The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-12
THE CASE OF VIRGINIA.

"a THE CASH or HIhGLNLA. tt
OK one essential point the two.bills presented
in the House of Representatives yesterday in
relation to the readmission of Virginia are in
harmony. In the bill reported by Mr.. Farms
worth from the Reconstruction Committee,
as well as in Mr.. Bingham's substitute, it is
declared that the State of Virginia is entitled
to representation in Congress, and in this
declaration the whole country, North as well as
South, agrees. The attempto of the extremeradi-
cal faction to overthrow the election held last
summer, on the ground of Wholesale fraud
and intimidation of voters, failed most
signally, and even Ex-Governor Wells, who
headed the radical ticket, has proclaimed his
earnest desire to see the State restored to all
her rights and privileges in the Union, under
the constitution then ratified and the officers
then elected There is therefore no reason
able excuse for further delay in admitting to
their seats both the Representatives and Sem
ators whom the people of Virginia have
selected. This action could have been taken
before the Christmas recess of Congress as
well as after it; but, as long as a postpone
ment was INDUCED in because of the alleged
want of time to give the case the discussion
which its importance demanded, it is to be
hoped that Congress will proceed at once, and
without any further delay to this discussion,
and terminate it at the earliest practicable
moment.
The bill reported by Mr.. Farnsworth from
the Reconstruction Committee differs essen
tally, however, from Mr.. Bingham's substi-
tute, by providing certain fundamental con-
ditions, on compliance with which alone is it
proposed to restore the State to her privi-
leges in the Union. To the first of these
conditions the Democratic party as mass,
and many adherents of the Republican party,
are disposed to take exceptions. 1t provides
that no person shall hold any civil or military
Office under the State Government without
first subscribing to an oath that, having pre-
viously taken an oath to support the Consti-
tuition of the United States, he has not par
ticipated in the Rebellion, or, in lieu of this
oath, that he has been relieved from his disa-
bilities by act of Congress. Under the present
circumstances, it would seem the part of wis
dom and statesmanship to amend the bill by
striking out this condition. A clause in the
State Constitution submitted to the people at
the recent election, essentially the same as
this, was defeated by large majority, and the
requirement of the oath by act of
Congress would appear to be practi-
cally an attempt to engraft it
upon the Constitution of the State, in defiance
of the expressed wishes of the people. If it
would answer any good purpose, or was neces-
sary as q matter of preoaution, the case would
be vastly different But as long as Congress
sees fit to grant relief from political disabili-
ties in wholesale fashion, it would operate
only to the disadvantage of that portion of
the population which is too proud or too
lukewarm to petition the national Legislature
for such relief. At present, this relief is
| granted almost invariably to every one who
demands it, and the persons who demand it
are generally of the class of professional
politicians whose sole ambition is to live at
the expense of the people, whether it be
under loyal or disloyal regime. The
days of political prescription are practically
at an end, and the attempt to continue the
system is at best mere farce, the sooner
ended the better. Entire equality before the
law is demanded for the oolored population,
and as long as invidious distinctions are made
against any portion of the white population,
an attempt will be made by those who are thus
prescribed to counteract all the legislation OF
Congress and ali the amendments to the
Federal Constitution which can be passed,
even if the country gives itself up entirely to
the business of constitutional tinkering. En-.
tire harmony and good feeling between whites
and blacks can be restored only by the abso
lutte and unqualified abandonment of the
system of prescription, and the experiment,
may as well be made with Virginia now as a
q later period.
But, Independently of this, the bill reported
from the Reconstruction Committee contains
ample provisions securing to all the people O
Virginia aguarantee that their rights under tn,
new Constitution as it now stands will be for
ever respected and enforced. Mr.. Cox, o
New York, yesterday gave notice that ht
would move to strike out of the bill every
thing which made the action of the State il
these matters irrevocable. This is the tru,
Democratic doctrine, and ON the issue thu
raised every Republican member of Congress
can take decided and uncompromising posi-
ton. Virginia should not be left free to re
scind such portions of her Constitution a
secure to any class of her population the sim
pie rights of manhood. That she would eve
attempt such retrograde step is extremel
doubtful, in the now prevailing sentiment o
the country and the probability that it vii
not be materially modified for years to come
But the peace for which the future demand
: L.