Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-04-09
THE PRESIDENTS VIRGINIA
POLICY.

THE PRESIDENTS Virginia
POLICY.
President Grant has redeemed his
promise, and has kept good faith with
the Committee of Nine and the people
of Virginia and so far as action in &C
cordance with their wishes depended
upon the President, the object of the
mission of that committee has been fully
and successfully accomplished. They
and their supporters quietly bided their
time, relying upon the good faith Of the
Administration, and bore with patience
all the sneers, contempt, obloquy, and
denunciation of the frantic "do>nothing"
press and its few but fierce and noisy
followers, who were envaged at them for
endeavoring to aid the reconstruction of
Virginia and obtain her restoration to the
Union; in fact, every crime in the dec
alogue was imputed to them. The peo-
pie of Virginia thought that they were
high minded and honorable men, who
had by their public services and well
merited honers, added new splendor to
the already illustrious names they bore;
but they were told by the factionists of
the do-nothng press that they had dis
graced the name of Virginian that
they were "traitors to their manhood"
and " enemies to their fellow citizens"
why? They endeavored to purge the
Constitution of all Objectionable fea-
lures, in order that government might
be formed under which Virginia could
resume her position in the Union This
was their crime
Referring to the message of President
Grant, We can now sincerely thank the
Committee Of Nine for their patriotic
and self-sacrifcing labors we deem
them we'll entitled to the gratitude Of
all Virginians who love their State and
desire to see her way clear to the lofty
destiny which is before her, and which
only her restoration can enable her to
achieve.
Perhaps it would be too much to ex~
peot, in the two days remaining of the
session. that Congress should perfect all
the details of the plan indicated in the
message of the President. But as the
recommendations carry all the weight
of the Executive and OF the Cabinet,
we expect that the President will be
empowered to act in accordance with
them; and in that case we may look for
his action in the very direction indica-
ted by the Committee Of Nine, express
ing the views and feelings of the peo-
pie of Virginia.
Bus, gathering from this message that
the President has made up his mind to
aid the reconstruction of this State. and
as he announces that the time has fully
come, the situation now is full of cheer
full hope. Gen. Schoield acted wisely
and well, when he postponed the cleo
ton last year, upon the ground avowed
in his speech 10 the Convention that
cunb n Copet ;{ut;op woo moi e,,;fobla 70
the people Of Virginia. And his success
sor, General Stoneman, disappearing of
the features which are repugnant to our
people, likewise declined ordering an
election. The administration of Mr..
johnson was indifferent, or at least in.
active, on the subject. But in President
Grant the Committee of Nine found
sympathy, encouragement, and now
substantial action. Deferring to the
authority of Congress which was con-
sidering the subject, he has sent in this
message; but should Congress not act,
there can be no doubt whatever but
that the President will at once carry out
his views and wishes, as he has all the
power necessary, and order an election
at once in the mode indicated in his
message.
We think, therefore, we may safely
congratulate the people of Virginia
upon "the break of day"-a day which
will dawn upon our ruined fortunes
with new and brighter prestige. The