New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-18
THO BLUNDERS.

IL only under JnaJ dSpcCJ) WHICH Univ" 49,
their State into semi Military pupilage ana
postponed by at least a year. the closing
triumph of Reconstruction They had Oeeh
treated with wise generosity by their KepuDll-
can antagonists, who allowed them 10 take
their seats in the Legislature though large
portion of them might have been shut out by
requiring them to take the oath prescribed by
law.
This generosity was most ungratefully re-
united. The Democrats intoxicated with false
hopes of coming National triumph, ana IN
famed by the wild speeches OF Howell COBB,
Toombs and Ben. Hill, resolved on bold
stroke for present State ascendency. Alleging
that negroes had no constitutional right TO
hold Office in their State, they challenged the
validity of the election of Colored members to
seats in either House, and-insisting that none
of them should vote on question in which
they had personal Interestingly decided
their cases in lump, by voting them all out
and giving their places to the White Demo
Gratis who had run against them and been
beaten. They thus secured decided party
majority, and obtained virtual control OF the
State, preparatory to the National ascendency
that they hoped soon to achieve, under the
lead of Seymour and Blair.
This was beadlong, reckless, foolish pro-
cedure, not regarding it in its worst aspect
1t gave the country fair notice that Frank
Blairs Jacobinic letter was the real creed OF
his party, and would be its chart in case of
its success in the pending election-that States
could be upset and voters DISTINGUISHED by the
strong hand-that anarchy, violence, blood
shed, would sweep over the South, banishing
order, security, industry, thrift. All that was
consderate and truly conservative in the land
turned appalled, from the prospect, reechoing
Gen. Grants fervid aspratiOn-"L Let us have
"peace" The Georgia Democrats by their
crazy coup detdt materially helped to dig the
grave of their party and tumble it in.
The Republicans are now urged TO repeat
this blunder in Virginia. That State has held
an election by virtue of an act OF the present
Congress, which expressly authorized the Presi-
dent to submit her new Constitution to pop
ular vote, with such exceptions or in such parcels
as he should deem proper. Gen. Grant there
upon excepted from the body Of the instru-
ment those sections or clauses which provided
for the continued Acknowledgement and exClu-
sion from Office of all who had taken promi-
nent part in the great Rebellion. lie was
urged to except also the section providing for
an apportionment of the State into Townships;
but he decided-we think wsely-that this
was not vital matter while Acknowledgement
was, and he should submit the Constitution ac-
cordingly. The result was the adoption of the
rest of the Constitution by nearly 100000 ma
iority, while the proscriptive provisions were
rejected by over Forty Thousand.
The opponents of Prescription Of course car
Il. I at
&c. Their State Ticket was originally nomi-
mated by Republicans, and entitled True
Republican but was supported by all the
Conservatives" as well rs by many Republi-
cans White and Black Probably, its 10000
votes were cast by 10000 Republicans and lOO,-
600 Conservatives; while 100000 Republican
votes were polled against it.
A short time before the election when it had
become evident that the Walker combination
must triumph, it was whispered about that
Gen. Candy, commanding in Virginia, would
impose the iron-clad" oath on all who should
be chosen to the Legislature and, on inquiry,
this was found to be true. The "Conserv-
"atives" thereupon consulted and decided that
they could not change their candidates at so
late an hour-that they must vote their
tickets as they had nominated them, and
trust that, if Prescription was decidedly voted
down at the polls, Gen. Canby's purpose, thus
condemned by the voters, would somehow be
overruled. So they went on with their can
vass, and chose large majority of the Legis-
lature, all of them eligible to Office under the
XIVth Amendment of the Federal COnstitu-
ton, but good part of whom cannot take the
on-clad" oath.
1t is now given out that the result will soon
be officially announced, tho new Legislature
thereupOn summoned to meet, the "irOn-cladp
oath administered, all who cannot take it ex-
Guided from seats, and their defeated antagO-
nists installed in their stead. In other words,
the Georgia bunder is TO be repeated in Vir-
GINA, with merely change Of parties. The
net profit of the operation is to be the choice
of two Wells Republicans to the U. S. Senate
We protest against this programme as in
volving perfidy, iniquity, and a most stipend
GUS blunder. The only party that can be
harmed by it is Gas in Georgia. that which
conceived and executes it. We have an over
wbelming Republican majority in the Senate,
so that there is not even the poor, rascally ex-
cuse of necessity for perpetratiag it, 1t is cal
culated to ALLEVIATE the Walker Republicans
permanently from the National party and give
the Democrats such an advantage everywhere
as the Georgia blunder gave us last Fall Its
resort prompted by the modification of defeat;
but the Republicans of the whole country can
not afford to sacrifice themselves on the altar
of Weiss discontinue. .
No doubt, cunning lawyer can make out
case in favor of the proposed prescription, as
he can in favor of almost anything; but we
all know that the Government just constituted