The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1869-04-23
THE ELECTION.

1t is understood that President Grant
will issue proclamation ordering an
election in Virginia on the fourth
Thursday of May. 1t is believed that a
seperate vote will be ordsred on those
clauses of the constitution involving
the test -oath disfranchsement, and
those relating to county organizations,
and perhaps some others. The procla-
nation will not be issued until General
Candy assumes command of the First
Military District.
The Conservative Convention meets
in Richmond on the 2sth of this month.
A split is imminent; and this is just
what the Radicals in Congress have
been waiting for. In this hope they
have allowed us to vote, reserving to
themselves the right to reject US if the
Constitution does not suit them--or, to
tell the truth, if they find that our re-
representatives. are not the men to per-
petuate their power. They are not go
ing to admit any Southern State, which
may prove stick to break their own
heads with.
We very much fear that the Walk
err men will not yield, and we are equal
ly afraid chat the Withers men will not
yield. A third man-Ro. Ridgway is
talked of. Well, there is something in
that. The Wing, some days ago, said;
1t is no longer secret, and we vio-
late no confidence in expressing the
conviction, that that action applied urdn-
sysous acquiescence on the part of the
resident committee in the Walker tick
ct. In other words, that there will be
no Conservative candidate in the field.
"Action" meaning the action of the
Conservative Committee. The En-
quirer, "by authority" denies the asser-
ton of the Wing. Hence:our fears. If
Walker will not give way, and Withers
will not, behold crevasse through
which Wells will walk easily to victory.
The Enquirer pleads for unity. 1t is
exactly what we want, what we must
have to escape defeat. We are not at
all unwilling to vote for Col. Walker, il
that be the sense of.the Convention, as
we sometimes think it ought to be-
Our only apprehension is that he is too
good man and that Congress will re-
ject him as promptly as it would With
ers. Certainly, unless Grant developes
during the summer strength which he
has not heretofore exhibited, Walker
will not have the ghost of chance.
We have not, and cannot get up, the
slightest enthusiasm about this matter.
We have been deceived too Often
Hence we do not agree with the Dis
patch when it says:
1t will be relief to have the long ag-
.ony over and our fate settled. If it is
to be Wells, prescriptions, disabilities
the protligate waste of the public means
and the destruction of the material in
.terests ofthe State. let us know it,
That will be better than the misery oil
doubt and apprehension.
The Dispatch can hardly be in earn.
est. Under military government, we
have been infinitely better off than any
OF the reconstructed States. Moreover
swe know that the Radicals in Congress
are not to be deceived by names. "Trut
Republicans" will not do. When Vir.
ginia is admitted, it must be as an alb
.solute, unequivocal increment Of Radi-
cal power; else it will not be admitted
at all.
About as sensible thing as we have
seen, is the following from the Char
lottesville Chronicle.
Let our wisest heads consult and de
eide what is to be done, and all unite il
doing it. Leaving out of view all ques
ton of candidates, there are two plan
open to the conservatives. They cal
attempt to defeat the whole Under
wood Constitution, and may possibl.
succeed in doing so, but their chance O
failure is good, as they lose the who'll
Walker party, most OF whom we credl
with desire to save and not destroy
AS result of failure, we will have TIN
scarpet-baggers and scalawags with tn
Underwood Constitution and all of it
denominations, and of success, a contin
uance OF the present state of uncertain
ty, with the chance that Congress ma,
allow new convention. They may
on the other hand, accept the Under
wood Constitution with the more OBJ
noxious features stricken out. 1t de
ponds on the proclamation of the Presi
dent, defining specially what may b
voted for separately, whether consti
tuition that can be endured, cal be mad
out of it. When that appears, the PEG
pie will have all the lights before Them
and can decide between the two alter
natives, but they must all go togctEe
with one object or the other in view, o
they will get neither.