The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-04-03
VIRGINIA for Restoration.


The situation and the temper Of Virginia
are altogether misunderstood in Washing
ton and grossly nisrepresented. She is
believed in Congress to have opposed her
own admission into the Union, and to be
still unwilling to assist in establishing o
civil government for herself under the re-
construction laws. Senator ANTHONY, on
Wednesday, said:
aIhave come to the conclusion to let
"Georgia take care Of herself. do not
athipk It necessary to do anything for
Virginia, Texas, or Mississippi, this ses-
81 sion. Those States do not seem willing
".c come in. do not think We can help
ait."
Now, this is altogether unjust to Virginia.
Whist is the history Of reconstruction IN
VirginiaS
On the 22d Of October, 1867, elections
were held in. Virginia for members OF a
Convention to frame Constitution for the
State. At that election the Republican
party succeeded in electing majority of
two-thirds Of the body.
This Convention met here on the Sd Of
December, and remained in session until
the 18th Of April, 1868. 1t is unnecessary
for the purposes of this article &c speak in
detail Of the proceedings Of that body. Its
session was outrageously prolonged. Gen.
Gcuoy7pYU fo1f oo11o5 rpou fn nd
monish the members Of the waste Of time
and the heavy draft they were making
upon the Treasury Of Virginia, which was
nearly exhausted. He endeavored to in
duce them to adjourn, but they continued
in session until the 18th of April.
The Constitution framed by this Conven-
ton was about the worst and most proscrip-
tive Of all the constitutions framed in the
South under the influence Of negro suf-
frage. General ScHoF1ELD appeared in the
Convention on the 18th with the evident
purpose Of inducing the Convention, even
at that late hour, to modify at least one OF
the proscriptive features they had incorpo-
rated in the onstitution-viz., the test. oath.
He told the Convention that it was "prac-
"ticaRy impossible to carry on a govern-
"naert in Virginia preaicated upon that
"5asis"-i. e., that oath. He continued
thus:
81 have been now for more than year
administering the laws, in accordance
with the reconstruction acts of Congress,
Gin this State. I have had to select and
"appoint registering officers, as well as
"civil officers, in different counties through
"out the State. In some Of the coun-
"ties l haze been able to find one,
sand only one; in some two, and in
"some three men of either race who could
"read or write, and who could at the same
slime take the oath of office. There are,
81 believe, in Virginia some counties
switch will require, to carry on the Co.
vernment, thirty or more civil officers,
"such as magistrates, sheriffs, constables,
"overseers Of the poor, SC. You cannot
find in these counties sufficient number
"of men who are capable of filling the Of
fees and who can take the oath you have
"prescribed here. They pay very
limited salary, and even the common Ia
"borer could not afford to come from abroad
I" for the purpose of filling them. l have
emo hesitation in saying that believe it
/" impossible to inaugurate Government
"on that basis"
This was the language Of one of the
most observant, truthful, and clear-headed
men of the Federal army, and Republi-
can at that. He had ample opportunities
to know the true character Of the popula-
ton of Virginia.
The Convention needed not his counsel.
The ignorant negroes and ultras treated his
visit and advice as an indignity, and secuted
all idea of acquiescing in the Generals
views.
The Convention, having finished the Con-
stitution, ordered an election to be held
June 2, 1868. On the Oath Of April General
SCHoFIELD issued an order suspending the
election on the ground that Congress had
made "no appropriation to defray the
expenses" of said election, and he referred
the matter to Congress. That body took no
action in the matter; and this is the last
the people of Virginia have heard on the
subject from those controlling their public
affairs.
Now, in what respect are they to blame
How can "unwillingness" be inferred
when they have had no opportunity for
public action 7 They got ready for the
election ordered by the Convention. In
that they showed their willingness. .
Since then they have in no way been EN-
powered to show either willingness " o,
unwillingness to be restored to the
Union. They are not only innocent but
impotent.
How unjust it is to make charge like
this against the people of Virginia. They
are in poverty, with greater evils threat
ened them from the want of well-regulated
civil government. Just now there is hardly
any government ct all, while bankruptcy
threatens the larger number Of the people
Nothing can save them but the timely
action of the Federal Government, which
shall prove that it trusts the people Of Vir.
ginia by restoring their immunities as free.
men. This will revive confidence and in.
dustry and restore prosperity.
What stands in the wayS Absolutely