Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-01-27
The New Increment.

the Reconstruction OulAlAittee, Gnu y"
public officials OF Washington to, boot, to give
to Virginia 'peace and harmony upon the pass
of universal amnesty and universal (whleh
means colored) suffrage, Is SO utterly new that
it passes the comprehension of ordinary conser-
yatiyes who have not felt the same electric
shock that wrought in these movement gentle,
men their Unsuitable desire to do something,
A serious question has arisen 10 my mind'
and one that / can find no one sufficiently con
yersant with the Intentions of this pew party 10
answer correctly. That Isl what are these gen
tlemen irving to do? What real end are they
endeavoring to accomplish The radical organ
in this State calls their action "a flank move
ment of,the Democratic (?) party. The Fred
ericksburg Herald called it "a movement to
do something to save the State of Virginia
from the horrors of the Underwood Consutu-
ton" All characterize it, new movement:
These gentlemen in their manifesto issued IN
Richmond in the shape of sundry cratic reso-
buttons, say they intend or desire to secure
''peace and harmony tor this State upon the
basis of universal suffrage and universal am
nestv." And they state in their interview
with the Reconstruction Committee. so-caileo,
of Congress, their good faith IN asking the at,
tention of Congress to their prayers, ana
they say further that if Congress will be SO
good as to let us have these two deiightIul
privileges, and let them De eDgratted IN the
Underwood Constitution, with their opposing
Objectionable features, now found IN that IN
yatiyes of the State will support that Consttu-
ton in good faith They have had their say,
and the result is depicted by the Washington
Republican as follows: THE House bill fixing
the day for the submission of the new Constr
tuition of Virginia will shortly be called up In
the Senate, when it will be amended by the
adoption of a clause, directing the vote to be
upon that instrument, Invested OF the two
clauses which fix supplemental disabilities upon
all in that State who cannot take the lron-clad
oath, leaving as the only disabilities resting on
the people those ordained by Congress IN the
general reconstruction laws, aud those embraced
in the 18th amendment to the Constitution.
Well that is the end OF this great effort, as
we have it from Radical headquarters, and 1t
is the desire of these niue gentlemen IN Radl-
Gals understa nd them and | suppose they do)
to have the new Constitution thus submitted
Well, that view Of the case raises the addl-
ti0nal question, where is the Alexandra Con
stitution. which some of those who favored the
new movement, at first, said would be sub
mitted side by side with this Underwood affair."
if these nine gentlemen were successful IN their
ton bv Congress OF this matter any proposition
to submit two constitutions the one embracing
suffrage and amnesty both universal, and the
other to be the instrument made by the crew
which met in Richmond last winter; but Con
sress, it is now reported, is determined to sub
nit the Underwood Constitution, shorn OF
nothing in reference tot dlsiranchlsement except
white disilanchisement beyond the Reconstruc,
ton acts and the 18th amendment, imposed
specially by the proseriptive body that framed
the instrument for party purposes, and the Two
test, oath clauses, and TO make amends Tor It's
other atrOciOus elements we are to have simply
negro suffrage Internationally,
What good then has been done by this New
Movement Committee2 Where is the univer-
sal amnesty2 Cannot they get over the l4th
Amendment and the Reconstruction laws OF
Congress? Are these ''ions in their path"
not to be assaied2 All blacks are to be al
lowed to vote, without discrimination, except IN
point of age, and yet no white men are to be
eniranchised except those not DISTINGUISHED by
the Reconstruction laws of Congress and the l4th
Amendment Thus we have the result OF this
committees action. We are to have the I'm
derwood Constitution submitted to US, with It's
enormtles, Except few proposed to be
ameliorated (?) by the nine Conservatiyes), and
having the few men enfranchsed who were dis
franchised by the Convention which framed
the Constitution, and which disfranchlsement
was unauthorized by the Reconstruction laws
of Congress and the 18th Amendment. And
thus ameorated ~ these gentlemen assured
the Committee on Reconstruction that they
and their Conservative brethren at home would
support it. But wait little. Here is Earring
between the committee and the Fredericksburg
4 Hbo Of
torially SAYS ut is not probable that the vile
and wicked monstrosity, the Underwood Con
Stitution, can be amended to an extent to COM
mand the vote of the Conservatives Of Virginia,
but we would have it as good as possible, in
order that in the event Of its adoption it nay
be possible for white men to live In the State.
Let no sane man commit himself to voting tor
the new constitution, under any contingency.
There will be plenty of time for reflection on
this head before the day Of election.
What use is there for saying sin the event
of its adoption" If Messrs. Marye, Stuart,
Neeson, &C., say they and their brethren
at home will support this new hybrid Constl-
tuition? And again, is 1t intended to be said,
because these three gentlemen, IN behalf OF the
nine and their followers at home, have COM
mitted themselves to support this new tangled
concern, that they are not sane? Is 1t suppo-
Sed that Congress Will pay any attention 10
the protestations of this select nine, If they be-
ieved that as soon as they agreed to grant the
Mines request, aud had actually adopted the
Mines platform, that the nine would turn right
around and vote against the Constitution, prac-
tically and materially creature OF their own?
Radicals are too sharp for that.
If Congress makes the leading elements In
the Underwood abomination universal suffrage
and universal amnesty, and presents 1t with
these peculiarities to the people, the nine,
whose prayers will then have been heard, and
the new movement gentlemen, conspicuous or
obscure, will have to come to the rack and sup,
port their offspring, or else they will violate
their phghted faith.
And is it not wonderful, that some of these
gentlemen, one in particular, who was a mem
Der of the Richmond Underwood Convention,
and who was so utterly disgusted with negro
suffrage that he scarcely remained week at a
time at his post in Richmond, but who visited
the Convention periodically to dilate in an ex-
quisitc way against negro suffrage, should turn