New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-05-17
THE YJRGMIA ELECTION.

The Presidents Proclamation, herewith given,
seems to us to have hit the golden mean be-
twixt intermeddling in local matters and re-
fusing the People fair opportunity to establish
free liberal, republican government. The Nlr-
pinia Convention decreed the adoption by that
State of the division into Townships which has
ever prevailed throughout the Free States. AS
this is new to Virginia, many of her people
cherish very strong prejudices against 1t, ana
Gen Grant was urged to submit this to sep
arate vote of her people. He judged, however,
and we think wisely that 1T was not
of such vital cOncern-nOt so essential to
public security and personal rights-as to re-
quire such submission so he leaves it to stand
or fall with the body of the Constitution. On
the other hand, he directs the separate sub
mission of the two clauses which Tin substance)
exclude from Office every person who bore arms
in support of the late Rebellion, or, having
previously taken an official oath of fidelity to
the Union, has held Office or exercised author
ity under a hostile government. These TWO
clauses, if ratified would exclude from all
posts under the State large majority of those
who have any experience as legislative, execu-
tive or judicial functionaries and confne the Sc
experienced and presumptively less intelligent
portion of the community. If majority OF
the voters see fit to affirm and uphold this
sweeping prescription, they can OF course do
so but they need not do it in order to vote
themselves back into the Union; and for the
privilege Of voting for Reconstruction and mt
the same time against such Prescription they
are indebted to the wisdom and moderation OF
the President.
And now we appeal to the regular Rcpubli-
can organization in tho State to throw FRO
scriptiOn overheard frankly and forever. Let
them do so, and they can hardly fail to carry
the State and enjoy the credit of bringing IL
Loyalty back into the Union. If they do not,
they practically resolve that the canvass before
them is to DO one of intense rancOr and bitter
ness; and they subject the Blacks to a counter
prescription most damaging TO them and mimi
cal to the general well-beng. OF the Blacks,
we presume two-tlirds live on the lands Of and
are employed by, or in some manner dependent
on those whom these proscripuye clauses would
exclude from all important public trusts.
To vote to ratify these clauses is
to proclaim social war between the
mansion and the cottage. 1t is 20
DTOYOke NDat Will III lullJ ilal lHt 'lsllf w
practically an antagOnism Of races. The Blacks
are already much the weaker racc-infcrior in
numbers in property, in social position, in ed
ucation, and in familiarity with public affairs.
II is inevitable that this disparity should be
aggravated by the dcluge of White immigia-
ton just beginning to pour into the State from
both Europe and the North. If the Blacks are
to-day four-tonths of the population, it is NOR
ally certain that they will be less than fourth
in 1870 and hardly fifth in 1890. We all
know that "boody instructions return to
"plague the inventor" and that prescription
of Whites by Blacks will surely be avenged
four-fold in the not distant future. Policy
nay, safety concurring with sound republican
principle in debating that the Blacks, them
selves SO recently emancipated, should decline
to impose disabilities upon others, we urge
that the Republican leaders should promptly
and fully relieve them from the imputation of
even wishing to do so, by publicly throwing
overheard the clauses excepted 10y the Presi-
dents Proclamation If they do so, they can
probably carry the State if they do not, they
arc very likely to lose it. And there is little
time left for hesitation in the premises,Ias the
election is TO take place on Monday, the 9Th Of
July.