The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-06

TuURSDAY......."......Mai b, 1907
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Governor Weiss Honesty-What He
SAYS Now and What He said under
Oath.
Governor WELLS is now out upon the
platform Of universal suffrage and uniyer-
sal amnesty. He declares emphatically
that no State ought to 60 hey ond the four
teenth amendment. This punishment has
been declared by competent authority in
anpropriate form, and no Stcie ought TO
$50 bevond it," says he in his letter to MIR.
GARLAND. We confess that We arc pleased
TO have removed from the canvass all ques-
4;ons "a to Acknowledgement. Tho constitu-
,ional provisions imposing these will thus
be voted down almost unanimously, there
being now no candidates and no party IL
the field who are in favor of them. We
Quote from Governor WELLs's letter:
"In now believe that public opinion will soon
come TO the conclusion that the punishment
for engaging in insurrection ana Ieoei!oh
scribed by the sovereignty whose dignity has
been invaded.
1.-THE nc, was nm offence against the Co.
yernment Of the United States. The punish
mcnt for IL has been declared by competent
authority in appropriate form, and no State
ought to so beyond it,"
This is clear and emphatic. 1t is equiTa-
lent 20 o declaration against not only the
test oath, bu. al! the DISTINGUISHING features
Of the UNDERWOOD constitution. This de-
claration escaped our attention yesterday.
Some people have short memories. We
do not know whether Governor WELLS is
one Of them or not. We do know, however,
that his conversion has been as thorough as
that Of SAUL of Tarsus. Whether this has
been brought about by on honest conviction
that he was in the wrong o few weeks ago,
or by the potent arguments addressed TO
his mind by the late Conservative Conven-
ton, we need not stop to inquire. We have
before us certified copy of the report OF
the testimony given before the Reconstruct
ton Committee by him last winter; and
,hat the public may understand what
radical change has by some means been
wrought in his opinions and wishes, as we'll
as in those Of his supporters, he being the
witness, we will give large portion Of said
testimony. We suppose that the statements
here made were ell sworn to, though this
is not material. Whilst the committee of
nine were in Washington Governor WELLS
appeared before the Reconstruction Com
1ni,tee of the House of Representatives and
testified as follows:
Now we oppose any change At this time
In the test.oaths for the reason that we be-
!ieve IL vii! be fatal 10 the reconstruction
party. We believe that a large number OF
white gentlemen in the State of Virginia, d;s-
1ingushed for their character and experience,
have joined the Republican party within Il
short time and have become our allies, II
am allowed so 10 express 1t; ana we DelieFe
that the striking out of the test-oaths would
be absolutely fatal TO those gentlemen. We
cannot desert them. We can't afford TO have
the constitution defeated, and TO lose the Lee
f!siature and the State ticket, and to have
40 instruments by which we can enforce the
law.
Question BIZ Mr. Boutwell,: So, certain gen
1lemen have joined the Repu blican party, and
IL would be fatal TO those gentlemen 10 strike
ont the test oathS
Answer: Yes, sir. There has been 4 most
unwarrantcd system of oStracSm throughout
The State for Il long time. not only against gem
tlemen who have removed 10 Virginia from
other States, but against native \lrginlans
who expressed themselves rs favorable 10 the
constitution, or as Republicans 81 all. Those
gentlemen 20 TO the wall unless we can sue.
~ped there. We feel that we must succeed,
:.l.G inISt i:.-.-t. @"d beg on Bonded knee If ne
cessary, that there shall he nothing which
Hyll endanger that class who cannot NOV
away. /, personally, go to some other
State and earn my living but many gentle
men have been born and bred in the State, and
cannot leave, and must live under that CONT
lned osiracism unless you give power and
success 10 the organization they have joined
IN good faith and Tor the purpose Of recon
structng the State.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, I have been in
structed by gentlemen who are representative
iaen 10 state that the Republican party is OPP
posed TO any change at all. If, however, ii is
the judgment of Congress, after Il careful con-
sderation of the whole subject, that some
change ought TO be made, then l beg leave TO
suggest this method That as soon as possible
an election be held for q State ticket and
members of the Legislature and of Congress
The obstruction acts, of course, determining
Who shall vote; that rs soon rs the election Is
held the Legislature shall be required TO as
semble, and lake the subject OF the conStltu-
ton into its own hands and If it determines
that 1t is wise TO make these changes, do SO,
and submit the constitution, as amended, to
The people.
This testimony discloses not only Co
vernon WELLs's bitter hostility to the
striking out Of the test-oath, but even to
the proposition to submit parts Of the con-
htitution to separate vote. In his recent
speech upon the Capitol Square, in this city,
as well as in his letter to Mr.. GARLAND, he
spoke and speaks as if he had been in favor
Of the bill which was passed by Congress.
But here we see that he begged leave TO
submit to the Reconstruction Committee IN
entirely different plan Of operations. lie
wanted Congress to authorize Legislature
10 be elected under the UNDEEwooD consti-
sution, and 10 give that Legislature power
10 make such changes as it might deem
proper in the constitution. The trickcry Of
the man is apparent in this Infamous
attempt to deceive Congress. He knew,
but Congress did not know, that by an out
rageous system of gerrymandering the
legislative districts had been purposely SO
arranged as, if possible, to secure to the
negroes the power of electiag e majority Of
The members Of the General Assembly.
He hoped by this trick to flank the commit
tee of nine, and have the constitution made
worse rather than better by body of men
Al