstruction laws
and that more than half OF the property~hold~
ers were ready to restore the State on the basis
proposed by the committee OF nine. If the
| State was restored under the pending constitu>
ton, with acknowledgements and county organ
| izations stricken out, she would Immediately
| have her prosperity revived, and rapidly grow
| in wealth and population. 80 restored, justice
would be impartially administered, and all
classes completely protected. Mr.. Stearns was
listened to attentively, and his statement made
decided impression.
| The Washington correspondent "E' of the
Bait. Gazette gives the following in reference to
the statements of Baldwin and Stearns-the
latter consi tent Union man whose loyalty"
has not been questioned:
1.-The Hon. J. B. Baldwin, of Virginia, ad
dressed the Reconstruction Committee of the
House this morning at considerable length,
celebrating the views which have already been
| published by authority of the Richmond com
mittee. and maintaining that the people Of Vir-
| ginia were not only honest in their purposes,
but that a very large majority were in favor of
the committees programme. La these views
Mr. B. was vigorously sustained by Franklin
Stearns, Chairman of the Radical State Cen
| trail Committee of Virginia. MIR. Stearns con-
demned the Underwood Constitution, and said
| it would be defeated by an honest vote of the
| people, but that its defeat would leave. the
State still without civil government, and sub