New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-05
OLD VIRGINIA..

"Time was, that when the brains were out,
" the man would die" and, when an election was
over, the majority took the reins and the min
ority subsidized, and that was the end OF it. The
late Virginia Election seems to have been con-
Quoted under other auspices Though there is
no uncertainty or dispute as to the result, the
DISPOSITION to argue and dispute seems nOwlse
abated; and the belligerents on both sides
favor THE TRIBUNE with frequent lterauons Oh
their grievances. The subject grows thread
bare yet we print to-day in juxtapositiOn bull
letin from either side and solicit for both the
earnest attention of the public. The writers
are men of ability and character and their
statements of facts may be relied on.
Let us deal first with that of Mr.. Kelley,
(whom we recognize as an ex-Editor, Delegate
elect to the new Legislature, and, as he says,
n most determined "rebel ~ we look in vain
for proof of his assertion that the North, or
the Republicans thereof, are intent on keeping
Virginia out of the Union. The press of this
City may be fairly presumed to represent every
considerable phase of Republican sentiment
yet not one of our daily Journals has even sug-
gested that the election of Walker g. Co. should
be OverTuled by Congress or any other power.
And we know of no influential RepuD-
lcan demonstration in favor of any such course.
We all assume that Virginia is to resume her
place in the councils of the Republic on the
terms prescribed by Congress few months
ago. Gen. Canby's indication of purpose to
| impose the "iron- clad" oath on the newly
| chosen Legislature was never prompted by
the Northern Republicans, and is generally re-
gretted by them. OF all who have discussed
it, at least nine-tenths have regarded it with
disfavor. Mr.. Kelley, therefore, fights pha1-
! tom of his own creation. ''
Let us recall attention to the order of
| events:
| 1. The people Of Virginia were invited by
Federal authority to hold a Constitutional
Convention and reconstruct their State through
| its action.
2 The Conservatives (ex-Rebels) attempted
| to carry that Convention on the basis of no
political rights for Colored men, made a des
perate struggle, and were badly beaten.
3. The Republicans (mainly Colored) carried
! two thirds of the Convention, and made therein
| O thoroughly National Constitution, wherein the
| equal rights of the ColOred men were guaran-
teed in the strongest manner. If this Consti-
tuition does not secure those rights, we see not
how any one could
4. The Convention further proceeded to dis
franchise and exclude from Office all those who
had taken conspicuous part in the late Re-
bellion.
s. Gen. Grant, on the appeal of the Conserva-
tives. submitted these DISTINGUISHING clauses to
separate votes from the residue of the Consti-
tuition. And, in the election just held, the Con-
servatives, acting with a minority of the Repub-
leans, have voted down the proscriptive
clauses by a very large majority, and have
chosen their State Officers and Legislature,
while the residue of the Constitution is Tati-
fed by an almost unanimous vote.
Now, then, it seems to us that the majority
has done right in every case-Tight in voting
down the Conservatives when they undertook
to prescribe the Blacks; right in voting down
that larger section of the Republicans who
attempted to prescribe large portion of the
Whites. And we propose that the majority
shall rule. We protest against the exaction of
the Test Oath as meditated by Gen. Candy we
want the leading Conservatives to take their seats
in the new Legislature, swear fidelity to the
new Constitution, and ratify the XVIII Amend
ment; and we want the State admitted there
upon to representation in Congress and to all
the rights of self government. And, so we are
confident, do very large majority of the
Northern people. Then what is Mr. Kelley
grumbling at9 And why does he talk of the
Federal Government spending Four Hundred
Millions per annum, when, apart from the
payments of debt, its entire outgOes are not a
a third of that sunni If he is coming back
into the Union, why not talk as though lie
belonged heref
AS to our Radical correspondent, we can't
help telling him that we think those who con-
cocted and put through the proscriptiye clauses
just voted down are fairly responsible for
much of the bitterness evinced by the late
Rebels whereof he complains Suppose he
owned thousand acres of land, and forty
Black men, living thereon and dependent on
him for employment, shelter, and food were
to vote that he should neyermore vote or hold
Office, perhaps he would like it, and then again
perhaps he wouldn And if he did MT, he might
somehow eyince his displeasure. It is the
foolish attempt to disfranchise opponents that
has divided and temporarily Frustrated the Re-
publicans of Virginia, and they are blind as
bats if they do MT see it and govern them
selves accordingly. And, if they do, they will
sOon racovar tI,air Ingf aacaudancv Tho,y r,uot