Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-09-15
Correspondence.
CONCORD DEPOT, Va, Aug. 80. Isl

ton in Virginia, | promised TO show
wherein believed Congress made mistake,
which viii weigh greatly against the Repub-
hcan party and the loyal people of Virginia.
which | viii attempt to do now.
In 1867 an election was held in Virginia,
at which election all registered voters in the
State we're allowed 10 vote for or against
convention to frame Constitution for the
State of Virginia and to vote for delegates
to said convention. This election was su-
thorized By act of Congress The rebels IN
tended TO treat the reconstruction acts with
silent contempt, bg not registering or voting
at said election. They did not 90 TO the
trouble and expense OF canvassing the State
and making their plan, to defeat Congress,
known to the citizens but through their
papers. advised all true FirgiDians TO pay
no attention to what was going on in the
State. 1t was the determination of all
rebels to defeat the Congressional plan of
reconstruction. and 10 this end all who did
not work on the above plan believed it TO
be their duty to register and then vote
against the convention IN order TO defeat the
loyal people and the object Ct Congress In
this way the rebel party was divided. and
and the Union Republican party carried the
election and elected delegates to the con
vention. The contention met in Richmond
on the Sd of December. 1867, and entered
upon tie duty and work required Of it by
the reconstructson acts The delegates were
nominated and elected on account OF princi-
pies which they advocated, and promised to
Incorporate into the Constitution In case
they were elected After the constitution
was framed. the convention ordered that II
should be submitted TO the vote OF the State
for ratification OF rejection, on Tuesday the
ID day Of June, 1865. This aroused the
rebels and set them 10 work IN earnest
They saw the necessity Of union of effort
and set about organizing the party TO oppose
the constitution, which would be adopted
unless they organized to reject 1t When
their force was mustered up closely it was
evident the constitution would be rejected,
and in the face OF this fact the election was
postponed. From the time the constitution
was passed by the convention April 18th,
1863, 10 April 10th. 1865. the Virginians
used every means in their power TO have Ii
rejected whenever 1t might be submitted to
the voters They we're as determined IN
1859 10 Gefeat the Reconstruction acts a.
they were in 1867, but they would attempt
TO get back into the Union with the State in
their own hands by deceiying Congress.
This they considered 10 be much better than
standing out In defiance OF Congress Their
plan to get control of the State, was to have
the 6isfranchising and test oath clauses ex-
cepted. They could accept the constitution
without them knowing that the her pro
visions could be altered before taking effect
4 committee was, sent TO " Washington to as
sure Congress that the constitution would
be adopted, provided certain obnoxious
clauses were stricken out About this time
a Till was passed, and approved on the 10th
OF April. 1863, which gave the President
power 10 submit the constitution OF Virginia
to the registered voters, and 10 submit to
4 separate vote auy clause OF clauses be may
deem best, &c On the strength Of this
bill, the rebels declared that Congress and
the Administration We're opposed to the
two clauses submitted separately, and that
the Republican party were in opposition to
reconstruction, &c The constitution as II
came from the Convention suited the entire
Republican party, and was the platform of
the party, though some Of the party were
induced to oppose the separated clauses on
the ground that Congress considered them
unjust.
The Convention which framed the con-
stitution. was legal one, and performed
Its duty well and to suit the party which il
represented; and, therefore, the consiitu-
ton should have been submitted to the
voters as It came from the convention, and
been adopted or rejected In whole. II Con-
gress designed the constitution TO suit the
enc mics Of the country, il should have al
lowed them to frame one to suit them, and
not give them Republican constitution 10
pervert and nangle. By this Act the only
loyal element in the State has been ignored
and condemned, and By this ACT the Repub
hcan party was divided and greatly weak
ened in the State But il has not only
made mistake in authorizing the su5mis-
sion of the constitution OF Virginia to her
voters. Sec. 9th, of the Act April 10th,
1865, provides that the Legislature Of Vir-
GINA, Mississippi, and Texas shall ratify
the 18th amendment to the Constitution of
the United States before admission By
what authority does Congress propose an
amendment to the Constitution of the
United States and require some Legislatures
to ratify said amendment? If the ratifca
ton by provisional Legislature is TO be
counted TO adopt the amendment, 1t should
have the right and power to reject 1t.
After these States are admitted they VIII
claim the right to act on this 18th amend
ment again, and viii Of course, reject it if
they are admitted with such constitutions
as Virginia adopted lately Then, If after
these States have rejected the amendment,
there should be only p ratifying States,
the rebels and the Democratic party viii
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