Year: 1869

inehaceable characters the Constitution and
IN the Union, one and lnseparable.


ANDREW JOHNSON,
WASHINGTON, d. G., March 4, 1869.
For the Spectator
Your correspondent is native born Virgin
ian and has ever cherished the honor and the
welfare of the ''old Commonwealth" In this
communication he desires to speak of the New
Movement" and how it has been received by
the majority of the people of this section of
the State.


To speak fguratively, for the sake of illustra-
ton, the old ship of State after breasting intact
the surgng billows of many political storm
under the guidance of renowned, experienced
and faithful leaders, has at last stranded, not be-
cause the vessel itself is not good one, but
because the experinced and faithful men who
were wont in former days to govern and guide
her safely through every storm have been re-
moved, and In their places we have others IA
nous not for any of the qualities which distin-
gulsh the Statesman as such, but famous alike
for infamy, self-aggrandizement and ignorance.
The question arises in the mind of every intel
ligent and real phanthropist, shall all her crew
sit silent and make no effort to save the old
ship from so dire calamity as total wreck at
mid sea.


No, thank Heaven in this crisis Nine of the





the helmsman Of the vessel and so nobly did
some of them perform their duty that they
gained the we'll deserved title of Honorable
and tho now cast aside, by pirate cre,0, as
unworthy to say word or offer a suggestion,
yet Notwithstanding this, rather than see YES
sci and crew all perish, true to instinct they
rush to the helm, and with the genius of other
days, that genius which has made them Illus
trlous as Statesmen, they propose New
Movement. Those who control are told in
eloquent and pathetic terms, that the old ves-
sci has been overburdened and they are re-
quested to cast overheard all this luggage which
has been accumulated on beard, and all will be
well. But no, the powers that be insist upon
retaining at least portion. Well, then, cry
the Nine, retain the lightest and cast out the
other. The suggestion, however, is scarcely
made before few of the more boisterous of
the crew who were never illustrious for any
thing bat fanaticism, with vehemence becom-
ing only mad men cry no, let the vessel sink
irst-the majority however adopt the wise sug-
gestion as the best and only alternative for
rescue. The figure is adopted to represent
things as they are in our State now. There
can be but little doubt that the majority of the
people adopt and will vote for the New Move
ment. Alas for the interest of the State, it
is true we have some among us who, it seems,
have learned nothing by the experience of the
war. Some, fOrsOoth, because they can never
expect to become so good pure and upright a
citizen, and fearless patriot, and great states
man as Col. Jno B. Baldwin, the honorable,
self>sacrificing and iustrious spokesman of the
Committee of Nine, envy him his great name
and his honor, and, therefore, are making a
wondrous effort to stigmatize the scheme Of
which We are proud to say he is the advocate,
and not only so, but call down upon the whole
committee, than which there never was body
of truer, nobler statesmen, the condemnation
and soorn of the people by telling them In
frantic terms that by adopting this plan Of the
Committee of Nine they sacrifice the honor of
Virginia, give up principle for property, &c.,
&c. But [ wish to say that these criticisms by
a few fanatics has not had the desired effect,
namely of prejudicing our people against the
New Movement or its advocates, but it was
clearly shown here on last Court day, when the
citizens of the county were assembled IN mass,
and the subject fully discussed that the senti-
ment of the people was in favour of it. When
resolutions pro and con were offered, they were
adopted BY large majority. We want it un-
derstood that the people of Washington coun-
ty will support the Committee Of Nine. Can
not all those of the original Conservative party
see that by their opposition to the committees
resolutions, they are fastening the Underwood
Constitution, unchanged, upon the people of
Virginia If they get the Underwood provis
ions let them lay the fattering JUNCTION to their
souls that it was their opposition and not the
Committee of Nsne that has fixed it upon them.


BETA


Abingdon, March 4th 1869.



SENATE March 6th.-A number
Of bills of no general Importance were introduc
ed and disposed of temporarily A bill was
passed supplementary to the act authorizing a
lateral branch Of the Baltimore and Potomac
Railroad to enter the city of Washington. A
message was received from the President to the
effect that since the nomination and con6rma-
ton of A. L. Stewart as Secretary of the Treas
ury the President has discovered that by the Sth
section of the act to create the Treasury De-
partment Dir Stewart was ineligible to the
Office, and ask that the ineligibity of Mr..
Stewart be removed by joint resolution of Con
gress Mr. Sherman then introduced bill to
repeal the. Sth section of the act aforesaid, but
providing that the Secretary shall act in nc
case In which he is personally interested. Mr.
Sumner objected and after short discussion
!