Year: 1869

entlre,to support straight-out Conserya


tive candidates for State and local of


fees, and if successful to postpone re


construction indefinitely. The othe'


was to accept the designations offered, t


support the moderate Republican ticke


headed by WALKER as against the Rad


ical scalawag and csrpet-bsg movement


represented by WELLS, to defeat the OBJ


noxious portions of the Constitution


and approve the remainder of the In
strument, thus complying with the de-


mands of Congress, securing the appro'


val Of the Administration, and guaran'


teeing as far as possible, the speedy


reconstruction of the State.


We are happy to see that the COnven'


tion chose the latter course. While II
did not in terms adopt the gentlemen


upon the WALKER ticket as its nomi-


nees, it withdrew it's own candidates
and tacitly fell in with the moderate
Republican movement-a movement
pledged to defeat the obnoxious clauses
eff the Constitution, of which general


white disfranchisement is the most


prominent.


Under ordinary circumstances this
course would not have been advisable
The Conservatives might possibly vote
down the whole Constitution, elect their
own State ticket and Legislature, AID
defeat negrS suffrage throughout the
State. But after that, what 7 An un'
friendly Congress would disown their
Government an opposing Administrs'
ton would nentralize all their acts, and
a military edict would disperse their
offices, their Legislatures and their
Courts. Knowing that their success as
party could orly lead to these results,
they were compelled to concede much
in order to acquire that which to them
is Of far more Importance than fruit
less partisan triumph, civil Govern
ment, legal protection and substantial
peace. Negro suffrage for Virginians is o
sad calamity, but Semi-anarchy is worse,
Negro suffrage they are bound to have,
for Congress has the purpose and the
power tc force it upon them. White
disfranchisement will be defeated by
conceding the ballot to the blacks.
Not to make that concession now might
result in taking suffrage from nine
tenths of the resident white men of
the State. To defeat negro suf-
frage at this time, with the
certainty of having to accept it
ultimately and to lose at the same
time their own right to vote, would be
the saprenest folly on the part of the
Conservatives and they do well to
avoid it.


There will not be the slightest Difficult
ty about the election of the WALKER
ticket. 1t represents substantially the
amnesty and universal suffrage
idea. 1t will be supported By the re-
spectacle, intelligent and influential
men of both parties, almost without ex-
ception. The opposition is headed by
gang of worthless adventures and seal
swags, with no motive but plunder and
no capital but brass. Over such antsg-
onism the WALKER ticket can easily be
carried by go, 900 majority. The UNDER
WOOD Constitution will be adopted with
its most obnoxious features stricken out.
A Legislature will be elected composed
of moderate Republicans and Conserva-
tivSs, elements from whose fusion may
yet come forth the great party of Wv
ginia's future. The Administration will
not withhold its approval of such re.
suits as those indicated. Recognition
by Congress will be secured. Vir-
ginia's representatives will be admitted
to seats. Virginia men will legislate
for the State; they will administer her
laws, they will dispense justice in her
Courts; they will control her
The destiny of the Old
Dominion will once more be placed in
the hands,of her own citizens. "Gov-
ernment of the people, by the people
and for the people" will be vouchsafed
for the future and under faithful rulers
and wise policy the grand old State
may enter upon career of prosperity
and Of peace that will add a page to her
history whose brightness will not be
by any of the recorded glories
of the past.