The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-01-28

the opponents were for the former. 1t would be
for the people to decide between them. For his
part, if he could not get all he wanted, he would
get as much as he could. And until this oppor-
tunity had sprung up, he really thought that
when the nine got four Of the five worst enorm-
ties of the Constitution stricken ont, they WOULD
be entitled to thanks for what they had done, in
stead Of reprouches because they could not get
more.
1t vas singular fact too, that while the oppo-
nents criticse the propositions Of the nine they
offer no substiute-present better plan
Let them offer better plan, and the nine viii
thank them and adoptt. Until they do this, they
ought to hold their peace,
But the ohjectors say the nine have done moth
ing. True why then complain? Why not wait
until something is done and then .judge of it
according to its meiits? Anything the committee
may accomplish is to be submitted to the people.
The committee claim no power to bind anybody.
The convention which is to meet on the 18th OF
March, was called by the committee for the very
purpo.e Of considering the report of the COM
mttce and Of taking sHch action as may be nee
essay. .rf-+ .7Hl.- q. st., aar 5ea +
BIT say the opponents you have no assurance
Of 81 e,s. True again. But why not wait until
fair experiment has been made. The seed must
be >own before the harvest can be reaped. And
time must be allowed for the seed to sprout and
grow anu DGlI lIult % tlElc JIuSI DC tllOWeu fUr
The seed which he Committee have sowed to ger
inmate and ripcn for the harvest.
Mr. Stuart said that let the mission Of the nine
result as it may in other respects it has at least
done good in dispelling many erroneous ideas
from the minds OF Congress in smotherng asper-
tiles, imparting correct information and mollify-
ing the temper OF Congress in regard to the South.
He h I'd himselfreeeiyed the most gratifying as
surance on this point from distinguished Senators.
1t had also had the effect of enlisting many of
the ahlest papers of the North and West-such as
the n y Tribune and Times, the Boston AIver-
tiser, Chicago Tribune and other influential jour
mails in the interests Of Cancellation and harmony
and peace. in9 Hi iAii 3i-iss.
He believed one Of the greatest obstacles to the
success Of the mission was the opposition from
home stimulated by carpet baggers and their as
socates. The carpet baggers proclaimed that If
the nine succeeded, they would have to surrender
the ghost Their vocation viii b. gone.
In conclusion Mr.. S. said that from all he could
see and learn in Washington, he had reason to be-
lieve that Gen. Grant would be the President Of
! the nation, and not CT party, and that he would
give the country wise and patriotic adminstra-
ton to which we could all accord a hearty sup
pot. e=e B. as ~2i D5 tAyt5e+i
Gen. Echols said that he had been con-
nected with and favorable to the ''Move-
lment" since its inception. He desired to
look at and understand the condition Of
our State as it in reality existed. It had
been hard to realiz the great change in
our whole social system, wrought by the
| extinction Of slavery, yet conviction Of
this had Keen forced upon US at Apo
matox Court House, and every one, Of every
grade of political opinion, had long since
| yielded his assent to d state of freedom
from slavery, without in anywise feeling
that any principle had been abandoned.
So to his mind it was clear, that it had
been just as emphatically decided, by tho
result Of the late Presidential election,
that in the Southern States at least the
negroes should have the right Of suffrage,
and all other political privileges. The
question as to the political rights Of the
negro was, in his opinion, settled, and the
only open question for our consideration
is, can we obtain equal political rights for
the white people. It will do Us no good
to say that we deplorc the enfranchise-
ment of SO large q numberof ignorant and
uneducated people as the late slaves of
Virginia. Oar wishes and opinions on
this subject will not be regarded. But
then there is large and influential part
Of the Republican party who express a
Willingness, negro suffrage being secured,
to grant to the white people Of the State
the right also to vote and hold Office
Will it be the part Of wisdom for us to
say that we will continue a fraitless war
upon the proposition of negro suffrage,
and that, if We are compelled to take that,
we will make no effort to avoid the other
terrible evils with which we are threaten
ed in the Underwood Constitution. The
efforts Of the committee of ssNine" have
been directed earnestly faithfully land most
Eably, to the rescue of our old State from
as many of the perils with which she is
threatened, as it is possible to avoid. For
one he honored thcm for their services i'll
this regard, and he had 10 doubt tina t
hereafter very great majority Of the
people Of Virginia would thank them.-
In his opinion there was something to be
more dreaded than negro suffrage, and that
Was 'sCarpet Bag domination, and yet
this last was inevitable should the Under
wood Constitution, without amendment, be
forced upon us. With the amendments
proposed by the committee, Virginia would
be ruled by residents Of the State, and not
by s:Carpet Baggers,o who really have no
residence or interest here. He wished
that every man in the State could have
witnessed the scene enacted before the
DEMONSTRATION" Committee of Congress
last week, when Wells, the acting
Governor, earnestly demonstrated against
the adoption of the suggestions Of the
"Nine," and besought that the ITnderw God
Constitution, unadulterated, might be.put
to the vote of the people, in order that it
might be fixed upon them beyond perad-
venture, asserting that itwould not be pos
sible to carry the Constitution amended
as proposed, because a large part Of the
Radical party of the State would then vote
against it, and that all the Conservatives,
who followed the lead of the ssRichmond
Examiner & Enquirer,' 2 would also vote
against it, thus leaving the advocates of
the Amendments in hopeless minority
Gen. Eohols calledupon his young friends,
who arc opposing this movement, to reflect
upon this division Of parties, aud to ask
themselves, Why this position Of Wells
He wished, too, that every man in the
| Commonwealth could have heard the abIe,
eloquent and impressive reply of our dis
tinguisAed county man, Col. Baldwin, to
the party appeal Of Governor Wells, and
his noble defence Of the people Of his ma