The national Republican., 1869-01-11
our washington Corre.pondence.


modification OF the constitution soon to be
submitted to the people OF that military dis
trict are objects Of much more attention than
any other "lobby' now In Washington. Un-
like Hobbies generally, their aim is not to OBJ
tain money through congressional legislation,
but what they regard as being the rights Of
the mass OF yirginia's white citizens. They
are men OF ability, all Of them, as well as high
character and deserved influence at home.
Moreover, as far as they dare face the domi-
neering spirit and intentions Of the Virginia |
Bourbons," (who are headed by Gov. Extra
Billy Smith and Henry A. wise,) they mean |
well. But up to this time they evidently |
stand quite As much In fear Of the Bourbons
as ten days before the passage of the Virginia
ordinance OF secession.
THE VIRGINIA BouRBoSs.
The Bourbons" THAT being the soubriquet
by which they are now known throughout
virginia) are the original seeessionists, the
men who backed up the South Carolina and
farther Southern leaders who attended at
Richmond and got up the measures Of intimi-
dation and prospective violence that forced the
States Convention to adopt the ordinance OF
secession, for passing which Virginia paid so
dearly. The Virginia Bourbons are as deadly
hostile to the Union now As In 1901 and they
are as truculent towards and denuneiatory Of
the "Consery atives" (who are hardly more
than half way with them) as while the fate Of
the ordinance of secession was In sbeyance
THE VIRGINIA CONSERVATIVES wAvERIso.
Nevertheless the States Conservatives are
greatly inclined to break the chain Of Bourbon
ism which SO held down the mass OF the whites
as to prevent them from registering and vot-
ing, when, by so doing they could have made
the constitution soon to voted upon much
ak.z "a.
bore arms willingly against the Union, than 1t
is. They are not yet free men, however, and
evidently attend here in feverish spprehen-
sion that the Bourbons, by playing on the
prejudiees OF the Virginia masses, will con.
sign them to lower place In the estimation
of the ignorant, brutal and prejudieed of the
State, than even the earpet-baggers and scala
wags now occupy.
THE PRoPosITIoN OF THE CONSERVATIVES.
The Conservative committee seek to induce
Congress virtually to set aside the constitu-
tion framed by the late State convention, md
submit some other in Its stead, which shall
do away with all disfranchisement In Virginia
except such as the reconstruction laws and
the fourteenth constitutional amendment pre-.
vide for.
THE TEMPER OF CONGRESS TOWARD THRIn
PROPOSITION.
Ihave yet TO ind the frat Republican mem
Der who seems disposed to take such action a,
this Conservative committee propose; not be
cause favoring the greater disfrsnehisement nj
OF the proposed State constitution per sc, but
under the impression that there is no way IL
which Congress can lawfully and properly
change the question to be submitted to the
voters OF Virginia.
The Republicans OF both Houses also EN-
phatically depreeste the attitude OF the Con
servative committee upon the point OF man
hood suffrage; holding that It Indicates fixed
purpose of extirpating that feature from the
State constitution II the Conservatives can
eventually consummate that end.
need hardly explain to your readers that
while the Conservative committee per nit tn at
Impression to prevail among the members, all
their representations will be received with
suspicion, and will surely fail of carrying due
weight In either hall
WHAT CoSoREss WILL RECOMMEND TO THE
VIRGINIA CONSERVATIVES.
Congress will take no official action upon
the prayer of the Conservative committee ye,
its members will strenuously urge upon them
the policy OF defying Bourbonism and support
ing the adoption Of the constitution in goot
faith, and then seeking its prompt modification
wherein 1t fails to accord entire co-equality o
rights to all rebels who may hereafter proy'
reliable to sustain the reconstruction laws o
Congress In their true spirit.
THEALTERNATIvEs BEYoRE THE VIRGINIA con
sERvATivEs.
Itls already clear that there are but two al
ternatives before the Virginia Conservatives
They must sustain the States reco instruction
under the proposed constitution, ASSERTING
their right to quite as much Influence In reor
gsnizing their State government under 1t a
the Radicals or they must drop back under
the shadow OF Bourbonism and submit to bt
gated at will by the sharpened spurs of th'
Bourbon leaders, for they must live politi
cally as supporters of the proposed constitu
tion, or must die under the arrogant and vim
dictive contempt and Jealousy of the Bour
bOns.
II the proposed constitution be adopted will
their assistance, they will surely gain sue
weight here as will render them very powerful
in shaping the action of Congress and Grant
administration with reference to Virginia
future. II they continue hostile to 1t the,
will find the terms OF Yirginia's readmissio
into the Union made even more stringent tina
are at present proposed, to the end Of increa Al
ing the sureties that her affairs will neye
again fall into the hands OF men who sympa
thize directly or Indirectly with the rebellion
THE CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT STRENGTHEN
THE NEW CONSTITUTIONS CAUSE.
Though the committee OF nine and the LEAD
erB sending them hither may unanimously r,
tire to stools at the feet Of the Bourbon leaC
ers, large wing OF their supporters wi
decline to follow them longer, and will vot
for the new constitution In spite of their adyic
and example. They have gone far enough /
the right direction to awaken the minds of tn
Anti-radieals Of the State inclined to be pro
gressive to the fact that the adoption Of tn
constitution about to be submitted will re
admit Virginia into the Union with co-eQus
privileges Of citizenship to ALL whatever ma
have been their rebellion record, who Civ
evidence OF sustaining the new order Of thing
necessarily growing out OF the war. Thu
their followers will surely comprehend this
Congress will not permit any class of mel
whether claiming to be Radicals or not, I
hold In Acknowledgement any other class
Virginians who are In proper frame OF min
to be intrusted with all the rights of citize
ship. The question Of the entire enfranehis
ment OF all willing to accept the Congressioni
policy Of reconstruction, win be but one OF
few weeks or months after the teAdmission
the State into the Union. Grant and Congrei
will oontriye to settle that point In shol
order. This fact will become so know
throughout Virginia by the time the vote
taken, as that II the Conservative leader
throw themselves on their knees before tn
Bourbons, they will have little or no fOllowin
in so doing
THE PENNsYLvANIA sENAToRIAL ELECTION
The newspaper story that Mr.. John Scott
the newly-elected Pennsylvania Senator, wa
ihe nominee OF Senator Cameron, 10 untrue.
learn, Oh excellent authority, that Mr.. o. wa
an advocate Of Mr.. Crows election, and eN