The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-20
VIRGINIA.

vention-The Richmond Papers and tine
Associated Press--A Threatened BreajS-on.
| RICHMOND, Nov. 16, 1869
AS the time for the meeting of Congress approaches
the people look forward more eagerly and anxiousy
to the long wishedfor admission OF the state 10 the
union, as the consummaton OF an arduoua ana per-
feet reconstruction Representatives Of every phase
and complexion OF political sentiment seem to be
agreed upon the immediate restoration OF the old
Dominion, with the exception OF the carpet.bag
CLASS, who stu cling to hope that Virginia VIM be
continued under military rule o term longer, which
would leave them IN possession OF the Offices they
now hold by military appointment another twelve
months at least But from every indication they
Will be sadly disappointed in their expectations as
every Known authority, even General CANDY, ex.
presses the opinion that the State VIII be admitted
promptly after the meeting Of Congress next
month The President IN conversation with
Yep Turner, Speaker Of the House of Dele
gates here, thought Virginia would be admitted
ten days after Congress assembled, and there
Is every reason to believe he Will recommend 1t In
his message. Senator Wilson fayors the early
admission OF the state; so does Secretary Boutwell,,
aud so does Ben Butler IL General Canby's report
IL not burdened with intimidation and lraudn In
the late elections. and OF this there Is every assur.
ance that 1t Is not, General Candy has made his
report, but on application at headquarters to-day
General sherman under the rules governing army
correspondence. IL viii, doubtless, accompany the
Commanding Generals report to Congress. The
report it Is understood VIII fully portray the diff
culties OF reconstruction and ali the imperections
OF the plan IN a striking manner. IL VIII point out
the eyiis OF the present system or ciYil officials
under the test oath eXaction; and the peaceful dis.
position OF the people under all these trials and
| fluctuations Will be subject OF commentator. In
relation 10 the late election the report wi doubtless
state what tie General has often expressed thai
! e was Que OF the fairest elections ever held, and
that few Northern elections passed peace
! ably, orderly aud quietly. Some aiuson wti also
| be made to the condition OF the people, how just
emerging nom the poverty consequent upon the
calalnitles OF war, aud as the constitution just
| adopted affords no relief to the debtor class, and
| does away with the Stay law, some special action
| on the part OF Congress may ne recommended
| as the following order sent TO the clerks Of
| all the courts IN the state would indlcale:--
The Commanding General instrucs request you to
forward TO these headquarters a early practicable
!hs above stayed cps5aea d .Ss
1881 these also separately an estimate
Of judgments which executions have not been issued
LOIS oAzf1sG, . A. D. Z. and A. AA.a.
| This order was generally construed as having the
continuance OF the stay law IN contemplation and,
| perhaps, very properly; but the opInlon prevails
that the object 70 be attained by 1t was knowledge
State, particularly the debtor class, with view to
/ their permanent relief. However this may be, a
great deal or suffering VIII ensue when the
/ sntution goes into effect II some plan Tor the relief
/ OF debtors Is not before determined upon.
L
mittee mas ressued his can for convention Of that
now mere faction in this State, to be held on the
! sentaton viii be sent double that OF The present
! House OF Delegates. The OBJECT OF this convention
ostensoy TO reorganize the party on the basis OF
the constitution adopted at the late election, but
actually It's purpose Is to create Juror about dis
! loyalty Intimidation and fraud in the election and
the insncerty OF the Walker party just before the
meeting OF Congress, in order TO retard the admis
sion of the state. Another feature OF the conven
| ton viii be the strong endorsement OF the
| protest. adopted by the radical members
| or the Legislature in caucus last month, when
| they also had IL in contemplation to secede from
that body and form separate and distinct Legsla-
turethe creme de la creme OF loyalty 1t Is under
/ stood in the south, with the iron-cad as tue test.
The protest. it will be remembered, declared the
Legislature an illegal body, without subscribing 10
the oath OF 1862 and II concluded with the ing
| very delectable paragraph
The undersigned therefore protest that the ratification Of
ons constitution by this body can be valid until the test
oath prescribed by the act Of Congress Of July 1862 shall
era Assembly, and they further protest that this LegisIa.
violation or law any business pass any or
Or and whe we Dps 70 as 9 o
seats we assert our perfect right on legal grounds 70 with
Legislature which shall be at legal and required
They reserved the right at any time to withdraw
from the Illegal body and organize 'loyalr and
legal legislature and at the instance OF Charles H.
Porter radlca0, Congressman elect ttne same per-
son Ben Butler sent to the Rip Raps with ball and
chain for SIX monthsl, this threat OF secession was
nearly carried into effect at the time. It then
| proposed that those members who could take the
! test oath would organize separate ana distinct
body OF both branches Of the Legislature, elect
! porary officers, and. as they would be without
! quorum, adjourn from day TO day. Candidates who
| received the next highest vote TO the disqualified
! person In each county anti Senatorial district
| II able and willing TO take the oath, were
the new Legislature. As soon, then, as a quorum
| could be obtained the two houses thus sefeon5u-
amendments elect United States Senators and ll all
the other offices provided for 10y toe constitution then
| .uQQpl TraQEurpr
Secretary or state, &c. This revolutionary measure
was barely defeated by vote at the true, aud but
for the calm and SOBER counsel OF Mr. O. j. Thomas,
| OF Henry county, one OF the MEMBERS both OF the
Legislature aud their party, 1t would have been put
OF secession would have been witnessed In Virginia,
though IN the latter instance ON scale that would
have created intense amusement, as the secession OF
| the carpetbaggers from tue State.
| Such Is the programme, ead OF such alparty as
OF endeavoring 10 retard the admission OF the State
to the Union, when every condition and requirement
OF Congress and the administration has been com
/ piled with II Is gratifying however, to see that
/ they are exceedingly weakened; their best leaders
even despair Of success, and though me eaot wlll
| be made twin be but the dying groan OF now
/ nearly deunct faction In Virginia
! The Richmond papers labor under serious ana
! aggravated grievances Mt the hands of the Asso-
GATED Press and they are becoming restive. II Is
not unfrequenty che case shat Baltimore and Wash
! ington papers arrive mere III the afternoon with
news IN rull synopsis OF which "a transmitted over
the wires to the papers the same afternoon This As
! constant occasion OF dissatisfaction, and the only
| remedy that is suggested IL either detachment
| OF Richmond from the system Of Southern drop
| reports, aud the transmission here OF proxlnate
| duplicate reports OF all the important news sent
| to the Baltimore and Washington papers, or dis
continuance OF the Associated Press reports. Much
OF the drop matter Is expressly Intended for points
south of Virginia, which rarely interests tue people
here, though sometimes the reverse Is the case, and
this Is another reason why Richmond, from Its
tiguty TO Washington, should be detached from the
| "drop' system. Another serious cause OF complaint
Is tue fact that the arrival or ocean steamers at
New York is not sent by the Associated Press, and
this is information exceedingly valuable to the mer
~ m hpp a a pp
| deuled the publication OF early marine news the
movements OF vessels to and nom the James river
/ though the Associated Press mas an agent at
| Fortress Monroe VINO transmits this North via
Richmond but II Is not dropped here, aud has after