New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-21
VIRGINIA..

We give place herewith 10 long "Oo0"H' VI
the recent Virginia canvass by an active MEN,
Der of the beaten party. We select th's from
among several as the fairest and least bitter,
and commend it to general consideration as
embodying much truth, though not the whole
truth.
1t signally fails to begin at the beginning,
1t slurs over the fact that the Republicans OF
Virginia were first divided and then (the MAJOR
mart of them) defeated by two most unwise
clauses inserted by them in their new State
Observation-Disclosures which DISTINGUISHED and
excluded from Office very large number OIL
the foremost men in the State because OF their
share in the late Rebellion. They did this in
defiance of the cOunsels and remOnstrances of
earnest friends outside of the State and they
thereby paved the way for their own division
and defeat. Not until they recognize this truth
will they be prepared to regain their lost ground
Our correspondent has his own idea of an
election. In his view, the right to vote in
Virginia is properly limited to those who will
vote the straight Republican ticket. But that
accords neither with the Reconstruction acts
nor with the Radical Constitution of Virginia.
Obviously, if men are allowed to vote, they
must be allowed to choose. And to say that
the rights guaranteed by the new Constitution
may be arbitrarily taken away by Legisa-
ture is to say that those who mado that Con-
stitution were bunglers at their business. With
the XVIII Amendment ratified in addition to
the XIIIth and XIYth, it is simply impossi-
BILE that the rights iof the Blacks should be
seriously invaded.
Our ",Republicann seems to think it the
duty of Congress to defy the vote of the People
of Virginia, and keep the minority in power
through Military rule or otherwise Two OBJ
jectons will dispose of that programme /. 1t
will not be done 2. 1t can't be done. 1t is
not possible to carry out snch programme.
1t has signally failed in Virginia it will sig
nally fail when submitted to the verdict of the
whole People. The Republicans of the loyal
States might sacrifice themselves to it, but to
no purpose. The People must rule, under con-
stitutonal guarantees that secure All Rights to
All, and as we'll in the South as in the North.
The larger number of the Virginia Republic
cans have blundered in trying to secure their
own ascendency by permanent and whole
sale prescription of their adversaries. That
blunder has cost them stunning defeat. But,
though stunned, they must not be stupetied.
They must profit by the lesson, and hence
forth stand fast by the principle that the
whole people must vote and the majority must
rule.
The Walker party is, in the nature Of things,
temporary like all coalitions. 1t will fall to
pieces unless held together by stark madness
on the part of the supporters of Wells. II is
inevitable that the Conservatives" should be
intoxicated by their triumph and melted by it
to acts which will repel the Republicans from
their ranks and reunite them to the regular
organization. If Virginia does not 90 Repub-
lican hereafter, it will be the fault Of her
Republican leaders. Let them take their fog
ging kindly and profit by it. We can't afford
to have two sets of BOurbons in the country at
once. The Conservatives" not long ago pro-
tested that they would never consent TO Negro
Suffrage; yet they have already done it, and
won by it. Let the Republicans throw over
board Prescription likewise, and they will re-
cover their lost ground. They must take coun-
sci from their reason, not their temper, and all
will be well.