Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-08-03
Secretary Boutwell,

A good deal of discussion has taken place
with reference to the views of this gentleman
on Virginia affairs. 1t is well know that he is
one of the most influential members of the
Cabinet leading the extreme Radical wing.
AS to the admission of Virginia into the
Union under the constitution recently adopted
by vote of 206, 900 to 9,OOO-a thorough ne.
gro constitution--we entertain no doubt. There
is no peg on which to hang an obiection-abso-
lutely nothing. We are obliged to be admitted
and we shall be admitted.
1t is true there is some little smoke about the
exaction of the Test Oath of the members of
the Legislature. We do not think anv trouble
will arise from this quarter The argument is
so palpably against General Candy that he is
left almost solitary and alone The Presidents
attention was fortunately called to this subject,
in 1868. in the case ofGeorgia and he prompt.
ly telegraphed to Gen. Meade:
HDo'Rs., WAR DEPARTMENT.
Washington, ID. O., April 90, 1868.
Maior General George G.. Meade. Gonnannd
ing Third Military District:
I have carefully read your letter of 10th
April, and its enclosures see nothing in them
to change my opinion as expressed to YOU in nv
dispatch of March 2, 1868
The officers elected under the new constitu-
ton of Georgia are not officers of the provisional
government referred to in the Reconstruction
Acts, nor are they officers elected under any So
called State authority, and are not, therefore,
required to take the oath prescribed in section
g. act OF July 49, 1857. The eligibility to hold
office must be determined by the new Constitu-
ton, and the Amendment to the Constitution,
of the United States, designated as Article
Fourteen. u. s. GRANT. General.
A true copy:
r. G. DUNN, Assistant Adjutant General.
Mr.. John W. jenkins, chairman of the
WellsI Republican Committee, has written a
letter to George K. Gilmer, chairman of the
[Walker] Republican Committee, which is one
of the most amusing instances of cool imper-
Thence and etfrontery We ever remember to
have seen. Mr.. jenkins tells Dr. Gil,ner that
he lGilmer) and others bolted the Petersburg
nominations made by Jenkins and others, and
presented their candidates (the Walker ticket
to the people, and-"your party achieved a
! victory
Such being the situation Unveils and jenkins
being beaten out of heir boots by Walker and
Gilmer-the carpet-baggers being in an awfully
tight place-no grub-Mr. jenkins very demure-
,cings of the Republican party"
| 1t is no concern of ours: Dr. Gilmer can let
Mr.. jenkins in if he chooses; our business is
| only to remark on the quizzical attitude of Mr..
Jenkins. Two horses run for pile of money
| AS horse wins by a full half-mile; and B, own
er of the other horse, steps up: How are you.
| Mr. A. Your horse, | see, ran faster than
mine and you have won about 81 800; now
what want to say, Mr.. A., is this: will be
brief: Couldn't you launching him and wink
ing) let me haze half Of that money!"
| We await DIR. Glmer's res ponse with some
interest. 1t will doubtless be equally amusing.
Jenkins-or sketch by Mr.. W. G.
We think we can see DR.. Gilmer with the
end of his thumb on his nose, and his fingers
loose.
Certainly these people are the most impudent
people ever known even in America. - Enquirer.
The reply of DIR. Geo. K Gilner to the let
ter addressed to him by Jno. W. jenkins, con-
tanning but small comfort tor the Wells Rad
icals, concludes as follows:
You invite coalition Of the tuo ,oings Of
the Republican party. We cannot admit that
the party il divided On the contrary, we claim
that the Grant-Walker party is the National
Republican party of Virginia, representing the
policy of the President and of Congress, and as
such have no divisions to heal True, ma
jority of the colored people, under the misdirec-
ton of the Wells leaders, voted against the
policy of President Grant, but their eyes have
been opened to their mistake, and they are now
focking by hundreds to the Grant Walker
standard
To the late Wells party we have only to say
1--WE shall gladly welcome them to our ranks, "
for We are unwilling to deprive any class of cti-
zens of the innumerable blessings that must
flow to Virginia from an unequivocal enforce
ment of those national principles ofwhich Pres
ident Grant and the Congress Of the United
States are the head and front.