The national Republican., 1869-01-16
Our w.,n,nsSn corre.ronaonee.

mittee are making much hesdway before the
Senate's Judiciary Committee they are GER
tainly greatly inoiiniDs some OF the most
emphatic -kadicals-oi That COM
mittee to listen nvoraoly to their views
concerning the beat way to produce harmony
among all Glasses In Virginia. The basis OF
their reco omnendation N 10 the amnesty Of the
fourteenth amendment, with universal suf-
frage. BY such amnesty, they mean a re.
movsl OF all disabilities for participation In
the rebellion, other than those pronounced or
assessed on a small class (numerically) OF
leading rebels by the fourteenth amendment to
the Constitution, which, under the provisions
OF that amendment, can only be removed by
direct action OF Congress.
This Conservative committee wisely refrain
from suggesting any general Congressional
action on that point at this time connning
their request to the point Of striking out OF
the Underwood constitution, as II 10 termed,
all disabilities upon citizens OF Virginia, not
incident TO the reconstruction laws of Con.
sress and to the fourteenth amendment to the
Constitution. They proclaim willingness to
support the new constitution at the polls II II
be made to conform to the reconstruction laws
and the fourteenth amendment. That 10, II
divested Of all the extra disabilities put In Il
by the last Radical State convention. These
latter disabilities are certainly regarded by q
large number Of the Radicals Of both Houses
as being unwise, and calculated to prevent,
rather than to expedite, the settlement Of yir.
sinia's political troubles.
THE GREAT DIFFICULTY IN THE WAY.
| The great difficulty In the path OF this yir.
ginia Conservative committee 10 a general
| Republican Congregational apprehension that
the Conservatives OF the Old Dominion mean
to go back" on Congress at the earliest pos
sble moment, If allowed the opportunity they
evidently seek OF sharing, to a very large ex.
tent, In the government oft the State. The extra
test-osth proposed In the Underwood constitu.
tion, II retained, will probably defeat their
candidates 10 almost every county. II struck
out they will be elected in nearly half the
counties, as no more adroit political managers
exist than they, save the Bourbons OF their
own State, who will be in a hopeless minority
II the Conservatives unite with the Radicals
10 voting for the new constitution.
QUESTION LOOMING UP.
While 1t Is possible, nay probable, that the
Underwood constitution can be carried with.
out such alteration as is indicated above, the
question arises whether It would not be best
to have 1t carried by a atty thousand ma ajority,
andrun the risk that the Conservative leaders
may afterwards seek to re-establish ante.rebel-
lion ideas In ascendancy In the State, trusting
| TO the inherent strength of the cause OF pro-
gress to defeat their efforts esssyed to that
| end.
| NO REASON TO YEAR THEN ON TUE SUFFRAGE
| QUESTION.
There can be no reason to fear that any re-
| aetory policy they can resort to on the
suniAse question will avail aught Once
made universal in Virginia by vote OF
hfty Thousand majority, l care not how in.
sincere in its support thousands OF those
voting for 1t may be, 1t will be the law OF the
States future as long as the Government OF
the United States lasts. Conservatives in
judgeships, on juries, In State and county OH.
ces, &C., will doubtless retard the States ma.
terial progress In numerous ways. Yet, will II
not be better to run the risk that Virginia
may possibly be thus injured to make II sure
that she will adopt manhood suffrage by Hfty
thousand majority, one half those voting for
1t being whites, "to the manor bornr,
MOST IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION.
To the future Of the manhood suffrage cause
in all the other States Of the Union-North
South, East. and West-such a result In yir
gtnia would surely be more important than ]
can express. The world would hear little more
OF serious opposition to 1t In any State aftel
Virginia should give In her adhesion to II By
the vote OF large majority OF her white ci /
| liens.
| POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS.
| The Radical leaders Of the State, that Is, the
extreme Radical leaders, would surely Ego
under" and at the same time Thousands on
thousands OF the Conservatives would press
forward on the line OF progress to afillation
with the Republicans generally In support
OF the policy of Grants administration. II
forty or hfty thousand whites OF Virginia wheel
Into line with the Republican party, the end
| OF the Democratic party's existence, as now
| organized, viii be at hand. That party's pres
ent platform is neither more nor less than
alleged defence OF Southern rights. That
bogus cause will vanish with Virginia's rejec.
ton OF 1t by an overwhelming majority. On
the whole, the lsbors of this Virginia Con.
! sarvs'I~s so~~'''se here seem pregnant with
events that may greatly Influence the entire
eountry's future.
IN A GREAT QUANDARY.
Neverwere men so puzzled and befogged as
are the gentlemen who, previous to Granps
election, considered themselves as being entI.
tied to be consulted by him In the formation
OF his naturalization and the arrangement OF
It's policy. Their name Is legion; nearly every
Republican of Congress and all the outside
Republican party politicians who are ch ronic
meddlers In the matter OF the distribution Of
| oriee and Executive favors. None-not even
| Senators or Represe stiyes-have so far yen-
tured to offer General Grant unasked advice
npon any such point. Itis clear that he has
been left entirely free from the usual efforts
AT dietation In such matters, and 1t 10 equally
evident that he intends to continue to occupy
the Independent position he has secured for
himself He Is thus immeasurably strength
ening himself for securing immense reforms In
the public service, and also the opportun II,
to strengthen the general principles and fea
tures of the Republican party's policy befor,
the country. The profound impression tina
he has the confidence OF the whole people,
except that OF the Copperhesd leaders-which
certainly exists here, secures him immunity
from Interference with his views and plans
The utter hopelessness OF running muck
against him Is so apparent to all as that none
will venture to undertake to regulate him on
any point, as hundreds have undertaken to
regulate every President since John Quincy
Adams time.
GOVERNOR CURTIN.
inst as close the above paragraph OF this
letter learn that Grant ioGs approached yes
terday by delegation Of PennsylvaniauS, l. Just
arrived, who urged upon him the pToprIety OF
appointing Governor Curtin to a Cabinet
place. Grant Is said to have listened respect
fully to them on the subject, but In his eonver.
sation with them to have failed to utter a word
upon the subject of their discourse, content ing
himself az not those gentlemen) with talking
to them upon other matters entirely.
DEMPSEY AND o'TooLR.
| The inNestiEAtiOn of the 70 ntract of Demnaey