The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-09-02
Thursday, September 2, 1869.
The Legislature elect, and the Iron-clad

The Legislature elect, and the Iron-clad
v-~.-'-4 Oath. --
IF we are to Judge from the tone cf the
Northern press-that is, the liberal portion
of it, Radical, Democratic and Conservative,
we are Of opinion that the sentiment Of the
country is much against the position Gen.
Candy has taken. The Tribune aud Times
both leading Radical journals Of New York
are outspokcn and denouncc the forcing of
the oath on legislators fairly elected by the
people. !. The State Journal, the Radical
organ of Virginia, has given birth to the re
port that Gen. Candy has issued circular
to the members elect. asking whether they
. can take the iron-clad CATH and requesting
response. As yet no replies have been re-
ceivcd at headquarters, and the military over
seer is at loss how to act. His quandary
arises from the fact that to require a member
Of the Legislature to take AN oath of any
ind here must first be a creation of the
legislature; the body must be Informally
organized, otherwise the mau chosen by the
people is mere individual, free from the re-
quirements of the tyranical order. Presum-
ing even that there is an organization of the
Legislature by the appointment Of q tempo
rary chairman and clerk, we are at a
loss to know how the military commander
can manage to get before body lawfully
chosen and yet not completely organized p
Should he go in person he will render him
self liable to be arrested as trespasscr upon
the meeting Of individuals who have lawfully
met for the purpose Of consultation on affairs
of State. The Office he holds is unknown to
the constitution of the State, and he is not,
like the Governor, armed with the privilege
of sending message. How then, we ask, is
he to administer the oath? Some may say he
can send his aid witha squad of soldiers to
drive the members out. Should he attempt
such high-hauded game, he must drive out
aN-those who can and those who cannot
take the oath; thus breaking up the Legis-
lature and laying the violence of such pro-
ceeding at his own door,. The Baltimore
Commercial says 15s.t ~
"It remains with the Legislature of Vir-
ginia whether it Or General Candy shall car
ry the point of this oath-taking. A firm and
resolute body of men cannot be inundated,
and though they may be outraged by the use
Of force, their defeat by that fundamentally
will be their triumph
The comments Of the N. Y. Tribune are
to the point, and reflect the sentiments Of
the people of all parties 1t says
'We protest against this programme as in
volving per6dy, iniquity, and a most stupen
dous blunder. The only party that can be
harmed by it is Gas in Georgia. that which
conceived and executes it. We have az
overwhelming Republican majority in tn.
Senate, SO that there is not the poor rascaly
excuse of necessity for perpetrating it. /,
is calculated to ALLEVIATE the Walker Republi
cans permanently from the National part,
and give the Democrats such an advantage
everywhere as the Georgia blunder gave u
last Fall. 1t is resort prompted BY the
modification OF defeat; but the Republicans
of the whole country cannot afford to sacri
fee themselves on the altar Of Wells discom.
fture.'' Al 'a =. ae1 go
The same paper also adds that the Govern.
ment of Virginia, under the new constitution
is in no proper sense provisional Gen. Can.
by has no part nor lot therein either by Law
Of Congress or State Constitution. His ef
fort to interfere and to dictate will be repug.
nant to that sense Of legislative independence
which is SO relished BY the American people.
The Baltimore Commercial uses the fol
lowing language. ri 3. 3# al@
7fItis now most probable that there will
be no session of the Legislature until after
the Congress assemblies. We have no fear
that the Congress will insist upon so mean a
piece of pcrfdy. The motive is not sufici-
ent for an act of such dishonor. There is
nothing to gain by such stupendous blum
der, and it will not be perpetratcd. But if in
this We are mistaken, we think there will be
found in the Virginia Legislature men firm
enough to place General Candy in the atti-
tude Of employing his bayonets to drive
away the Legislature Of Virginia. And bet
ter than that, there is nothing that could hap
pea to that Legislature. ~ l9s5i =
ANOTHER misunderstanding to the
Alexandria Gazette, a young lady residing
four miles from Middleburg, whilst on her
wayto Long Branch meeting house, was sell
zed by negro boy, who made desperate ef-
fort toscommit an outrage upon her. She
resisted him with spirit, and her screams
brought to her assistance young man who