Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-11-02
POOR OLD VIRGINIA.

SNAASA VA Gho pIeuGTlCkSDuTR I1cTQL0,
j. I'll. KELLY, Esq, who is himself member
of the present Legislature of Virginia, thus
sketches the recent action of that body, and
its more than supercilious service in render
ing homage to the "powers that be-" no mat
ter how humiliating the submission to re-
ceive its favor. Alas, for our poor old Motherl
to what condition has she come at last =
The Late Virginia Legislatre-Hs Super
sereicea6le Rorks-Hs Failures
Those who watched the course of the late
Virginia Legislature with critical eye, must
have been struck with the singular spirit of
standardization which characterized and
marked their general action. With both eyes
on Washington, and apparently without
thought of even territorial rights for the peo-
pie they represented, their whole policy was
to pacate Radical wrath and appease the fell
spirits who control in Federal affairs.
Our impression then was: and still is, that
quailing, fearful men, never accomplish any
thing for themselves or for others, A too
ready compliance with arbitrary demands is
always looked upon with distrust and such
proves to be true to-day.
If the Legislature had exhibited little
more of nerve and manly independence, they
would have won more respect and less dis
trust abroad, and their acts have commanded,
in some degree at least, the admiration of those
at home.
Fearful men that they were, they didn't
dare to crook finger in the face of Federal
authority. They voted to disfranchise for
eUer, Gas far as they were concerned the very
cream of Virginia society, in adopting the
18th Amendment, and right upon the heels
How q o1, tod 70 he
ilege of franchise upon race VIGOROUSLY ig-
norant!
Shockiugly superserviceable and unneces-
sary as was the work of humilation-so far as
the 18th Amendment was concerned-they
also feared to exercise the great right of petit
ton, and ANONYMOUSLY voted doaon simple
memorial to Congress asking for a remouaIof
the disabilities Of some Of The d6lest jurists
and aciseSt statesmen Of 1vhich the State can
bodSt
We do not intimate that any votes were
cast against this proposition because of self
interest-in order to narrow the selection from
which officers are hereafter to be chosen-for
we not believe this motive Influenced or con-
trolled vote. The proposition was voted
down because Conservatives were afraid that
it might in some unknown, and some unex-
planned way, retard the admission of the State.
When the 18th Amendment was under
consideration, with startling unanimity, they
decided that its adoption should not be condi-
tional to the admission of the State 1t is
true that it was contended the vote could not
be counted af6rmatively until admission had
actually taken place. The practical exercise
of faith in the Radical party-which has
hitherto violated and broken every promise
to the South,-was strong as that of Father
Abraham at hundred years of agel Time
may disclose whether it was well founded.
Then, too, at the mere wink of Attorney
General Hoar, the Legislature sought to
placate ''the powers that be" by going into an
election of two Senators, although not nomi
mated as condition precedent in the Recon-
struction bond. The election was to testify
the loyalty of the Virginia Legislature whilst
under duress to prove a willingness and
ready compliance to choose men who were not
considered as representatives in any sense Of
the term
1t was "originally intended" VIC are told by
those in Richmond who had undertaken to
manipulate the Legislature, to have elected
Mr.. John T. Lewis and Gen. Robert Williams
neither of whom represent public opinion
but the estate" was broken by irrepressibles,
and the "originally intended" operators came
to grief in the election of Judge Johnston
bS~ Wendell Phillips does not seem to
think much of the recent Radical victories in
Ohio and Pennsylvania. In his Anti- iSlarery
Standard he says, very pointedly:
Meanwhile the struggle of the opposition
vote shows that the administration has not
satisfied the country. Its friends have rail-
lied and secured another year of grace The
elections of 1870 will turn more directly on
the issue whether the Republican party has
fulfilled the national expectation. In onr
opinion, unless the administration files bet
ter record during the coming year than that
of the past, there will be very uneven strug-
gle between it and its foe, perhaps an igno-
mipious defeat By small majorities, after
almost incredible effort, We have just saved
the two great States-Pennsylvania and Ohio;
any slight untoward accident, even, would
have lost them. II as poor dependence for a
great party. We have drifted thus far on
the strength of our solder-P Presidents repu-
tation. He and his cabinet must earn the
future.