The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-06


I that certain class of individuals nfnelng
| IN public affairs Of the country hrougnt ~ in.o
] the condition which led to the War-o,ousn :
| an the war-tbey design that that class OF
| persons shall he excluded from p's, nv ~
| further In public affairs until yon nave Sc
| cured reconstruction: A., =, 49,,
| ,n,nk ~ IN accordance with the spirit OF the
| raconstruction acts, while enfranchising one
| race. TO disfranchise another to any extentyo"
see ftf ,,-;,n
the reconstruction acts.
Question by Mr. Boutwell,: Then does this
not follow that n very large number OF inteili-
gent Republicans were willing to strike out
this clausef
Answer: Yes, sir and will state in this
connection that the question now Is, not "he-
Their this provision should be stricken out,
but as to the time when it should be done !;
and the Re1,,,blicun party, so far as hare a
knolrisdge think hat IL should not be stricken out
no,o and in this manner, unless 1t should be the
Judgment of Congress.
ton disaualifes from holding office n large
number OF persons who participated in the
rehellionf
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: The practical question is this,
Whether 1T this time it Is safe, with reference
to the in terests and rights of the loyal men OF
Virginia, 10 remove these dlsfranchiseme en-
and Disqualification abSolu teiy from all these
persons
Answer: Isay, No sir il is not safe.
Here Governor WELLS declares emphati-
cally that cit IS not safe" to remove the
diBfranchisemcnts imposed by the consti-
tuition. lie has come to q different conclu-
sion now. But what has caused this
changer We fear 10 trust SO tickle man.
He might return to his wallow before the
summer is ended. 4 mind 30 susceptible
Of change might change once too often for
the good of the people of Virginia. We
quote from his testimony again (neither
here ror elsewhere giving oil of it as it
comes, but such parts only as bear upon
his last letter..
Question by Mr.. Beck: Suppose you remove
all the disabilities you can, and make sufl rage
universal, so far rs in your power, why would
not such n constitution protect you?
Answer: Because l believe that would put
4 class of people i'll power in such hunters
that il would be impossible 10 protect the mi
nority of voters. The whole tendency ever
since the fall of Richmond has been TO do that
very thing. What mean by that IS thls:
discovered that IL was announced rs a distinct
proposition entertained by the great mass OF
All the white men of Virginia, that they would
submit 10 negro suffrage only temporarily ana
in consideration of gaining u boon on the
other hand. Now, then, believe If those
gentlemen are sincere in what they say on the
subject, and really opposed TO coIortu suffrage,
they will avail themselves OF the first oppor-
tunity OF placing the negroes BACK as near us
possible to their former condition In this par
ticular. Therefore think II Is ABSOLUTELY heceS-
sGrg in ordsr to carry ont Effectively the pr"rt-
SONS Of The acts Of CV~gresS to d&fronctiSe Ger
tain number Of rot.rS- tc'!attreT number meg De
required.
Answer to Mr. Beck l think the Republic
can party is strong enough 10 carry the consul
tuition with the DISTINGUISHING clause stricken
out with the allies il would receive, out 10
not Niftk IL 1pOuH accept the constitution ""$
umcHicd. 80
Mr.. Beck You don't think the Republi-
can party is willing to enfranchise the white
people of Virginia?
Answer / do not believe the Republican
parry would be willing TO accept the amend
ments now proposed.
This last IS perhaps the most important
declaration Of al. Governor WELLS de-
clarcd empha;icaily that he did not thi8k
the Republican party would accept the con-
stitution 90 nmcrled--or, as Mr.. BECK
phrassd it, would not be willing to erfran-
chisc the white people of Virginia.
No language of ours could add aught to
the strength OF the case here made oat
against Governor WELLS by himself. His
conversion Is evidently rot q work CT tie
heart. !, is in bis head only. He sees
that General CEAHT il 100 strong for him
that the people Of Virginia are determined
to vote down these DISTINGUISHING sections
Of the constitution; and that there is no
chance OF Lis election as Governor unless
he can remove these Issues out Of his way.
But the breach which he has thus himself
made in the line Of his ragged army of
carpet-6aggers and scalawaga will continue
to widen. He cannot hope to close up TIE
ranks again. His defeat is certain. Let
his fate be c warning to any Virginian vino
has wayc-ed. Now is the time for every
man to range himsel: by the side OF WALKER
upon the platform Of reconstruction, peace,
no acknowledgements, and no test oaths.