The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-25

line and other restored States. The Repre-
sentatiyes and Senators elect are, as whole,
unobjectionable. And, TO complete the story
and remove the sole conceivable source of OPP
position, ex-Governo Wells, the radical can
didate in the canvass, declared himself favor
able to the admission of the State without
loss of time. The declaration was honorable
to him as q man and creditable to his sagacity
as a politician.
Had Congress been wise, IL would in these
circumstances have interposed no obstacle
whatever to the admission of the State. The
President recommended admission, and
prompt compliance would have been followed
by the happiest results Instead of that,
however, we have witnessed prolonged, vex-
atious unjust, and wanton attempt to reopen
the question, and subject the State to tests
and torture invented for the occasion. Good
faith dictated admission; the State had full
filed every requirement and was entitled to
demand the promised privileges. But vim
dictive and violent partisanship has sought to
trample on the plighted faith of Congress,
and to impose conditions for which there
is not the slightest justification. The House
remembered its obligations and did what
it could to fulfil them. 1t adopted
measure providing for the unconditional re-
storation Of the State But the Senate in
obedience to impulses which have done much
to weaken its hold upon the respect of the
country, nurtured all manner of schemes for
keeping the State out Of the Union. Con-
trivances were invented for taking the affairs
of the State out of the hands of its people,
and placing them under the control of few
worthless adventurers. The aim of the ex-
tremists seemed to be, not to restore the
Union, but to make reconstruction impossi-
BILE. They proposed to enforce the test oath
in defiance of the national sentiment, which
is against it everywhere. They suggested
conditions which have no warrant in
the temper of the people or the circum-
stances of the State, whose general charac-
teristics in respect of law and order are as
favorable as those of Massachusetts, or New
York. They endeavored, in a word, to re-
pudiate a solemn contract, to reopen contro-
versies which the law had settled, and to
assert pretensions that would render the
whole work of reconstruction a fraud and
farce. Fortunately, calmer, wiser, more
honorable counsels prevailed. And though
the simple act of recognition which the
House had sanctioned was not adopted in the
original shape, the privosos which have been
added really amount to very little. They are
ungenerous, perhaps offensive, but there is
nothing in them that need further hinder ad-
mission, or that should entail upon Virginia
any serious inconvenience.
The President is right then, when he ad-
vises the more tolerant Republicans of the
House to accept the bill as it goes back from
the Senate There are mischief makers in
the House who want but the opportunity to
undo what has been done, and to consummate
the evil begun in the Senate. These men
would revive the thumbscrew if they dare.
The spirit which animates them in other days
sanctioned the rack and the faggot. 1t is i'm
portant that no chance be given them for the
attainment of their purpose. The uncondi-
tional admission of Virginia would be most
proper. But that being clearly impracticable,
the Senate bill in it's present shape is prefer
able to more delay Let the matter be ended
at once if possible.
Mississippi will come next, and by and by
Texas Are they also to experience the tor
ture which Virginia has endured?