Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-10-12
POLITICS In VIRGINIA.
LEXINGTON, Va. October 6, 1863.
PUBLIC LEDGER.

wealth is sick-very sick; aud the doe
tors are quarrelng furiously about the
remedies 10 be applied. What with re
construction schemes, gubernatorial and
suffrage controversies, and the Senatorial
tempest, the patient has q serious time
Of it; and the politicians and place.
hunters have their hands full of deviltry
as consequence. All of which tends To
the very great detrimeni of State int
rests. and political morality.
Governor Walker was inaugursted on
the 2Ist uIt. The Legislature assemblies
this week; and, although Virginia is still
known as Military District No. l, that
body will assume legislative authority
under the eye of General Candy. By
Attorney General Hoar's late letter, the
members will not be required to take the
test oath, which is q very great disap-
pointmsnt to Candy and the "loyal" pol
iticisns of the State, twas the intention
of Candy to apply the test oath, hoping
by that means to GUST majority OF the
members and fill their places with bis
friends. But yet he has an advantage,
which he will take care to improve, for,
although the present State officers and
Legislature were elected on Universal
Suffrage ticket and are recognized as
the chosen of the people, they will be I'M
der military restroint, or, what is quito
as bad, subject to the caprice Of the Star
Chamber in the United States Senate.
Although The Legislature may ratify the
Fifteenth Amendments, 81 they ere
doubtless bound to do, aud accept all the
doemas of the Radical dispensation, Vir-
gipis will yet fail to become sovereign
stats and be admitted to the Union
And the Feassn 10 this: Until the Legis-
Iature elects Two Radicals 70 the United
States Senate, Virginia will be refused
admittance and representation.
This question is seriously agitatiug the
polItlcjaps and leading newspapers at
The present time; and the matter is preg-
nant with furious controversies. Thsre
will be much historic exploded, much
whisky spoilt, and much degrading be-
fore the question is disposed of. Thelead
ing journals of the State are talking volu-
bly, 90 tka sntjec'; the rural press are
rather quiet---aon't eeem to comprehend
the situation, or else are dazxlea w the
complications of the contest
The most singular phase of the whole
controversy il tbe proposition to elect
Horace Greeley a. one Of the Senators
This announcement may not astnnish
your readers, who are rarely astonished
at anything, but it must certainly appear
q little surprising to other people. 1t is
ne IDLE fantasy of crazy politician, but
10 q seSioas proposition, seriously sdvo-
Gated by many hadissis spa few time
servers Of Southern CHARACTER. The nosi
earnest supporter Of the Greeley scheme
ia the Richmond Whig-which rural
cetemporary calls "Wells organ" Du-
ring the lsst two weeks it has published
daily earnest cad carefully written ed
itorials in advocacy OF this project, ar
Quing that Greeley's election yill parr
tainly insure the admission of Virginia
into the Union. 1t cites the objection that
Greeley is not o resident OF the State,
but aGrms that there 10 nothing in the
CoustitUtiop which prevents bis ELECTION.
Now, the CoDstitpiiop requires that a
Senator be thirty years Old, and resi-.
dent of the State in which he Is sleetel,"
The Whig gets over this provision by vir-
tually inviting Greeley to Virginia, if
only for one day-so that one day be the
one on WHICH the Legislature elects
Senator. Now, this fapt may astonish
your readers, but 1 assure yol lt is Q SOL
emn truth. ri willingly admit that SO
ridiculous piece OF absurdiiy has not
been conceived since the Avatonehe and
Wing advised the Southern people to &C
cen. The Fifteenth Amendment as a pan.
aeea fos the ills that ffiicted them; but
the solemn psrRcns Of the Richmond pa
per seriously recommsna H.
For the carpet-bsg Senators from othsg
Southern States there can, generally, be
some eKcpse. the majority of them hsv-
ing been residepts of the States they rep
resent, But il % proposed to send
Greeley hot and farions troR bis diney
den in the Tribune Office; while bis deg
matte assertion that, The key of our
position is the Fifteenth Amendment" is
yet ringing in our ears. Here's cause
for lie Avalanche and Banner to re-
joice. eomHend it to their attention.
If we hsye CONC 70 this extremity, why
not establish system Of representation
like that Of England ct oncef There il
is common occurrence for candidate
for Parliament to live 10 the North and be
elected in the South. and rice rersa A
sprig Of nobility may live in London and
be elselad from Newcsstle or Lands End,
if be has friends and money to back him
and it wepld DC RAYS case if be should
go before the people and dec ne bis views
it he possessed any, on a single pEklil
MEASURE How much difference is thers
between that and this Greeley scheme
Nv pDrsping this proposition to its solu'
lion ye can soon establish a monarchy
here-only limited ky TIE erednliiy Of th,
masses and the cupidity Of toe politipisne
Il certainly could be made profitable (
the place-huuters Of the North aud th'
impecunious legislators of the South VIII
sEallow the Fifteenth Amendment ant
~ axis sgch papers as the Wing andArd
ianehs tbs q oGcial journals Of thei
respective dis,sip.s.
There being two Senators to eieei,
suggest the name Of A. johnson, who,
| hsi;eYe, lives in Tennessee There viii
doabtless 10 sp opportunity for him here
As the Khig apnoHuces its inability Z
End man Of prominence OF capacity i
! this State who could take the oath. Bu