The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1870-01-10
VIRGINIA. - JUSTICE DEMANDS
HER IMWRDIATE ADMISSION.


work Of a political intrigue In the hands Of
few partisan extremists. Tho Republican
press all over the Union cries loudly for an |
immediate recognition Of the ready nclul- |
cjcenUo Virginia has given to every act Of |
reconstruction. Although the kccnest suf' |
fersr In the results Of her most impoIiuc |
action during tho war, she has since accepted
without reserve the bittercst legislation that
has been offered her in the process OF r.
Organization. She adopted the fourteenth |
amendment, giving her aforctime bondmcn
equal rights with their late masters. She
accepted tho fifteenth amendment tlat
placed 10 these same dlsenthrallcd hands the |
power to assist in the control Of her laws
her Governor, elected by her own franchise,
has no claim to tho honor Of nativity on her
soil, and all these requirements have been
complied with 10 a spirit cheerful aud cordial |
enough to dlsabuse tho public mind Of any |
suggestion Of a snare. The question pre- |
sents Itself seriously, II these are not abid.
Ing indications Of her good faith towards
Congress, what new action eau possibly
strengthen the confidence Of such repre-
sentatives as are scheming for further con.
ditlons 10 her admission, which might natur'
ally arouse tho resentment OF Virginia at
this evidence Of actual bad faith Mnst one |
State, that has oylncod real humility In her |
anxiety to protect herself by representation |
in the legislative halls Of her country, be |
made responsible because a sister State has
proven faithlcssi There Is but one answer
to every doubt that may arise as to tho action
Of Congress In this matter. Ii cannot be
the elaboration Of the wiser aud more far
seeing members that would still keep Vlr-
Elnla out, but II must be the work Of a few
ultra partisans, who have listened TO the
misrepresentation OF disappointed office
seekers, Instead Of forming their own con-
illusions upon the revolution In sentiment
which the action Of tho people Of Virginia
most plainly eyinces.
The men who stood stern and immOyable
before the opposing FIRE Of Virginia mus
kets, who witnessed the spirit and persever.
ance with which she continued a war that
she even believed might DO to her eter nally
fatal, appreciate and endorse this same
spirit when 1t maulfests itself Ia an inten-
ton to accept the results Of her new situa'
ton. And even II, AFTER Congress shall
have placed her where she deserves by &C
tuAl good faith TO stand, there should be an
effort TO retract what has been established
may not Congress, by the strength OF It,
most potent authority, strip her again, a,
has been done In tho case OF Georgia, and
deprive her OF the opportunity of doing I'LL
President Grant, forcseelug the good feeling
which the immediate recognition Of th'
claims Of Virginia will establish through
the South, made this question an element a
his wise and comprehensive message, ant
the eonqusror not only afIirms the truth o
VirgiuiR's good action, but recommends /
Congress a prompt admission Of her sCnn
tors and Representatives, and that she b
fully restored to hor place in the "family c
states." Such a voice as this may not b
heard UNDECIDED, and when lie added TO
the uttered desire Of the leading spirits {
the Republican party, It becomes queStiu
for serious reflection 10 hear Of new an
moro Irritating measures being applied t
the recon,tructlon OF u repontant Stat,
restlesSncss OF the press Ia Virginia.
All the forbearance, fortItudc, and patIenc
that has characterized their obedience Il
laws which have been accepted because o
their supposed protection, will be sacrificed
to new and mO.o euthralllng legislation
There can be no necessity for such yigorour
measures. Congress is to-day as powerful
TO withdraw hOr protection in case Of u
breach Of promise In the represented States
as she was to ratlfY and strengthen the sue
cess Of our valorous arms In a time Of DARK
ness and doubt, aud the nation demands that
the same wise legislation that reclaimed the
rebelllous States, now be applied to their
perpetuatlon In the Union by redeemIng th,
promises Of protection and assistance. TIL,
South by It's efforts Is becoming q necessary
power Of wealth In this land, and they have
the right to ask that this Government extend
to them, repentant, the same boneaccnl
lOnlency that even, amid the horrors of war,
was the oasis Of their strength and ex-
lstenCe.
Congress will Reasonable to-day, and II Il
possible there may DO something indicated
from the Committee on Reconstruction az to
the admission of yirgInla-whether her re-
cognltion is TO be Immediate or delayed.
What party contingencies may seem to,
require Is Of course known only to the me- |
bers of that committee. The people IA the
right to Judge OF the circumstance ~ tho
evidence before them. The or'press. and
masses, reflected through, ,olitleal feeling,
representing every shadSlrglnla shall be |
demands either tho the Union, or that
promptly admlttScls kept out arc plainly |
the reasons WI
stated. l we slncerelv irust sonc mann
10 thy Reconstruction Committee will
Der Che subject before the House to-day.
Z US have an explanation, and If the good
sense Of majority Of the members should
dictate, let the question on the immediate
admission Of Virginia be brought TO a vote.
Let tho Recommendation Of the President
arouse them TO action, "thRt her Senators and
Representatives be promptly admitted to
their seats, and that the State be fully re-
stored to lie place In the family Of States"
In this connection We rcpubllsh the fol-
lowing communication, which was add ressed
to the Committee on Reconstruction on the
day named
TO n. Hor, BsGJamta , Bv'l,r' Ci,friiTa Re
Your committee having dcclined 10 hear
further oral discussion In reference to the re
preference for written statement, / have the
honor, az one Of her representatives, 10 Don.
gress elect, tosubmit, In her behalf the fol
| understand the concern OF the committee
ahl OF congress 10 be directed TO the following !