Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-08-21
RADICAL TACTICS-THE IN1QUlTH
VIRGINIA

VIRGINIA.
1t is very like the Radicals when
they find themselves defeated in a
fair contest before the people, to at
tempt to turn the tables upon their
by chicanery and other
foul means. Because they lost their
game in Virginia through the will
of the people to whom they APP
pealed, and the State was likely to
be governed as the people desired,
the test oath is to be enforced so as
to deprive sufficient number of
the members elected to the Legis-
lature of their seats, to give the
Radicals a majority. And how does
Thereafter suppose this majority is to
be secured? Not by declaring the
seats of such as can not take the
test oath vacant, and order elecr
tions to fill such vacancies, but by
declaring themembers elected ineli-
gible because they can not take the
test oath, and giving the seats to
tho Radical candidates who were
defeated. Was ever a more rascally
game attempted to be Played For
the sake of controlling the State, and
choosing the United States Senators
therefrom, the Radicals are willing
to commit this great crime against
law and right, and the President ap
pears to be willing to uphold them
in their iniquitous designs if there
by he can secure the election of his
brother in-law, Sharpe, one of the
United States Senators. 1t is very
evident the Radicals never meant to
act fairly when they permitted a
free expression Of opinion in Vir-
ginia, and only waited the result of
the election before showing them
selves in their true colors. If the
election had resulted as they desired,
of course they would have been en-
tirely satisfied to have pretermitted
the test oath, but having been re,
pudiatcd by the people, they intend
to use force to retain the control O
affairs in that State. Very few of
the respectable Radical journals of
the North approve this contemplate
ed outrage. Indeed, the most of
them are outspoken in their con-
demnatian of ii. The New York
Tribune is very emphatic in con-
demning the iniquitous proceedings.
In its issue of the 18th inst. that
paper says:
That State has held an election by
virtue of an act of the present Congress,
which expressly authorized the Presi>
dent to submit her new constitution to a
popular vote with such exceptions or in
such parcels as he should deem proper.
General Grant thereupon excepted from
the body of the instrument those sec
tons or clauses which provided for the
~. u,
from office of all who had taken a pro-
minent part in the great rebellion. He
was urged to except also the section
providing for the apportionment Of the
State into townships; but he decided
we think wisely-that this was not a
vital matter, while disfranchisement was,
and he should submit the constitution
accordingly. The result was the adop~
ton of the rest of the constitution by
nearly 100000 majority, while the
pIoscriptive provisions were rejected by
over forty thousand.
The opponents prescription of cours 9
carried the State, electing Governor,
Legislature, etc. Their State ticket was
originally nominated by Republicans, and
was entitled "True Republican" but was
supported by all the Conservatives" as
well as by many Republicans, white and
black. Probably, its 10000 votes were
cast by 10000 Republicans and 100000
Conservatives; while 100000 Republican
votes were polled against it.
A short time before the election, when
it had become evident that the Walker
combination must triumph, it was whis-
pered about that Gen. Candy, command
ing in Virginia, would impose the "iron-
clad" oath on all who should be chosen
to the Legislature; and, on inquiry, this
was found to be true. The "Conserva-
tiyes~ thereupon consulted and decided
that they could not change their candi-
dates at so late an hour-that they must
vote their tickets as they had nominated
them, and trust that, if prescription was
| decidedly voted down at the polls, Gen
Canby's purpose, thus condemned by the
voters, would somehow be Overruled
So they went on with their canvass, and
chose a large majority of the Legislature,
all of them eligible to Office under the
fourteenth amtnlment of the feleral
constitution, but a good psrt of whom
cannot take the iron clad" oath.
1t is now given out that the result will
soon be officially announced, the new
Legislature thereupOn summoned to meet,
the "iron-Glad" oath administered, all
who cannot take it excluded from seats,
and their defeated antagonists installed
in their stead. The net profit Of the OPP,
Grafton is to be the choice of two Wells
Republicans to the. United States Sens
! ate
We protest against this programme as
involving psrfdy, ipiquity, and a most
stupendous blunder The only party
that can be harmed by it is that which
conceived and executes it We have an
overwhelming Republican majority in
the Senate, 60 that there is not even the
poor, rascally excuse Of necessity for
perpetrating it. 1t is resort prompted
by the modification of defeat; but the
Republicans of the whole country can
not AFFORD to sacrifice themselves on the
altar Of Well discontinue.
----------s%AseR
The building of the workshops Of the
hey Orleans, Mobile and Chattanooga
railroad will s9Qn be commenced at
80 %