The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-06-02
THEDEMOCkATIC MOVEMENT FOR
SUCCESS.
How it is Regarded in Virginia.
From the Richmond Dispatch.

From the Richmond Dispatch.
We were sincerely grSti6ed at the fresh
appreciation of the wisdom and prsctibllIty
OF the new movement IN the West-A move
ment which Rdroit republican newspapers
seek to style she VallandInghsm movement
as q short way to bring it Iato disrePute,
since those papers consider Mr.. NailAnolng
ham as unpopular aud greatly under pre-
judice and dIsfsvOr amongst northern Peo-
pie. Now, as we minated yesterday the
new movement is nothing more norless 'han
the Virginia movement, when was SO sue
cessfully engineered Dy 'ne ceIeoFsteu
'committea of nine" in the winters OF 1863
80. That movement was based upon the
platform of national harmony. 1t proposed
20 consider reconstruction and the amend
ment a, set.led--to establish equality among
the states-to grant general amnesty 20
all engaged in the late war in resistance to
the government; to abandon war issues and
passions and hates; TO unite the people upon
she broad questions of the general welfare
and the peace and harmony of the country
20 re-establish the constitution and laws in
full and impartial force to secure by popu
lar elections. freed from eeetionAl HnimoSi.
ties. the bsst and wissst men to administer
state authority and the rights OF the citizen,
as well as for the preservation of the proper
authority of he central government and the
general welfare Of the nation. This was the
essence of the "new governn enP as get
shost in Virginia. The committee of nine
gave 1t direct and positive application in
the case of Virginia, which was threatened
with . constitution framed By the state con
yensiou in 1867, in which negroes and IN
principled whites held the majority, and
which constitution deprived almost every
capable and honest usn in the state OF the
right TO hold office, and il it had been adopt
ed, would have perverted the government tot
curse aud ruin TO the state. The committee
of nine pressed the considerations against
the terrible fate with such force that Gen.
Grant had to AoknO Wedge that to force
Virginia to submit TO the constitution would
be one Of the greatest of outrRges. Gen.
SchoGsld had previously informed him that
under it there could not be found in Vir
GINA enough capable men TO "ruu the gov
eminent Entering heartily into the views
of the new movement" Gen. Grant
pledged his influence in relieving Virginia
from this peril. BE was upon the Virginia
line, and took that direction under the wise
counsels Of Sohofeld and Rswlins.
But Rswlins, our liberal friend,
died, Schoheld was sent to
the west, and Gen. Grant went to the bad
His progress in the wrong direction was
slow at first, but his march was, after time
so much facilitated that his impetus carried
him far out into the sea Of extreme radical,
ism. Fortunately the Virginia movement
e1torted from him the message 10 congress
recon mending the passage of q law admit
ing Virginia which should, asA condition
precedent, allow her to adopt the constitu-
ton without the iron clad oath. e., that
the vote on that oath should be separated
from the vote on the constitution and, If the
people voted down the oath and adopted the
constitution, then the constitution should be
declared TO be adopted without IL. These
faots are 80 fresh that il seems superfluous
to repeat them, but TIL we oOnnot well ex-
clude Thorn 10 the narrative. Had any fur
Their delay occurred IN the action of congress
We are satisfied Gen. Grant would have
made no such Recommendation; for he evi-
IDENTITY made !. with great reluctance. [ pou
the platform OF this new movement the
Walker tlckes was n oninAted and trium phi
Rn;iy elected in 1869. The conservatives,
with that ticket, ami opposing the proscrp
tive features OF that Virginia constitution
which Gen. Grant said mo people ought to
live under gained brilliant victory. But
Gen. Grant had in the interim swept far
away FROM his anchorage, and was support
ing with oil the patron age Of the government
the proscriptIve party that he had, interen-
italy, most bitterly denounced. And yet it
was fair inference thstgsthe conservatives,
in defeating the proscriptIves and elaCting
Walker, had done exactly what Gen. Grant
said should be done. Therefore she
memorable telegram sent 10 Gen. Grant by
Mr.. Daniel, president of the cestral con d.
sentative committee, eougratul sting him
upon the success of his policy in Virginia,
WAS correct, and yet, owing to the general
fathlessnes TO "his policy It became one
OF the shgrpest pieces Of irony that We re-
member. Thus the new movement, organ
lied by Virginia and steered by the "cOm
mittee ofnine.' gained It's first great victory.
1t has gradually won it's way to favor, and
now 10 the accepted platform of all really
patriotic men not blinded by prejudice or
misled by greed for office and emolument
1t is no more Mr.. Nslandighsm idea than
ii is tie idea of the king of DAhomeny.
Indeed, Mr.. VsllandigAam has until recently
bitterly opposed it, and sought to build Up q
party on the old idea connected with issues
upon reconstruction and the constitutional
amendments, which are insepArable from
the war and its bitter passions. Mr.. Val
lsndighsm has thought more wisely of it,
and is now q passenger in the ship Of the
Virginia movemeut-thst ship which will
finally take US through the storms and.sgi-
tG;ions growing out OF the strife of blood
and bring Us safely into the harbor of ma
tiousl harmony and prosperity, under the
true administrative virtues" Of wise and
Trustworthy men,