Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-12-14
Admission of DISQUALIFICATION of the
Committee.

uVGr6u W NUugreSS Oh the ON, SLdteu tudt II
ginia had done "all that was required by the
resolution Of Congress" in reference to the
election submitting the Constitution, land by
all the reconstruction acts Of Congress, and had
abstained from all doubtful authority" and
thereupon recommended that her Senators
and Representatives be promptly admitted to
their seats and the State be fully restored to its
place in the family States; - and though, at
noon On the Sth, in response to the address OF
Mr. Turner, the Chairman Of the Committee
appointed by the Legislature, the President
said that he did not doubt the speedy admits
sion of the State, yet this Committee on hold
ing an informal conference with Gen. B. f.
Butler at his residence on the same evening
1.-THE Sth), and learning that he-Butler-de-
sired additional guarantees, promptly assented
and added the following to their address to
Congress-
"And the undersigned pledge themselves
and those whom they represent that the Con-
stitution of Virginia voted for by the people on
the 9th day of July, 1869, shall be faithfully
carried out in letter and in spirit.
We do not purpose now to comment upon
the action of this committee, presenting Viz
ginia as supplicant at the feet of B. f. But
Ter, "whom it were base fattery to call a vii
lian,'' whose malignity is gratifed by the hu-
initiation and abasement Of the mother Of
States and of Statesmen" thus effected through
his instrumentality, but merely to protest that
that committee is not, and could not be inves
ted with authority to restrict the future action
of Virginia Though such action on the part
of that committee is wholly unauthorized, yet
it may become the ''direful spring of woes an
numbered
Congress may incorporate such pledges as
the committee may make into the act admit
ting the State as the conditions Of admission,
and may, at any future time, claim that the
conditions have been violated and that the act
of admission has been thereby abrogated.
Unless Virginia be admitted upon perfect
equality with the other States Of the Union,
she should spurn admission-however desirable
admission upon terms Of equality may be-
When admitted, she will have the right to
change her organic law and her statute laws to
suit herself, if by such changes she does not
violate the Constitution Of the United States,
for that instrument afirms that, "the powers
not delegated to the United States by the Con-
stitution, nor prohibited by it to the States are
reserved to the States respectively and to the
people" She will not only have the right to
change them, but it will be her duty to do so
whenever she believes they can be improved
thereby
On the morning Of the 9th, three committees
from the State appeared before the Recon
struction Committee, representing respectively
the Legislature, the seeding wing Of the Rad
ical Convention, and the non-seceding wing,
having as their chairmen, respectively, Turner,
Platt and Porter.
The committee representing the Legislature,
presented their views in writing, briefly reel
ting what had been done in the State toward
carrying out the Reconstruction acts and as
sorting that what had been done by the people
of Virginia was ia good faith and that the con-
stitution, as far as adopted, shall be carried out
to the very letter and spirit Of its intent and
law. This was briefly advocated by Turner and
Crenshaw, of the House Of delegates, and by
elect from the Second district, advocated the
unconditional admission Of Virginia, without
applying the test oath to members of the Leg
islature. He was followed by Porter, republi-
can member elect from the Third district, who
opposed the immediate admission of the State;
but in order to facilitate reconstruction advised
that the test oath be administered to members
OF the Legislature, excluding members who
could not take it, and supplying their places
with those who could from the next highest on
the election returns He also suggested. as
another plan OF reconstruction, the submission
OF the constitution, with the test oath and dis
franchising clauses included. These views were
opposed On the ground that new election
would be rendered necessary, as the applica-
ton OF that oath would reduce the number of
members to less than quorum and also involve
the reelection Of United States Senators
Bland, colored member CT the Legislature,
made speech In favor of immediate admission
without the test oath. He made an emphatic
address, declaring that the State had done ey
erythlng she could do consistent with her hon
or to testify to the national government her
obedience to its authority and to the laws of
Congress. He, therefore, protested against
administering the test oath to her Legisla-
ture, and contended that the State was loyal
to the core and fully entitled to every privilege
and right accorded to the other loyal States. -
Governor Walker, who was present by request,
addressed the Reconstruction Committee, and
strongly endorsed the declaration of the legis-
latlye committee that the terms Of The Consti-
tuition would be strictly adhered to-, and smoke
OF the loyalty Of the people as deserving of
prompt recognition by the immediate admis-
sion OF the State into the Union.
The committees were requested to reduce
their views to writing and present their papers
to the Reconstruction Committee at the meet
ing Saturday morning.
At 10 o'clock on Saturday morning, the Re
construction Committee met. The differentdel-
egations from this State were present. Plat
presented long address setting forth his views
In favor Of the admission of the State. and
Porter presented one against it. Our readers.
who voted for Segar for Congressman at large
will be surprised to learn that he presented an
address to the Reconstruction Committee on
posing the admission of Virginia as at present
constituted, and that Ex-Gov. Wells is in favor
of the immediate admission of the State with
oat any further conditions, and fayors the mas
sage by Congress of an act of amnesty nlao;no