The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-08-28
The Policy of the Misunderstanding
Test-Oath.


tutions requires that the public VIII should
be nut in force by the proclamation OF the
Government elected by it. This is pro-
position so sclf-cvidcnt that it is amazing
that any delay should have occurred in its
recognition and installation. Congress had
clearly prescribed the mode and manner
of the Virginia elections, and had specified
what the Legislature elected had to DO when
it met-to adopt the fifteenth amendment
az condition precedent to the admission
Of the State into the Union, and the wonder
is now any obstacle was presented 10 SO
plain o proceeding.
That the people of the United states
think that the proceeding in Flrg'ne
should have gone smoothly on to consum-
nation we have not doubt.
That General CANBY is Of the opinion
that the test-oath is required by law we be-
lievc and We also believe that he thinks it
is hard thing 10 require it Of us after We
have voted it down, and when he knows
how difficult it is to get men who can take
the oath who ore fit to perform the lmpor-
tant duties Of administering the government
Of the Ststc. His frank and sincere opin-
ions on this matter, we contend, appear
strongly to our rulers against tho require
nent of this oath even though 1t was
doubtful question in the minds OF the law
vers of the nation. II is a grcat-a grind
ing-hardship. 1t would amount to the sub
version Of the public opinion and will OF
Virginia, expressed under tho authority Of
the solemn act Of Congress- suggested and
approved by the President Of The United
States.
The question as to what is the policy OF
the Administration on the subject is agl-
tating the whole country. Not only are we
here in Virginia with our interests Ian
gushing hourly, and our people borne
down by misfortune, dcspairing OF relief,
inquiring what is to be done, but the
people of the North and the West are anx-
!ous 80 know what is to be done with OLD
Virginia-whcn her case is to be settled.
SiC ilhS ~ SutSl luli' INV thN ~ i"'' VI -
settled fate, and so entirely conforncd to
every law, is she still to be showed back
and frowued upon by the cold spirit of in
decision and INSTRUCTED on the way by the
genius of Mystery with her spawn Of
doubts and apprchensions If we take the
expressions Of the public sentiment through
their ordinary channels as reliable VIC can
come to no other conclusion but that the
universal feeling is one OF earnest regret
that Virginia reconstruction was checked
at all-that spirit so earnest, 10 uncqui-
vocal, had not been met by cordial well
come from the Government, and the. whole
question of the reiidmission of the State
regularly and happily carried on to cor
summation. And this very day we know
from the signs everywhere that nothing
would so delight this nation-nothing send
over the land so bright sunshine OF joy-as
the restoration Of Virginia to the Union.
What the policy Of the Administration is
We cannot undertake 10 say. We know
something of General GRANT from his past
conduct-from his noble and loyal conduct
in indicating his honor and faith implied
in the parole lie gave to LEE and his follow
ers-his frank statement in December 1865
that the South was ready for readmission
into the Union-his Gbcrality in securing
to Virginia the opportunity to free herself
from the odious disabilities which the pro-
scriptive Radicals proposed to rivct upon
Der. And we have felt assured that there
was too much consistency and truth in that
man to allow him to favor the measure OF
imposing upon us the very disabilities
which he denounced, and had given us the
chance to shake off, as we supposed, forever.
We still feel this conviction, and we must
have evidence we have not yet seen before
ne will give it up.
Why the delay is the universal inquiry.
That We cannot answer. Our own opinion
is that prompt decision calling together
the Government of Virginia and repudia-
ting the test -oath would be the happiest day
of General GRANTS Administration. Ii
would be worth to him thousands Of votes III
Pennsylvania and Ohio. It would bind to
his Administration Virginia, whose pres
ence in the national councils Will be felt 10
degree this whole nation appreciates.
Who desires delay? None but the defeated
pnrty of ultra and proscriptive Radicals in
this State. They are availing themselves
Of every moment Of delay to vex the State
and irritate the President. Having first
confessed their defeat, and declared their
readiness to ground their arms-indecd,
having claimed that the victory after all
was upon their principles-they have
grown in confidence until they have finally
set up the demand that the government Of
this State must be Republican,. e., their
epublican-WELLs Republican! What do
they mean? Simply that the election in Nir-
GINA is to be quashed, and the WELLS party
is TO be installed in power. Now, whatever
sort Of persons were elected uEder the autho-
rity of lar, it would be an outrage of every
Republican principle, every principle Of
JuSIce anu nOnof, 10 overthrow the clcC-
lions, to nullify the public voice, and install
those not the choice of the people-not
elected by them. That would be an act Of
unadulterated despotism. The authority
by which it was exercised could as reasona-
bly, require that the Government should be
in the hands of black or red or blue men
as any other kind Of men.
But these demands only come from tic