Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-08-19
Ihe "Stafus" in Virginia

Correspondence of tho Baltimore sun
WASHINGTON, August l3.-lhere ~ extra
ordinary interest manifested in the probable
action Of the administrator IN regard To lhe
test oath as applied 10 The members elect ol
the Nirsinia Legislature, and thi~ sr!lctude
has given rise to such various surmlaes. mmors,
speculations and reports OF facts, that 1t would
be difficult to arrive at any definite conclusion
on the subject. As the fna! action of those
having power to determine tho matter will send
to the Senate Of the United States two Sena-
tors, either radical or conservative, as the case
may be- it is important to the whole country
to know what transpires tending to show what
is to be the final decision. Already it has been
stated on the one hand that Gen. Candy will
require the members OF the Legislature to take
the st-Oath, which, if carried out, will result
in sending to to the Senate two Wells radicals.
On the other hand it is stated upon good au-
thority that Grant, to be consistent with hlm-
self in his communications TO Gen. Meade IN q
somewhat identical case, indicated TO General
Canbv. who called on the President recently,
in company with Gen. Meade, that the test
oath could not properly be demanded OF the
Virginia members elect, but that the subject
might remain under advisemcpt until Attorney
General lioar shall give his legal opinion,
which is expected upon the latter's return on
the lst of September.
There is no reason for douhting the correct
ness of this latter statement and ii Is admitted
by liberia! republicans that IN contemplation OF
the law even as enacted by radical Congress,
themembcrs elect Of the Legislature OF Virginia
derive their authority and power from the new
constitution, and are therefore created by the
act of Congress which controls and which sub
mtted the constitution to the voters OF 'lr-
GINA for adoption or rejection, ana that tins
being the case, the test oath is not applicable.
Whether Attorney General Hoar will give IN tins
instance an unbiased legal opinion and thus su5'
tain the foregoing proposition, or yield to the
behests OF party as in the Texas case, aud SINK
the jurist into the partizan politician, remains
to be seen. On IIoar's opinion hinges the
question, undoubtedly. Strictly according TO
the reconstruction act, Gen. Sherman has SUI
pervisory control of Gen. Candy, but neither OF
these officers will take action contrary to the
President 3 desire. If the application OF the
test. oath shall prove TO be the purpose oil the
Administration it is alleged that its decision
will not be made known to the public until
after the day Of the elections in Pennsylvania
and Ohio, for the republican party cannot al.
lord to go to the people OF those State: upon
the proposition.
TIE VIRGINIA ELEcToNs.-Th first OF
"series of tabular statements" has been pre-
pared at General Candy sheadquarters, giving
the result in detail OF the recent elections in
this State. That now ready shows, for each
county and for the cities not included in the
county organizations, the number OF persons
registered, the greatest number voting upon
any of the questions submitted, and the mum
Der of voters polled for and against the con
stituton," and Cor and against the clauses sub
mitted separately for ratification or rejection.
The number Of persons voting IL the total
number Of names upon the poll list