The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-08-26
The Te.t-oatA in Virginia.

Gen. Candy, the military satrap in
Virginia, is playing his fantastic tricks
in that ancient commonwealth, and ex-
ereising, q stteaptiog to exercise, his
little brief authority,p % the Infinite
disgust Of many Of the Republicans
themselves. No three.tailed Bashaw
could feel his consequence more than
be. No potentate could issue his ukase
with more peremptory authority than
ihis same Gen. Candy, and if Sherman,
Grant, or some one else having author
ity, does not restrain him, it is difficult
to foretell to What lengths be may pro
coed, or what bounds he may set to
HE assumption Of authority, The New
York TriJane, the leading Republican
organ, has uttered its Indignant protest
against the course Of policy which Gen
Candy proposes to mark out In a
somewhat lengthy editorial, in recent
issue, that journal says;
his now given out that The result will soon
be officially announced, the new Legislature
thereupon summoned TO meet, the iron clad
oath administered, all who cannot take II ex.
eluded from seats, and their defeated antago-
nlsts installed 10 their stead. The new profit
OF the operation Is 10 be the choice OF two Wells
Republicans To the United States Senate.
We protect agaissf tAis pregramms tHpoi-
riAg Perfdy, taiquify, aad a most sfHPeAdoas
blaader. The only party that can be harmed
| By 1t IL that which conceived and executes IL
We hare an overwhelming republican majority
In the Senate, so that there Is not even the poor
Tascally excuse Of necessity for perpetrating il
1t Is calculated 70 ALLEVIATE the Walker Replican
| cans permanently from the national party and
/ give The democrats an advantage everywhere.
Il Is resort prompted by the modification Of
| defeat; bat the republicans OF the whole eoun-
| try cannot afford TO sacrifice themselves on
the altar Of Wells discom6tare.
In Washington dispatch to the
BaItiome San, dated August 18th, we
End the following comprehensive view
Of the case:
There Is extraordinary interest manifested
| In the probable action OF the administration in
| regard to the testoath as applied to the men,
hers elect of the Virginia Legislature, and this
solicitude has given rise 10 such various sur
misses, rumors, speculations and reports Of
facts, that IL would be difficult to arrive at any
| definite conclusion on the subject As the H.
nal action Of those having power TO determine
the matter viii send TO the Senate Of the United
States two Senators, either Radical or Con
| sentative, ~ the case may be. IL Is important
TO the whole country TO know what trauspires
tending 10 show what Is to be the final decision.
| Already Ii has been stated on the one hand
that General Candy will require the members
OF the Legislature to take the test-oath, which,
II carried out will result In sending to the Sen
ate two Wells Radicals.
On the other hand it 10 stated upon good
| authority that Grant, to be consistent with
himself In his communications to General
Meade In q somewhat identical case, Indicated
| TO General Candy, who called on the President
recently, In company with General Meade, that
the test.oath could not properly be demanded
Of the Virginia members elect, but that the
| subject might remain under Amusement until
Attorney General Hoar shall give bis legal
opinion, which Is expected upon the lattsr's
return on the LIST Of September.
There Is no reason for doubling the correct
ness Of this latter statement, and 1t Is admitted
| by liberal republicans that in contemplation
OF the law, even as enacted BY Radical Cou-
4 tteo1t tno mtmocfs eiect OF tue Legislature OF
| virginia derive their authority and power
from the new constitution, and are therefore
created BY the act Of Congress which controls
and which submitted the constitution TO the
voters Of Virginia for adoption or rejection,
and that this being the case the test oath is not
applicable Whether Attorney General Hoar
will give In this instance an unbiased legal
| opinion and thus sustain the foregoing propo-
stion, or yield to the behests Of party as 10 the
Texas case and sink the iur,st into the partizan
politician, remains to be seen. On Hoar's
| opinion hinges the question, undoubtedly
Strictly according to the reconstruction act,
General Sherman has supervisory control Of
General Candy, but neither Of these officers
| will take action contrary to the Presidents
desire. II the application Of the test-oath shall
| prove 10 be the purpose Of the Administration,
It Ia alleged that Its decision will not be made
known TO the public until after the day Of the
elections In Pennsylvania and Ohio, for thu
Republican party cannot Afford to 60 TO the
people Of those States upon the proposition.