The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-05-27
The Old Dominion.

The present condition Of this grand
old State, athe mother Of States aud Of
Statesmen" the home of Washington,
Henry, Marshall, Jefferson, Madison,
Clay, and other illustrious men, whose
names will ever illuminate the pages Of
history, excites our liveliest sympathies.
The last to secede; striving to maintain
peace between the sections; clingiug to,
and trying to uphold the Union to the
last, but ultimately forced to succunlb,
joined her fortunes with those Of her
southern sisters, and became the battle
ground Of the iaternal strife. Harried,
trodden under foot aud discovered, she
is to be the last, ii would seem, to re-
cover from the effects Of that fearful
ordeal. Her political situation is thus
referred 10 in the columns Of eontem-
porary:
Virginia Is In the midst Of grave politi.
cal crisis. Il has been decided that the
Constitution for tho State, which was
framed by the Radicals, shall be voted upon,
and the sixth day Of July has been fixed BY
General Candy as the day on which the vote
for or against the ratification of that instru.
ment shall be taken. Two Of its worst
seiauses-the one enforcing the test oath,
and the other distranchisement are TO be
voted on separately. They would, il sus.
tanned, either prohibit from voting or hold.
ing office ninety.fve out of every hundred
Of the legal white voters Of the State
Within the past year, although the principle
for which the Virginians were contending
remains the same, the issues have been
materially changed also. A year ago the
choice was between the infamous Under.
wood Constitution, with its fierce uncom.
promising proscriptiyeness, or military
satrapy. To-day, II the test oath and the
DISTINGUISHING clauses can be voted down,
the people Of Virginia are reluctantly dis.
posed to accept the rest Of the instrument,
although they have endeavoreel, but without
avail, 70 have the sections relating to county
and township organization voted on sepa.
rately.
All the Democratic journals Of the State,
with here and there an exception, agree
that i is better TO tolerate the Radical Con.
shtution with the most obnoxious clauses
eliminated, than to remain, as they are un-
dor Radical rule, supported by the bayonets
OF the military. The split between the two
wings OF the Republican party Of the State
has also changed in important particulars
Of political affairs whilst the withdrawal Of
It's own ticket by the Democratic Couyen.
ton IN favor Of Walker, the Conservative
Republican candidate for Governor, mar.
rows the contest down 10 choiee between
the latter and Wells, The candidate Of the
ultra Republicans. This addition of the
Democratic strength TO the Conservative
side greatly improves the chances of Walk.
ers election, although Colonel Withers,
who was TO have been the Democratic eau.
didate for Governor, still considers the re-
suit doubtful Asa choice between two
evils, Walker is generally regarded as pre-
ferable TO Wells. The objection 10 him is
that he is Northern man. The poiuts in
his favor are that be represents lsr. body
of moderate Republicans, and is strenuously
opposed TO the proscriptive policy of the
Radicals. Since he has been at the South,
his friends assert that he has not identified
himself with any political party but that
whilst entertaining moderate Republican
views, he has not only not obtruded those
opinions upon others, bat as President of
Bank ct Norfolk has sought to fulfil wor.
thily his duty as an active man of business,
and a. citizen OF the State. ball. Gas.