The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-05
(written for The Times.l

There are some echoes OF the convention
Of 1861 that Virginians viii never willingly
let Gle. At Its invitation, Robert 4. Lee
appeared before 1t and devoted his sword
end his approving conscience to his
native State. Matthew 7. Manry was
chosen by 1t as one Of the War koaed-the
military advisers of John Ietcher. the
War Governor More than Castor and
Poliux-the mythical twin brotaers-ap-
peared on the scene in the panopiy OF war,
piedsl3g lives. fortunes and sacred honor
In behalf of the new Declaration OF hide
peadence; Johnston. jackson, Stuart, Ashpy
and many, many more.
The tragedy IS ended. Let the curtain
fail, while we, the survivors,
Make dust our paper and with rainy eyes
Write sorrow on the bosom Of the earth
The legal status of the STATE Government
from Appomattox until 1869 was very i1ebn-
aous. 10 say the least.
Andrew johnson in May, 1865, issued an
Executive order declaring all acts oil Inc
political, military and c!rA ORGANIZATIONS
within the State of Virginia S-nce apIii
II. 1861. TO be null and void. and pledslns
the aid of the Federal Government 70
Francis II. Pierpont, Governor OF the state
Of Virginia, in the lawful measures ne may
take for the extension and administrator
of the State government throughout inc
geographical limits of the said State.
at Richmond May 49, 1860 Virginia was d
State and was not n State as best suited
the prevailing temper OF the Federal Con-
gress. During Pierpnnts term, he was
subject to the orders of as many as h-he
military satraIls and his successor. Henry
Happy Wells, was appointed Governor OF
Virginia by General Schotield Aprii O. 1913.
on the 23d OF March. 1861. the Congress
passed ar act which, among other things,
provided for a convention TO establish d
Constitution for Virginia, prescribing the
number OF members. he ratio of represen-
tation. and authorizing vote at the same
election for or against such convention.
IL The convention was carried the com
1nanding general, was to ratify the per-
sons elected and fix the time and place for
assembling.
The convention met and framed a Con-
stitutiou. and Congress passed another act,
April 10th. 1869, submitting the same to the
people-State officers. a Legislature and
members of Congress 10 be voted for al the
same election; yet. though al else went
well from their standpoint, the State should
not be readmitted 10 the Union until the
Legislature, then 10 be elected, had Tatfled
the Fifteenth Amendment to the Federal
Constitution.
The Legislature met October 9Th, 1862
and three days thereafter ratified not only
the Fifteenth. but also the Fourteenth
Amendment and adjourned to await the
approval of Congress Congress raahed,
but o. these newly-annexed conditions:
j. That the Constitution shall never be
SO amended or changed as to deprive any
citizen or class of citizen OF the United
States of the right 10 vote who are entitled
to vote by the Constitution herein recog-
,lizec. except as a punishment for crimes,
of the grade OF felonies, at common law.
> a sim. lar provision as TO the right OF
holding office.
3. That the Constitution shall never be
so amended or changed as to deprive any
citizen, or class of citizens, of the school
rights and privileges secured by the same
Evidently the people were as anxious to
get back into the Union as they had been
resolute to come out. But can mere
legislature divest State Of its sovereign
rights?
These preliminary statements of fact
We're deemed necessary TO a proper eluci-
datieu of the subject. Though some were
subsequent TO the convention. the his
;orIcal sequence is preserved by Stating
them all together.
The convention assembled December 5,
1865. and sat more than Il hundred days.
II IS a curious study in patronymics to
read the roll Of membership-Rye and
NiclSerson and Leahy and Canada and
Teamoh. And yet this was before the
neaus ton of Sulu and the Philippine
Islands.
There were some native yirginians. that
We're also white people. in the body-a
woeful minority-Judse Mclaughlin, r.
TAYLOR Scott. James C. Southa1, John /.
Marye. Jr, Catlett Gibson, Eustace Glib
son, Moses Walton, r. S. Beazley and II
few more of the same character The
men in huclzram'' predominated so large
ly that they We're quite able 10 bind the
Others and their constituents. and they did
ii, and reioced in the deed! The city OF
Richmond's delegation was james ".
Hunncutt, James Norrissey, John c. I'm
derwood. Lewis Lindsey ana Joseph Cox
John c. Underwood was elected presi-
den:, and said. in taking the chair: God
grant that with Christian charity and be-
nevolence Ia all, and as much forgiveness
and forsetfnlness of past injuries and past
conflicts as IS consistent With the future
safety, we may al address ourselves to the
great work Of framing the most humane,