The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-10-08
TIE OLD DOMINION.

RICHMOND, October Z.
In the Senate the protest of the Republican
calrus against the legality of the body was
taken up and read at length. It announces
thdt the Republican members reserve to them
selves tho right Mt any time to scccdc from the
present Legislature and organize themselves rs
legal and loyal Legislature She Senate
voted to lay it on the table. In the discussion
n Republican said he regarded those who Joined
In making this protest MS representing the Ad-
ninlstration and Congress until the President
and Congress should decide otherwise
1t was announced that General Canby had
replied to the committee OF the Legislature,
which waited on him, that he had no commu-
nicatiOn to make.
Governor Walker sent In his message in re-
! gard to the Fifteenth amendment. He saws:
"The people of this Commonwealth at the late
election, by IN overwhelming majority, nc
cepted and adopted the principle sought to be
incorporated in the Federal Constitution
by tlis amendment, viz: the civil and
political equality of all men before thc
law. The well known honor and integrity ofthe
people Of Virginia forbid even the supposition
that they would fall to faithfully adhere to
and maintain, while necessary and possible,
any principle by which they had yielded their
adherence. Virginia always fulflls, in the most
ample good faith, oil her pledges; but our peo-
pie, by this action, have not only placed the
political rights of oil our citizens upon a firm
and enduring basis, but have accomplished
much more. They have increased prospective
1y the power and influence Of our State in the
natlonal councils, by broadening the basis of
representation under the l4th Article of the
Constitution Of the United States. When In any
State the right of suffrage is abridged except
for crime, the basis of representation must be
reduced in corresponding proportion. AL
though we have wisely settled this question, 90
fur as our State is concerned, and banished
forever from the theatre OF State politics this
prolific source of irritation and dscord. there
is reasonable ground for apprehension that II
the Fifteenth amendment should fail OF adop-
tion as part OF tho Fedcnl Constitution,
our State may be flooded with and the control
thereof pass into the hands OF o class
OF cmlgrants from the great States lying upon
or near our borders, who will seek the enjoy
mcnt of those civil and political rights accord
ed to them here, but denied to them there.
Self-protectlon, therefore, demands. that we do
our part towards securing the ratification Of that
amendment. Our intercstS require 1t. Our
faith Is pledged to It." ~
He considers the election of senators clearly
arequiste to admission, and adds: ''Complete
restoration is accomplished By admission to
representation in Congress-, and there can bo
no question that admission to representation
may, 70 some extent, depend upon the repre-
scntativcs elected. While the election of sen-
atorS would fully complete every preparation
necessary for the prompt admission OF tho
State 10 representation In both Houses OF Con-
gross, the election Of suitable men for these
exalted positions, would Immediately demon
strate tho sincerity Of our past action, and
afford sure guarantee Of our Intentions and
purposes for the future.n
In conclusion, he says: "Permit mo to con-
$gratulate you upon the progress already made