The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-09-11

bers or in the singleness of devotion to the
rights of man which has marked its career.
What melancholy reflections are provoked,
when the modern Democratic party is drag
ged from its treachery to South, to North,
to nation and to principle, and placed in
contrast with this party, which has been so
nobly faithful to all! TO what one princi-
pie of human rights, to what single interest
in the land, to what one man, or section, or
class, has this fraudently called Democratic
party been true? We shall not offend the
taste of the people of Virginias by dissect-
ing such subject, or by exposing career
so replete with acts wounding to cur Amer
lean pride, and disgraceful to the character
Of citizen, partisan and party.
We pass to the important subject Of
STATE POLITICS.
From 1865 to 1867 the nation waited pa
| tiently and hopefully for the exhibition of
purpose on the part Of the people of Vir-
ginia to establish a government, loyal and
national in its sympathies. The State gov
elective franchise and opening the doors of
eminent, which the events of April, 1865,
found in power, lost no time in extending the
Office, to all who were then citizens.
| UnueT IneSe auspices, 3 flf At'iN
THE LEGISLATURE OF 1866,
Assembled; and its career of two years,
so far as its action on federal relations was
concerned, was marked by bitter spirit of
prescription towards national men, a deter
mination to deny to the freedmen all power
af self protection and social advancement,
aud an insulting opposition to the policy of
the nation on the subject of reconstruction.
Loyalty to the Union during the war was
made the avowed ground for removal from
office. The Fourteenth Amendment, which,
to the conviction of every rational human
being unaffected by provincial prejudice,
was a necessity in the new condition OF
things, was rejected without debate or OK
cuse, with iinanimity, and in a manner
insulting to the nation. When an enabling
act was passed by Congress, authorizing
the formation of new government, begin
ming with convention elected by the whole
body of the people; this same disloyal le-
gislature refused to order the convention
When Congress itself passed an act pre-.
scribing the qualifications Of voters and the
forms and steps to be observed in framing
/ the new government, this same disloyal ele.
ment among the people, denied the consti.
{ nationality of its acts, refused to be regis
tered and refused to vote; thus causing the
convention to be composed of men, who
however honest in purpose, and loyal t.
principle, to the State and to the nation
had no experience in the important worl
devolved upon them.
Such were some of the circumstance!
, under which was formed the constitution
which is now the organic law of Virginia
No sooner was this paper presented to TIN
f people, in the early part of 1868, than
/ was made the subject of the most vitupera
tive abuse ever levelled at a public measure
But the opposition defeated itself by it
, own bitterness and intensity. 1t was s.
: violent, so unmeasured, so overdone, tina
: reaction came, and the good people of Viz
ginia gave unmistakable indications of dis
] gust with the politicians whose conduct ha
[; been so extravagant. The sober judgmen
' of honest people refused to sanction tn
/ excuses of we'll known class of long dis
credited partsans.
t In the spring of 1869 new ideas began t
1 assume body and form, and new move
: ment arose from the bosom of the people
: The partisan organization of 1868 calling il
/. self Democratic, was set aside, and its pun
: poses and principles were formally, solemn
(; w, publicly repudiated. The public al
n nouncement of those who represented til
S new movement, was in these words:
6 4 PRoNUNCIAMENTO OF. THE TRUE RI
PUBLICANS OF 1868. Gel
+ "We believe that large majority Of I'll
: intelligent and rejecting people of Virgini'
who have permanent interest in the pro
If perity of the State, are becoming convneet
It that wisdom and sound policy alike d
If mand, that they shall accept and carry GU
l. in good faith, the measures proposed b
~ Congress for the reconstruction of Il
a Southern States, and are DESTROYS of adop
l. ing the great principles enunciated by Il
" Republican party of the country" =
l. The sober sentiment of the people ht
rejected the extravagances of the class
il men, who had first reyolted from the Uniol
f. and then ruined the Confederacy. III
r. people were coming to embrace the pr
l. ciples of the Republican party as mo
10 consonant with the welfare of the Stat
re with the genius of American institution
es and with the peace and glory of the Uniol
le The strength of this popular feeling W;
s. 50 great, that the rampant politicians
1868 became sudden apostles of moder
:, ton and conservatism, in 1869. The mou
- tain refusing to come to Mahomet, M
IL homet came to the mountain. The Peep
q, refusing to follow the old secession leader
Ut these leaders with sudden and facle alacri
On fell into line with the people. When m
%, sustain a great fall. and in the class
al phrase, are made ito bite the earth," tn
an take in considerable mouthfuls of dirt.
m was so with the men who had spent S
II months of 1868 in denouncing the constit
es ton framed for the State. Finding in IS
a. that the people of Virginia would rat
ne that instrument, they ate their words,
n, their own language, they ''ate dirt" a
ny soon all their talk was of accepting
M constitution" which but lately had be
40 an determination of abominations."
no THE STATE CONSTITUTION. II
ne The instrument which had been so sea
Of dalously assailed, was in substance Ii
an most of the State constitutions of this cou
le- try. Its homestead, free school and tow
ed ship clauses were modelled upon the CO
v. stitution of New York, with some featul
~ borrowed of Massachusetts. If we elm
Of. nate New York city, where on this glo
TO can be found more advanced society, o.
more perfect civilization than in the gre
IN States of New York and Massachusett
A. And what action could have been me
wise in the Virginia convention than to hs
rae the new provisions become necessary
ra- our organic law upon models so eXcelle
I L