The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-10-07
JOHN AMBLER SMITH.

The Richmond Enquirer of Saturday
makes an assault upon Mr.. Smith, charac-
terized by-the unjust and malevolent spirit
that manifests itself upon all and every oc-
casion when a Republican is spoken of by
the INSCRIPTIONS opposition newspapers.
1t says:
Tins, on the l6th February, 1870, a T. solution
was offered in the Senate by Mr.. Taylor, of Lou
doun, requesting our representatives in Congress
to use every effort to procure the removal of DO.
litical disabilities imposed by reason of the war.
The war had been past more than five years
the reconstruction acts had done their vile work
-Ancy Johnson was out of the - did
everything he was ordered-the bitterest Radi-
Gals in Congress had repeatedly voted to remove
disabilities, and the State of Virginia had strick.
en- all disabilities from her own Constitution.
The time was aptly chosen for Mr.. Taylor's
motion, and his success demonstrated the fact.
II passed the Senate Dith but one dissenting ooics.
Every Conservative and every Radical, every
white man and every black, every wise man and
every fool, supported it, saue one alone, and that
one negative vote was JOHN AMBER SMITH, of
New Kent, (so-called)-reall as much OF "New
Kent as of Nova Scotia.
If the Enquirer is acquainted with Mr..
j.. Amber Smiths course upon the SUBJ
ject Of amnesty, this lisa wanton SANDER.
If it IS ignorant Of the facts, which, in
charity, we hope is the case, then it will
be well for the Enquirer to look more
thoroughly into a mans record before it
assails him.
1t happens to be true that Mr.. Smith
was an advocate of amnesty, and not OPP.
posed to it, which the following extract
from the Senate journal fer the session of
1s69-7O, pages 81 and 55, will abundantly
prove:
Wednesday February 9th, ls70.-A communica.
ton was received from the House of Delegates
by Mr.. Mathew, who informed the Senate that
that house had adopted the following preamble
and resolution.
"Whereas. the people of Virginia have adopt
ed a constitution which guarantees the right to
vote and held Office to all male citizens, without
regard to race or color; and whereas the said
constitution has been accepted by Congress and
whereas, a large number of our citizens are under
political disabi tiles. imposed by the fourteenth
amendment; therefore,
"ResOlusd By the Senate and House Of Del gates.
That the Congress of the United States be, and
they are hereby respectfully requested, to relieve
ali citizens of this Commonwealth of the afore.
said disabilities.
:" ReSoIoed, That the Governor be requested to
transmit these resolutions to the President of the
Senate and Speaker Of the House of Representa-
tiyes of the Congress of the United States"
The resolutions were taken up and read the
first and second times, when Mr.. Smith, of New
Kent, submitted the following us a substitute for
the preamble and resolutions
The State of Virginia having assumed her
position as one of the loyal and independent
States of the Union, with many of her citizens
still laboring under disabi tiles imposed by the
operation of the fourteenth amendment Of the
Constitution; be it, therefore,
q" Resolved By the Senate and Muse Of DsLeG0tes
Of Virginia, That the Congress of the United
States be hereby petitioned and earnestly urged
to remove, aouhout delay, all disabilities incurred
by reason of participation in the late war, from
all citizens of Virginia who may ask this re-
lief over their own signatures, and who pledge
themselves in good faith TO carry out and main
tain the Constitution of the United States and
the laws of Congress-
The question being on the adoption of the
amendment,
Mr.. Bland moved to amend the same by strile.
ing out the words "who may ask this relief over
their own signatures, and who pledge themselves
In good faith To carry out and maintain the Com
%stitution of the United States and laws of Con
gress.r
The question being put thereon, was deter
mined IN the aftirmative-on diyision-ayes "a,
noes 10.
The question recurring on the adoption of the
amendment as amended, and being put, was de-