The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-07-15
Republican Opinion ON the virginia
Election.
From the Chicago Tribune.

From the Chicago tribune.
General Candy, in command at Rich.
mond, has stated what perhaps Ia un-
questionabl true, that the recent cleo
peaceably conducted as any election
ever held in the country. The Rich
mond papers. which have supported
Governor Wells, do not take the defeat
very gracefully, and already there is a
disposition to appeal to Congress to
nullify the election, by rejection OF
the constitution. Somebody has taken
the pains to telegraph the fact that one
Of these Richmond papers asserts that
in the demonstration over Walkers
election some rebel flags were display.
ed. This may or may not be true, but
1t has nothing Whatever to do with the
question whether the election was fair
whether the constitution ts a proper
one. Walker Is man of Northern
birth and education. II he took any ac-
tive part in the war while in Virginia,
it was not on the rebel side. The
convention which nominated him took
plain and distinct grounds in favor Of
political equality, and expressed nnS
questionable Union sentiments. Walk
er's speeches during the election, and
since, have been openly and distinctly
in favor of every principle that an uli-.
nois Republican Convention would as.
sert. The constitution as originally
framed was SO odious that General
Schofield, and after him General Can
by and Congress-, refused to submit it
Grants suggestion Congress granted
the power to the President to submit 1t
in such separate parts as he might
choose, and he did so, With excellent
discrimination he separated such SEQ
lions as he thought ought not to be!
adopted and permitted separate votes
thereon, and the people OF Virginia,
while ratifying the main body of the
constitution, have confirmed the Presi-
dents discrimination by rejecting all
the separate clauses. The constitution,
as adopted, is just such q constitution
as freq people, fit to participate in the
political affairs of their government,
ought to adopt for their local governs
ment.
Ifthese rebel States are ever to be re-
organized, and the Union restored to Its
political harmony, it must be done with
the popular consent. To'insist that no
State shall be recognized which does
not elect the EXTREMIST Radicals who
may be candidates, would be as uDjus-
rifiable asto refuse recognition to any
State who might elect such Radicals.
An election Is a mockery unless the
popular choice, fairly expressed, OF
eligible candidates be respected and en-
IOTCeus Fs w ulk6E WIS 61eCL6u u
mixed vote of Rapu blican whites, DEM
ocratic whites, and colored Republic
cans. II Wells had been able. 10 obtain
the support OF all the Republicans in
the State. he would have been elected
and his defeat is no more a just reason
| for setting aside the election than his
election would have been. While we
try and each State thereof, would be
better promoted and protected by the
ascendancy everywhere of the Republic
can party, we do not think the defeat of
the candidates of that party, who are
objectional to portion OF 1t, and the
success of other candidates. pledged to
the same general policy, afford any
reason for keeping Virginia any longer
unrepresented IN Congress, or any
longer without civil State Govern
ment.
We trust that the rule-or-ruin policy
so strongly urged by extreme men,
| will find no support in Congress, and
that that body will, by its action, give
an effectual quietus to the threat which
comes from Richmond, that "Virginia
shall beSRepu blican or Cossack." The
| men who make this threat have no
clear conception of the principles oftbe
Repub lican party. That party demands
that the popular voice shall be respect
ed, and when that popular voice repu.
dates Wells, and selects Walker, the
Republican party has no choice but to
sustain it. What farce would cleo
lions be If theyVwere to be decided one
way or rejected. The Richmond Wing,
which is not a Republican paper, thus
states Whatthe result of the election is:
"Let no one claim it as . Democratic or a
Conservative victory. 1t will simply be a
| peoples victory; 1t will be the success OF
| President Grants liberal reconstruction
policy, wrought out by the combined vote OF
| Northern residents and natives, Of Republic
cans and original UQionmen, and those who
| anta2onized them during the war, aided by
portion Of the coloIed VOTE"
The President and the country will
sustain the election in Virginia as an
expression Of the popular will, and we
trust that Congress will listen to no APP
peals, come from quarter they may, for
any arbitrary action to defeat that cleo
ton and remand Virginia to chaotic
disorder, or military rule.
The POstpOnement OF the Mississippi
and Texas Elections.
| The EOr eaThpnt:anh nha GFonaarvatEVaS