Year: 1869

! If any one has labOred under the dclusion
| that Gen. Grant intends to be a dummy Pres
ident-a mere call-bOy of Congress, or Of any
other power-he must have been undeceved
lg his brief, frank, soldier-like and statesman
like Message of Wednesday, wherein he tells
Congress plainly that it ought not to adjourn
without taking decisive action on the status
of Virginia with a view to her early restOra-
ton to her proper place in the Union.
If she chooses to vote to stay out, that
is her business; but if she is ready
to come in under Constitution which
guarantees the absolute protection of all
"citizens" Of the United States "in the full
enjoyment of freedom and security then she
should be allowed to do so forthwith. The
same is true likewise of Mssissppi though
the fact that her people have once voted down
the pending Constitution here somewhat com
plcates the problem, and might justify the
call of a new Convention. In the Virginia
case, however, all is plain sailing. A Conven-
ton has been held Constitution was framed
by it, but though ready for submission long
ago it has not been submitted. Gen. Grant
thinks that submission should no longer he
DELAYED and therein he is in full accord with
public opinion. He suggests that it should be
so ordered that those who want to vote the
State into self-gOycrnment under the Union
may do so without voting their own or their
neighbors permanent prescription; and herein
he talks sense, as usual. In short, a Message
so wise, so just, 50 timely so pertinent, had
not emanated from the White House for years
prior to the appearance OF this one.


VIII Congress heed the public voice so
plainly yet so courteously uttered by the Presi-
dent? We write before learning what action
was taken yesterday yet we trust that the
majority will prefer to keep abreast of public
sentiment rather than be driven by it. If the
only question is one of time, the more impor
tant is it not to lag behind the march of
events. Virginia is certain to be reconstructed !;
she is to be restored to self-government and
TO representation i'll Congress; she is ulti-
mately to be relieved of all prescriptions and
! acknowledgements then why not push on
the good work to its inevitable cOnsummation
Our oldest living poet eXhorts us, in view OF
death, to 60 not like the galley slave at night,
scourged to his dungeon !" and we entreat the
Republicans in Congress not to initiate, with
! regard to the late Rebels, their own stupid
blunder in resisting the enfranchisement OF the
Blacks until they have very nearly thrown
away THEN chance of influencing and guiding
their political course. One such gigantic folly
should suffice for generation.


The country is emDhatically with the Presi-
dent. 1t longs for peace, and restoration, and
harmony. 1t demands proper guarantees for
the security and equal rights of all law abiding
citizens; but it prefers to find them in consti-
tutions aud laws rather than in Presidential
edcts and Military orders. 1t believes that the
present is favorable conjuncture for complet-
ing Reconstruction on the basis of Universal
Amnesty and Impartial Suffrage; and it prefers
not to take the risks of an unknown, impene-
trable future. 1t is quite aware that there are
still implacablo Rebels and inveterate wrong
doer at the South; but it feels that they can
now be remitted to the discipline Of a Govern