Middletown transcript., 1869-05-22
The old Dominion.

The present condition of this grand old
State, the mother of States and of
Statesmen" the home of Washington,
Henry, Marshall, Jefferson, Madison,
Clay, and other illustrious men, whose
names will ever illuminate the pages of
history, excites our liveliest sympathies.
The last to secede; striving to maintain
peace between the sections; clinging to,
and trying to uphold the Union to the last,
but ultimately forced to succumb, Joined
her fortunes with those of her southern
sisters, and became the battle ground of
the faternal strife. Harried, trodden un-
der foot and discovered, she is to be the
last, it would seem, to recover from the
effects of that fearful ordeal Her poll
tical situation is thus referred to in the
columns of contemporary:
Virginia is in the midst of n grave political
crisis. 1t has been decided that the Constitution
for the State, which was framed by the Radicals,
shall be voted upon, and the sixth day of July
has been fixed by General Candy as the day on
which the vote for or against the ratification of
that instrument shall be taken. Two of its worst
clanses-the one enforcing the test oath, and the
other Acknowledgement, are to be voted on sepa-
ratey. They would, if sustained, either prohib-
it from voting or holding Office nnety-ive out OF
every hundred of the legal white voters of the
State. Within the past year, although the prin-
ciple for which the Virginians were contending
remains the same, the issues have been mate
rally changed also. year ago the choice was
between the infamous Underwood Constitution,
with its fierce uncompromising proscriptiveness,
or military satrapy. To-day, if the test oath
and the disiranchising clauses can be voted down,
the people of Virginia are reluctantly disposed TO
accept the rest of the instrument although they
have endeavored, but without avail, to have the
sections relating to county and township organ
ization voted on separately.
All the Democratic journals of the State, with
here and there exception, agree that it is better
to tolerate the Radical Constitution with the most
obnoxious clauses eliminated, than to remain, as
they are under Radical rule, supported by the
bayonets of the military. The split between the
two wings of the, Republican party of the State
has also changed in important particulars of po-
litical affairs; whilst the withdrawal of its own
ticket by the Democratic Convention in favor OF
Walker, the conservative Republican candidate
for Governor, narrows the contest down to q
choice between the latter and Wells, the candi-
date of the ultra Republicans. This addition Of
tue Deinocrauc sTengtn 10 the conservative Slde
greatly improves the chances of Walker election,
although Colonel Withers who was to have been
the Democratic candidate for Governor, still con-
siders the result doubtful As a choice between
two evils, Walker is generally regarded as pref
erable to Wells. The objection to him is that he
Is Northern man. The points in his favor are
that he represents large body of moderate Re-
publicans, and is strenuously opposed to the pro-
scriptive policy of the Radicals Since he has
been at the South, his friends assert that he has
not identified himself with any political party
but that whilst entertaining moderate Republican
views, he has not only not obtruded those opin-
ions upon Others, but President of Bank at
Norfolk has sought to fulfil worthly his duty as
an active man of business, and as citizen of the
State.-Bdh. Gazette.