Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-02-09
The New Movement.

| VI
this to be an effort on the part of few pro-
minent Virginians to procure the ratification of
the proposed constitution on condition that the
restrictions on suffrage and Office holding be
stricken out; but in the light offuller informa-
ton, are reluctantly inclined to believe that,
while this was at first the animus ofthe "move-
ment," it has now degenerated into something
very like "a ring to build up a radical party
within the State ofbetter materials than had gone
to the formation of that organization heretofore
The Editor of the Richmond IVhig, which sus
tains the movement as originally meant,
writes to his paper from Washington that it is
vitality necessary to its success that Gen. Grant
and the republican leaders be convinced that
the people Of Virginia will not use their en-
reimbursement for purposes of prescription
which is all very well-"or to build up party
to antagonize General Grants administrator,
or to fill our public offices soith men offensive to
the Washington authorities, which is not SO
we'll, being in fact plain matter of bargain and
sale to the effect that Virginia may come in on
guarantee that she sustains Grant, right or
wrong, and puts none but radical proteges in
power. 1t is proper to say that the editor of
the Wing does not endorse this writing only for
information; but the facts narrated by him
show very conclusively that, however honest
and patriotic the intentions of those gentlemen
favoring the movement" it is not the pur-
pose OF the rogue Congress to even consider it
save at the price of direct adhesion to the
radical party That there will be this abase
ment, or that, if consented to, the people of
Virginia will ratify it, are things we do not be-
lieve s. s7a sa9u bfa 8 p
The Washington Correspondent ''X' of the
Baltimore Gazette under date January 3lst,
says:y.4 81 aeaa 6fai .ssoa s9sa al
AZ ~,
was in embryo the people of that State were
warned that it could only be productive of mis-
chief What the Radicals mean by universal
suffrage" and universal amnesty is made
sufficiently manifest by the vote on the eff
teenth amendment to the Constitution, which
passed the House yesterday by strict party
vote, except Bingham, of Ohio, and Polsley, of
West Virginia. The negroes are to be forced
to vote everywhere, and the whites are to be
excluded to any extent the carpet baggers and
negroes may choose to infict upon the South.
TO show the use to which the movement is
put by the dominant party, [ quote from its
| organ of this morning In arguing In favor OF
| the acceptance ofthis amendment by the North
ern State 3 the Chronicle says: H3-
eve might also ask what Republican can
Ealer in the face Of the fact that even the late
| champions of savery-men who to extend and
| perpenate that institution sought to destroy
| the Government-dre nOaU accepting the clUat
and polttical equality of the race they lately en-
| siared? We cannot but regard the. success of
| this measure as foregone conclusion, for ace
beIiece that 1t a0H be supported not only Ly Re"
publicans sohose principles At en,bodies, but by
many Democrats, ea5s4.s .atgf h8ssei 4
The following is an extract from the Editorial
correspondence of the Richmond Wig dated
| Washington February lst:
IF the people of Virginia desire any relief
and liberality at the hands of Congress, the
course for them to pursue IS plain. They will
| have to accept. not matter of choice but
| as a necessity, the fact of negro suffrage, and
| they will have to accept it in good faith. 1t is
| through that only that they can hope to. get a
| liberal State Constitution, or any relief from
| disabilities There is one thing more they will
have to do, and that is so to act as to convince
| Congress and the other authoriti s1hele that any
! privileges and powers, accorded to them will not
be u el to the prejudice of the negroes or to the
| building up ola party to lantagonize the lncom
| ing administration, to persecute u MON men and
| Republicans, whether settlers or natives, and
| to place their State IN the hands and under the
| control and guidance of men who shall be OBJ
| noxous to the national authorities, by reason
| of their violence, their vindictiveness, then op
position to national sentiments, or their poll
/ teal antecedents. AS far as my information
| extends these are prerequisites, which will not
be dispensed with, and ! believe that Virginia
can only get the terms above indicated by com
| plying with these conditions. 1t is for the peo-
| Die of that State to determine for themselves.
| am ere to take observations and to com
nlunicate them to your readers and want them
| to understand precisely how they stand and
what they have to expecI"5
The Washington correspondent ssE'' of the
| Bait. Gazette under date of February 2nd
says: a-s... a
1.-THE special meeting of the Judiciary Com
mittee Of the Senate, held a few evenings since
| to consider the propositions submitted to them
| by the Richmond Committee of Nine, resulted
| in satisfying the Conservative members OF that
committee that nothing was to be done to relieve
Virginia from the embarrassment of having
either to adopt the Underwood Constitution or
| to continue under military rule. Senator Hen
! bricks had expressed strong belief that the
| committee would lnaugUrate the movement de
| sired by the Richmond gentlemen, but yester-
| day he assured his friends that the proposition
was hopeless and advised them to abandon the
whole thing. The result has been that the
committee from Virginia have returned.
1t is due to. Mr.. Conking, Of New York, to
say that he was the only Radical On the COM
ments made by Colonel Baldwin and others, and
who expressed any sympathy for Virginia or
Virginians. 1t is now understood among the
| Radicals that the constitutional fight In Virr
ginia is to be desperate one, and that the frst
legal act of the new Administration will be to
throw its whole weight and influence in favor
of adopting the Underwood Constitution by
which the larger portion Of the white population
OF the State will be DISTINGUISHED. Ina discus
sion to-day at the room Of the Radical Execu-
tive Committee, Mr. Schenck, the chairmaniof
the committee, declared that Virginia was to
be the battle field OF the new President. and
the party could soon determine whether PRESS
dent Grant S purpose was to stand by his party
as firmly as General Grant did. I i5.ts baa sd
The above should be taken, we suspect, cum
grano sails
The following is anextract from the Editorial
Cores pondence of the Richmond lPhig dated
Washington Feb. End :ine', 10 ifi4s 7il a
st is questioned by none that, in consequence
and by reasoG Of The efforts Of the Committee
OF Nine, Congress i much nlqre literally dis
posed toward, Virginia than it was before these
efforts were made Of course no one can un
dertake to say what precise form this news born
literally will take Congress may or may not
act finally on the subject during the present ses-
son-and we certainly can afford to wait few
weeks for the relief we have been so slow in
asking. Some think that the Virginia PROPOSE
tons as they stand, will be acceded TO- Others
think that notifications OF them will be made
There are those who anticipate that Congress
may remit Virginia to a territorial condition,
which would deyolve upon the President Gen
eral Grant, the appointment of a Governor
!. ~ A