New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-21
VIRGINIA ALWAYS REPUBLICAN,.

colonial condition. been directed by prin'
ciple. The populations Of Virginia have
been always and emphatically Re
publican. They have always demanded
a self-representative government. Hel
first colonial rebellion was one il which
her people enacted series Of laws recognIz
ing all the principles Of free govern
ment. Her resistance to England was
based Oh the same hostility to abused
power. Her chief statesmen were Repub'
,icans. James Mason. Patrick Henry
Thomas Jefferson. James Madison. de-
..onstra.ed the doctrines OF free and
representative government by the ma
jo,ity.
Virginia stood for some time as break
water between the North and South. She
vas even ,eproached with cowardlce by
some Hotspurs who had neither the cour'
age to fight themselves nor the sense to
anticipate the woe, which war would
bring upon others. Virginia having es'
hausted her efforts to avert the war. re-
sisted what she deemed violation Of the
constitution and an invasion Of her soil.
She cas-: her fortunes land they proved
70 be very bitter--with those who pro-
sessed similar principles. interests and
sympathiss with her own. Inspired by
the sam. republican independence she
acted on her individual judgments This,
whether IN the abstract right or wrong.
vas an act of undoubted sincerity. In
the words of George the Ill: If she
was one of the last to acknowledge the re-
suits of the war. she was one OF the last to
violate that recognition. After the war
efforts were made to complicate her III &
renewed party combination with those
State rights Democrats Of the North
who had lent their money and sent their
sons to enforce obedience to the Unlons
She was obdurate in her determination TO
keep her parole. She would not continue
by plot a strife which she could not de.
termine by the sword. The ambitious
and disaffected malcontents went their
way. Virginia kept her course. The mall
contents infected other States with dlscon'
tent. They struck hands with Pendleton
and Frank Blair to destroy the currency
and impair the credit Of the federal gov
eminent. They organized Ku-Klux kla us
70 slay the laborers of the land. that they
nigh: control its suffrage. They resorted
to all combinations. even with their polit'
zeal opponents. to get a share OF the
offices they could not control, and partici'
patei in the corruption which they could
not monopolize.
Virginia came out OF the war with
a territory dismembered. but with
All honor unimpaired With a stern
Angio-Saxon fidelity to principle. she
has kept her parole. i'll thought and action.
Hence she has the confidence Of the Re
publican Presiden: and Of the Republican
party; hence kindly relations hay: required
with her lates enemies. precisely as ou'
English friends whom We repU!sed at New
Orleans are now among our mos: cordial
customers and estimable citizens. But
the difference between the Virginians and
some other Confederate politicians may be
summed in these results:
/. There has not been !: RIO: within her
limits. There has been no war between
white and black. There has been no Or
ganizei resistance. public OF private. &c
the acts of reconstruction. The coloret
people have been elected 60 the Legisla
ture. They have been instructed in the
schools. They haze received in goo
faith their share o: the powers and favor'
of the federal government Though in :
minority. the colored people have never
been treated with violence. Virginia ha
remembered that she may have owe(
somewha: % the forbearance Of thos'
more powerful than herself. and seemed
to be outione in magnanimity toward be-
people.
.. virgini. Is in cordial and friendl,
relations with the federal government.
majority Of her people approved candl
dates who were understood to yepresen
the administration. yet an administration
which respects the free exercise OF opinion
has not manifested indignation at the :e
suit. I, has. perhaps, seen III the faithful
adherence of that people to men maime'
in their behalf al additional pledge tina
Virginia viii neve. abandon man or
promise that she has pledged herself {
| maintain.
In electing conservative candidate t
the Senate she has defeated and exclude
Mr.. Hunter, man identified with til
sectional alterations of the past and tn
malcontents of the present. Hughes. til
defeated candidate on the Radical side
may be set of against Hunter the defeate
candidate Oh the South Carolina side
Virginia is conservative and Independent
She neithe. intended 70 rebuke the ad
ninis..atiou nor recognize its bit:eres
: antagonists.
3. Virginia has never added dollar
! her publ. debt. No federal troops hav
been ordered. tina. we remember. into he
limits since the wax. Her frs: pledge
| proof of security was in the election {
General Gilbert Walker. United STATE
| army. Q: New York. as her Governor. II
was an honest. able and very popula
! man. She has filled; her State offices wit
men of her own free choice. and is recol
| strucsei on the simple acknowledging,