Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-08-17
TUESDAY MORNING, Aug. II, 1869.
CANDY AND THE TEST OATH.

iCANBY AND THE TEST OATH.
A system photographic dispatches has
been put into operation which has the
effect of DISC uieting the minds of many
people. The N Y. Herald of Saturday
had one from Richmond daled on Fri
day which stated that "Canby has re-
turned, and those who are in his conf :
dence say his interview with the Presi-
dent and Cabinet and his dinner with
General Sherman were very satisfactory,
and that his test oath policy was fully
endorsed by all. It's, therefore, ex-
pected that he will push things at once
and hasten his PRONUNCIATION Of the re-
suit of the election. There now seems
to be no escape for the members of the
Legislature from the iron-clad oath,
and this has cast gloom over the hopes
Of the people, who will thus be cheated
out OF the fruits Of their victory" The
next is dated Washington, August IA,
and is sec ond-hand at that: 1.-THE Times
says that the question of enforcing the
test oath in Virginia has been decided
afirmatively by the Attorney General,
and twill be accor dinghy enforced by
General Candy" The third of the SCI
ries is the Dromio of the first, also
dated from Richmond, August IA, and
its statements are follows: at is
stated on good authority that General
Candy will, within ten days, issue his
proclamation, converting the Legislature
and applying the iron clad oath to the
members, and, where member elect
cannot take the oath, giving his seat to
the candidate who received the next
highest vote" 75Q1s
We have to say, ia reference to all
these dispatches, which We regard as
sensational merely, that we are yet to
see any internal evidence of their valid
ity. The third one says "it is stated on
good authority" and if we knew who
thus declares, we might have greater
respect for the sensation. But it re-
minds us of the foot note on one of the
pages of Gibbons decline and Fall"
1.-THE Able Hue vouches for this" but
questions the historian, who will vouch
for Able Hue 2" a T'
We think it will be better to wait for
some ACTION in this direction before
we admit the failure of reconstruction
| in Virginia, and failure, toe, brought
about by an administration, which
| professed to be its ardent friend. OF
course, we cannot know for certainly
| that Mr.. Hoar has not decided in the
manner indicated in the second of the
dispatches copied above; but the Cabi-
net not being in Washington, and Mr.
Hoar, at our last advices, being in
Massachusetts, the promuls cation of an
official opinion in this mode seems very
strange and highly improbable. If
! Attorneys General are in the habit of
| promulgating their opinions in "the
Times" we submit, but in this case we
doubt it very much. We will not be-
lieve until the thing is done that Presi-
dent Grant will approve in our case a
policy he condemned in other cases,
and which is condemned by nearly the
whole Republican press of the North.
| At allevents, VIC feel justified in with-
holding our credence for a few days
from these dispatches, by which time
they will probably be exploded.
! Since the above was written we have
received the Richmond Dispatch o.
| Monday which contains the following
denial: The statement put forth that
it has been determined to impose the
test oath npon us, or our legislators, is
! not true, as we know. The Federal
| Cabinet has come to no determination
| on the subject. The matter is stih with
Attorney General Hoar. We are not
ready to believe that the oath will be
imposed upon the Virginia Legis-
Iature. The commanding General re-
pudiates auy personal desire to en-
barrass us with that oath. He il ac-
Il
| tuated only by his view of the law, and
will, we believe, be very ready to ac-
quies cein any instruction that may
save him from the necessity of enforc :
| ing his view ofthe law. Fa'.s1
| We trust that our readers will be no
more confused than we are by the con
flcting rumors--from various sources
which we publish this morning relativ-
to the test oath. M FJtjI7}u ll
1 6fESavaral davn on Roma suanici0uS