The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-04-16
WEDNESDAY EvE'G. APRIL le, 1878.


Inc Enquirer, III us euitoTial Vi thS |
morning more carefully considered in some
respects than either of its previous arti-
cles), reterates its charge that +" Radicalsm
means the negro above the white man " in
Virginia, and refers to the action of the
" Radical convention of 1867" in incorpo-
rating the test-oath and DISTINGUISHING |
clauses in the constitution, as evidence of
the truth and accuracy of its statement.
We are glad of an opportunity to meeto |
courteous, but somewhat over-sensitive, |
neighbor on an issue so directly in conflict |
with the truth of history, as we UNDER
stand it, and to set him right on several
very material points wherein his statement
is too intrinsically weak to stand for mo-
ment.
And we begin by saying what The En-
quirer is too we'll informed to deny, that
there is not man who advocated the two
constitutional clauses named. in the con-
vention referred to, who has not passed into
political oblivion by reason of his advocacy
of them and, what is more, each and
every one of them has been forced there by
the seal of condemnation placed upon his
action by the Republican party of Vir-
ginia.
The test oath was embodied in the con-
stitution against the earnest protest of men
who were then prominent in the Republic
can party, and who have since been its
most honored and respected members. On
the other hand, it originated with those
who have since been thoroughly repudiated
and thrown overheard by the party, and
who could not be elected hog-reeves
to-day by any respectable body Of
Republicans in the state. We chal-
lenge our contemporary to name sim
gle individual advocating in convention the
test-oath and DISTINGUISHING clauses, who
is to-day an honored member of the Re-
publican party in the state. We might,
with just as much justice and far better
show of truth. charge the Conservative
party of to-day in Virginia, with being the
aiders and abetters of all the ku-klux out
RACES Of the South, and all the social and
political ostracism at first shown against
northern settlers in the state.
We need not inform The Enquirer that
even Judge Underwood latter whom it
names the convention) was strenuously OPP
posed to the two obnoxious clauses III the
constitution, and claimed that snap judg-
ment had been taken, in his absence and
that of other leading Republicans, in adopt
ing them as obnoxious parts of that instru-
ment. If we mistake not, ne strongly
urged motion to reconsider the vote by
which the two clauses were adopted, and
came within very few votes of securing
his much-desired purpose. And precisely
here is where The Enquirer should hesi-
tate to tread upon accusational ground,
without some show of crimson upon its par
tsan cheek. The parliamentary rules adopt
ed by the convention required two-thirds
vote to reconsider the clauses in question
and that vote would have been secured
had it not been for the Conservatives il
the convention, headed by Mr.. Eustace Glib
son of Giles, who marshaled his forcel
against it for the avowed purpose o
rendering the constitution as odous as pos
sible to the people of the state. This Il
fact which should shut the mouth of &C
cusation against the Republican party O
Virginia. when it is remembered that thu
motion to reconsider came within few
votes of carrying, and ,oas only defeated %
the Conservative cote to retain the tao
clauses.
And right here. again, is another fac
which should stagger accusational effront
cry on the part Of the Virginia Conserva
tiyes. What but their own nnsavoIy re
cord in respect to these two clauses of tn
constitution, and other well-known pro.
ceedings in the convention, OF more thai
an unsavory character as affecting the Con
servatives in that body, led the party to thu
unexampled and preposterous action OF re-
fusing by legislative appropriation to pub
lish the recorded proceedings of that histo
rio body? We dislike to go back t
these old causes of irritation for ]
is the business of dogs, not men. tt
lick old sores. But the truth of history
must not suffer at our hands, and we ar
compelled to hurl back the accusation
The Enquirer, and say that its own part
is many times more responsible for tn
retention of the test-oath and DISTINGUISHING
clauses in the constitution, as it was finally
submitted to the people, than the Republi
can party as seen by its representative
men in the state to-day.
Why, in Prince Edward county, which
was largely Republican, there was but on'
vote given for the disqualifying clauses, ant
it is by no means certain that that was no.
Conservative vote. Mr.. Thomas p
Jackson and Joseph Jorgenson, at that
time resident in the county and still honoret
and respected members of the Repub
lican party, labored as few Conservative
did in the state, to defeat. not the Republi
can, but the extreme Radical and Conser
vatve, clauses in the constitution. Th
Enquirer we'll knows the circum
stances under which a committee O
Virginia Conservatives, claiming to b,
Republicans. waited upon President Gran
to secure separate vote upon these tw,
e Il