Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-02-02

record IN General StOneman Office Is sort OF
chain that holds back the somewhat ferocious
person from doing much harm
The following is an extract from the editorial
correspondence Of the Richmond Wing of Jan.
2sth. Tn speaking of the posture of the New
Movement that correspondent says
This movement is now in such a posture
that but little can be done to press it. The
committee have given it shape and placed it be-
fore the Judiciary Committee of the Senate,
where it is confidently expected it will soon be
considered. 1t may be that the great pressure
of general business will be such as to cause the
postponement of final action upon it until the
new Congress shall assemble in March, Some
Of the best friends of the measure appear to
think it desirable that it shall be left to the
next Congress They argue that General
Grant will then be President, and will be in
better position to use his influence to carry it
through than he now is. ~
The following is an extract from the editorial
correspondence of the Dispatch of the 2Sth of
January: - r
''Mr Baldwin being invited by the commit
tee, made very brief statement on four points,
in answer to Mr.. Whittlesey: e
First. As to the bill passed by the Legisla-
ture of Virginia in 1865, which Mr.. Whittlesey
said was oppressive to the negro and proof
that the Legislature had not conformed faith
fully to the new order of things. Mr.. Bald
win stated that it was a law framed with cspe-
cial care for the protection of the negro The
question was new in Virginia, and it was
deemed best in legislating upon it to conform
to the plan pursued by the Freedmen Bureau.
Second. The vagrant act which MIR. Whit
tlesey had charged to be designed for the OPP
preston of the negro: Before the war, va
grancy was hardly known in Virginia, but after
floating population of negroes which had drifted
away from the rural districts that it became
necessary that yagrant law should be adopted
to protect the community. In framing that
law, applicable to black and white they copied
from one of the States-he believed Pennsyl>
vania-and when, without consultation or pre-.
vious intimation, the commanding General sus
pended it, the surprise of the Legislature was
deep and general They could not understand
how that officer had come to the conclusions
which governed him.
Third, With regard to the spirit of the last
Legislature, which had been characterized as
disoyal, hostile to the Government, &C., Mr..
Baldwin read valedictory address which he
delivered as speaker of the lower House of that
Legislature counselling to harmony, conciia
tlOn, klnQ treatment OF all people, ana devotion
TO the National Government. This address
had been printed by order of the Legislature,
and he filed with the committee an official copy
of it, tataliae9 s49e 49,
Fourth. Mr.. Baldwin concluded by explain,
ing the views of prominent and intelligent mer
in Virginia relative to their right to hold office
without violating, or intending to violate, the
fourteenth article
Mr. Baldwin supposed, from the zeal and in
ing which had escaped his criticism, and that
nothing remained to be said touching the
alleged disloyalty of the Legislature and people
of Virginia. He thought it unnecessary to no
tice his Indictment further than the main points
he had alluded to-.