Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-01-29

among the acts &c approved in 1866 for it
All we can say is, that it is not the test oath
Of 1862.
In this connection we may state that Gen.
Stoneman is making preparation tocarry this
! resolution into effect in this State, having
appointed board, consisting of Gems Will
cox and Granger and Col. Franklin, to whom
are to be referred all applications for office,
and thus "enable the commanding general
to fill the vacancies now existing and which
it is contemplated may exist within the next
thirty days"
He also appoints Col E. W. Stone recor
der of the board, and requires all applications
to be addressed to him.
This looks very much like business and
we would not be surprised soon to see the
heads of officials topple, all over the State,
despite the efforts of the committee of nine.
The Fredicksburg Herald, which has all
along been one of the most ardent supporters
of the New Movement until their letter to the
Judiciary committee was made public, when
suddenly it sees the subject in all its deformi-
ty, and joins the opposition. On the ques-
ton of suffrage, as proposed by the commit
tee, it thus vents itself:
cas- condition to the admission of Vir-
GINA into the Union, the Committee of
Nine propose that the voters of the State
shall ratify the constitution as modified BY
Congress, and shall also ratify the following
paragraph Of section two of the bill proposed );
/. The constitution Of said State shall
never be so amended or changed as to de-
privc any citizen or class Of citizens of the
United States Of the right to vote in said
State, who are entitled to vote by the con-
stitution thereof herein recognized, except
as punishment for such crimes as are now
felonies at common law !; whereas they shall
have been duly convicted under laws equal
ly applicable to all the inhabitants Of the
State. Provided, That any alteration of
said constitution may be made with regard
to the time and place of residence of voters
This is piling on the agony. 1t isl bow
shot beyond even the reconstruction acts
Indeed, if our recollection serves US, it is the
full weight Of milestone more, than even
the square Underwood Constitution, with
all its deformity,) demands at the hands of
the people. Tie up your hands against all
repeal Seal with the signet Of your ballot
tba hot NO mill
alter your organic law on the suffrage ques-
ton ? Other States, North and South Of us,
are to be permitted to change their suffrage,
but Virginia, never!
To our mind this is a fearful pledge, and
one that we are not prepared to make. 1t
will require revolution" to undo the act
if once engrafted as fundamental law, and
we have had just as much of that as we can
stand up under.
Neither will Virginia be an equal in the
Union-if she ever gets in-whilst this foul
covenant is registered as the willing work
Of her sons. Other States may alter, and
will alter their suffrage laws, under changed
circumstances. We refer to States North,
and not particularly to States South. Sup
pose Congress forces unrestricted negro suf-
frage on Pennsylvania, will not that State
throw it off just as soon as the political COM
plexion of Congress changes =?
Let Virginia's sons willingly adopt this
fearful provision. and she stands rivetted TO
a ''body Of DEATH for all time.
We will be told by technical gentlemen,
learned in the lore Of law, that the provision
is not binding, 1t may not be according to
the hair-splitting distractions Of law, but
every mans moral sense will tell him he has
done an act-if voluntarily performed--fr
which he cannot escape, when arraigned be-
fore the bar of bis own conscience. 1t is an
acquiescepce, willingness to accept with
out remedy, which stamps the act as an &C
ceptance in fee'"
Gen. Grant has authorized the statement