The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-26

ple ee progress and quiet and weil-belng Of these
ates. Believing fully, not only that Virginia could
the Union interfered with the business Of the whole
country have been anxious for an early compliance
with the reconstruction laws, and that the State
should itself inaugurate some movement similar TO
that which resulted in your election for the purpose
and not wait, like Micawber for something to turn
THE questions at issue between the North aud
South settled, and settled forever, by the wa
Slavery was extinct and nobody wanted 1t revived
on any terms. The claim to the right of secession
was abandoned and it is not only not probable, but
not possible that IL can be again asserted for the
state of Virginia, by vote almost unanimous, has
adopted a Constitution which declares
'That this State shall ever remain q member OF
the United states of America and that the people
thereof are part of the American nation, and thai
all attempts from whatever source or upon whatever
prcteXt TO dissolve said Union, or TO sever said
nation, are unauthorized and ought to be resisted
with the whole power OF the State.'
The fifteenth amendment, which trust viii soon
he adopted by States enough to make 1t part of the
Constitution OF the United States, will end aquestion
which has agltated the country for half century.
entirely approve of the principles OF that amend
ment and as we have invested the freedman with
the right to vote, let us give him fair opportunity
TO vote understandingy. He has civil rights ana IL
is to our interest that he should know their value
No questions are now so important to the Wnoe
country as those connected with the national ueDt
ana national finances The repudiation OF the ma
uona debt would be the destruction of the Govern
ment Exact and complete good faith should be Ob-
served with the public creditor. All the obligations
of the Government should be strictly fulfilled. Nor
is this so hard to do The public debt, which to the
Impoverished South looked little while back SO
stupendous, is already assuming comparatively
triGing dimensions. 1t is that it can be easily
paid. The spectacle is now exhibited of
Immigrants coming TO this country, both
from the continents of Europe and Asia,
at a rate not much less than half a million
a year Most OF these bring capital or labor, and
some Of them both our population, besides, is in
creasing with great rapidty every mile OF railroad
that is built every OF forest chat is cleared
Of swamp land reclaimed every mine that is opened
or manufactory erected, adds to our resources and
increases our capacity to pay our public debt
whether State or national. The present financial
policy Of the General Government is diminishing
expenses, and the only things to be considered
how to pay the debt soonest, and in the manner
least burdensOme to the people.
That we are approaching apparently so near to the
contamination OF reconstruction, we are greatly in
debted to the kind offices of President Grant. The
State was in dilemma; it wanted a constitution,
but the made for 1t had at least two very obec-
tonable features. We felt that suffering in
all cur material interests by staying out Of the
Union, and vet to go in.uuder the new Consttu-
ton, with all its provisions, would have been worse
This GOrdian knot was happily cut by the Pres-
dents first Message to Congress and the prompt
response Of that body Up to this time the conduct
Of the administration has been liberal, and if the
same policy Is pursued hereafter It ought to have
the hearty support OF this State
II we cast dead issues behind us, and look to that
line OF conduct which shall restore quiet and conf
denCe, and encourage enterprise aud industry we
shall soon see the country richer and more pros
porous than it has ever been.
Yours respectfully, JOHN w. JOHNSTON.