Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-01-19
From the Committee of Nine.

From the Committee of Nine
AS the whole people of Virginia are on the
qua vaUe to see what progress the COMMITTEE
of Nine are making at Washington, we pub
lish below kilograms and extracts from the
Washington correspondence of divers papers
which speak of their action and that of the
Congressman with whom they confer. -
The Washington correspondent of the New
York Tribune writes under date of 11th
The members of the Virginia delegation have
Judge Trumbull, Mr.. Fessenden, and other
leading Republicans. There Is general de-
sire to reach some arrangement, and it is agreed
by all that the Underwood constitution is not
fit to be accepted as the organic law; but there
is no agreement yet as to the details of the
counter plan. There is authority for the state
ment that Mr.. Washburne, Judge Irumbull,
General Butler, and many other influential
gentlemen, are in favor of settlement upon
the basis of impartial suffrage and universal
amnesty. The committee are therefore hopes
ful Of good results, and are pueh gratiGed at
the friendly notices of Republican Journals. =
The 1fl6nne especially. 1t is noteworthy that
some of the Western Democrats, and those in
Congress from the border States, look on the
Virginia movement with despair, and regard it
as mistake, affirming that the West is op-
posed to negro suffrage. These objections are
regretted by the Virginians, but will not be al-
lowed to weigh against the advantages of a
speedy settlement. The Virginians say this
movement looks simply to the restoration of
order and an honest State Government which
shall avoid prescriptions, and not Cypress the
people by burdensome taxation, and that these
vital interests Of their people will be preferred
to all other alliances. If they can secure plan
on the basis stated, they expect to sweep their
State for it, and that great improvement in
business and rise in the value of property
will at once follow
The Washington correspondent, II" of the
Baltimore Gazette, under date January the
18th, says: f a gez9tiT2
The Virginia Conservative Committee had a
hearing this morning before the judiciary Com
mlttee Of the Senate relative to reconstruction
In their State. Col. Baldwin made full ex-
pose OF all the facts and circumstances con-
nected with the Richmond Negro Supremacy
Constitution, and submitted the proposition
that Congress should allow vote to be taken
on Constitution embracing universal suffrage
and universal amnesty-at the same time the
vote is ordered on the Richmond Constitution,
enfranchising the freedmen and DISTINGUISHING
the whole white population of the State
The remarks of Col. Baldwin and other
members Of the committee engaged the atten-
ton of the Senators up to the hour Of noon,
when the Senate met, and consequently no time
was given for any expression of opinion by the
members Of the Judiciary Committee. =.
The Virginia delegation have had an inter
view with General Grant on the subject of
their mission here, and they express themselves
as much gratifed with his views on reconstruc-
ton. He loosely told them that they wanted
to get back into the Church, and that they
should have made the same effort year ago,
and that if they had, the secesh element would
have forced all the Conservatives into the Rad
ical ranks before this. es. a4 ~
The Press despatch, dated Washington, Jan
uary 18th, says ott s95a1
The Virginia movement is still being pressed,
and at every step that is taken there are new
developments of interest In its success. 1t is
growing in favor with men in authority of diff
ferent political views, and seems to be regarded
in the light of peace movement designed to
inaugurate an era of good feeling The Vir.
glnia committee had an interview tosday with
the Judiciary Committee of the Senate, and it
is known that it was of an eminently satisfac-
tory character All points of objection to the
constitution adopted by the late Convention
were stated in detail The Judiciary Commit
tee listened with respectful attention, and invi-
ted the Virginia Committee to write out their
objections and present the paper at an early
day. There will be no unnecessary delay in
doing so. ...a..... .st,,0. 81
Gentlemen from Virginia continue to arrive,
attracted by the movement: A sort Of voun-
teer lobby is being formed in aid of it. Colo.
mel George W. Boiling, Of Petersburg, was a.
mong the arrivals tosnight. Hon. Robert
Ridgway, of Amherst, is still here.
The following are extracts from the Editorial
correspondence of the Richmond Wig, dated
Washington, January 18th:
Our Virginia Committee are continuing their
abors in the same spirit and with the same
zeal with which they commenced them. In
cordially To day they had an interview with
the Senate Judiciary Committee which cores
ponds as to the subject in which we are chiefly
concerned with the House Reconstruction Com
mittee. The interview, learn, was agreeable
and not without good fruits. They brought to
the notice of the Judiciary Committee the OBJ
jectionabe points of the Underwood Constitu-
ton, and were requested to present their views
in writing, which they will do at an early day.
Probably, before you again hear from me, they
will have also appeared before the famed Re-
construction Committee of the House, where
all the thunderbolts hurled against the South
ern States have been forged. Our Virginians
manifest no hesitation about approaching any
man or body of men and graphing them in
discussion. Mr.. Stuart is as mild, composed
and bland as when in his own beloved Staun>
ton, and his imposing appearance and national
reputation will always command attention. -
Colonel Baldwin exhibits all his accustomed
humor, self confidence and intellectual yigor
The impression made here by this committee
is the best impression that has been made since
the close of the war; So marked and manifest
is it that it has evidently, from all can learn,
greatly disturbed and disconnected the tactics
of the other committee from Virginia that has
come on here to operate against it.
The following is from the Press despatch
| dated Jan. 14th L.
The Virginia Conference Committee had a
pleasant and satisfactory interview with Cen
erals Grant and Schoied to-day; also with
some of the leading senators and representa-
| tives The movement continues to make
progress and gain friends.
The Associated Press despatch dated Wash
ington, January 18th, says:
After many conferences between the
Virginia committee and its individual members
with the judiciary Committee of the Senate
and members of the Senate and House, it seems
pretty we'll understood that the following de-
finite arrangement has been substantially agreed
to:
Following the precedent in the Missouri
compromise and the proceedings upon the ad-
mission of Oregon, Kansas, and Nebraska, a
bill will be prepared authorizing the admission
r. ,,v>on tho oIopt,or of tba propocod