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

authorized. II is now nearly five years since
the close Of the war, and nobody yet knows,
or can predict, what Congress means to exact
of Virginia previous to her readmission. She
was entitled to be told, at an early period, on
what terms she could be restored to her rights
in the Union. Whether those terms were to
be lenient or severe, she was at least entitled
to be informed what they are. All tyranny ia
hateful; but none is so odious and abomina-
BILE as that which tempts people into compi-
ances under q delusive promise of advantage,
and then haughtily tells them that their
humiliation is bootless.
The excuse offered for such perfdy is, that
Virginia is not loyal enough. But have such
exasperating indignities any tendency to
foster loyalty? 1t is not in human nature
that per6dy and tyranny should not provoke
resentment. A just, considerate, and patsr--
nal government makes q submissive and loyal
peoples but arrogance, rancor, and tyranny
are naturally repaid with hatred; and II these
vices are joined with perfidy hatred deepens
into execration and adherence. Congress
must expect to reap what it sows. If it de-
sires the respect and attachment of the Vir-
ginians, let it demonstrate by its justice and
magnanimity that it deserves return of
grateful and generous sentiments. 1t is
absurd to complain of ill-feeling when every
thing is done to provoke and prolong it
The refusal to admit Virginia is an insult
to President Grant, as well as perfdy to the
State. He has taken an active part in pre-
pairing the State for resdmission, and all that
he has done has been done with the express
sanction of Congress- Near the close of the
extra session, last spring, he sent in message
calling attention to the desirability of COM
pleting the work Of reconstruction at the
earliest period possible, and asking for
authority to submit the Constitution of Vir-
ginia to the vote of its registered citizens, in
such q manner that they could adopt the
main portions of it, and reject some of its
most unpopular features The authority was
promptly conferred in compliance with the
Presidents suggestion. Congress thereby
consented to waive Acknowledgement, and
gave virtual pledge to General Grant that
it would admit the State if it should be
reorganIzed in accordance with his views.
Everything has been done which he required,
and he is perfectly satisfied with the result.
To reject Virginia now is an indignity to him.
1t is not treating the President with the
respect which is due to his Office to make
him the instrument of futile and bootless
proceedings. He exacted of Virginia all that
Congress required, and held out q promise
that compliance would be followed by imme-
diate admission To make him the vehicle
of perfdious offer and the agent of hol-
low bargain never meant to be kept is an
affront which he ought to resent. If Con-
gress could point to any one thing required
of Virginia as prerequisite to admission
which the State has neglected or left undone,
that body would not be SO wholly without
excuse. But to keep her out now is not only
violation of the Constitution, but wanton
and disgraceful breach of faith