The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-12-16
SOUTHERN REPRESENTA-
CLEAN OF HOPE

SOUTHERN REPREsENTATI
CLEAN OF HOPE.
we trust that our readers will not thini
that we nave given up too much space to tn.
following article, when we remind them tina
the editor Of the New York Times Is Honora
Die II. j. Raymond, \ prominent Republican
member OF Congress, and that he is geperall,
regarded as the exponent Of the views Of Mr.
Seward, who, in turn, is the most influential
member Of the Republican party, and ha,
never, we believe, in one instance, failed te
control its policy-not even when he was thu
first to warn them from what was called
know Nothingism.' With Seward active
ly engaged in behalf Of the admission of the
Southern representatives, they have nothing
| to fear rs to the result.
From the New York Daily Times.
IMPORTANCE oP A SOUTHERN REPRESENTATIONS.
Mr. Summers theory that the "insurrec-
tlonary States have forfeited their State at
/ tributes, and are now mere territorial do
main; has justly been repelled as inconsistent
with the whole scheme Of the CONSTITUTION
But even that theory is preferable 10 any
project Of keeping the functions Of these
States in indefinite suspension, and excluding
them from all representation In the National
legislature Treat these States as Terrific
ries, and they may at least, like other Terri
tories, send each delegate to the House Of
Representatives, who, though not voting,
would have the privilege Of speaking and re.
presenting the feelings and wishes of his con :
stituents In the present condition of things.
| these So called States have not even Terrific
rial life every one of them Is as vOiceless in
the national halls as fit were forever dead,
and resolved into its primitive dust again.
Il 1t was but right for the House to ignore all
representatives from the theatre of the late re-
hellion until it could be shown that their elec-
tiOns Were made under competent authority
n wa iS RI cf
to inquire whether the late insurrecttOnary
States, in seeking again the constitutional
right OF representation, are prepared to COM
ply with all their constitutional obligations.
But all this can be learned without any great
delay. President johnson doubtless has abun-
dant information, derived from his provisional
governors, and from agents deputed to make
special inquiry, which he will cheerfu)1y I'M
part. II that information is not enough, any
deficiency can easily be supplied by al invita-
| tion Of the Southern Representatives to pre-
sent themselves before the committee of fifteen.
| CnQuestiOnably they could make expOsitions
of the condition of the South, and of the pre-
sent sentiments of the people, that would
quickly clear up every uncertain point, and
enable the committee to report, at an early
day, with the fullest understanding.
! The true policy is to expedite rather than
delay the readmission of the Southern Re-
presentatives and Senators. 1t is neither
right nor safe for any part Of the country to
| legslate for another part Of the country
without giving it any voice in that legislation.
|
publican institutions Its denial to any ex-
| tent impairs the normal operation of our 60
vernment, and opens the way to all kinds of
abuses n;n ts NO one thing is so important as to
| ism, which was the growth of slavery. The
great effort of true craftsmanship now must
be to animate the South with new life, which
| shall be thoroughly identified with the ma
tiOnal life, and have a complete community Of
| spirit with the North and the West. But this
will be morally impossible if determinations
/
! the EXTREMIST Of all determinations Of not
allowing it representation, and making it
subject to laws in the framing Of which 1t has
had no part. That will be sure to beget a
result would inevitably be the intensest ha-
tired, on the part of the Southern people, of
those they deemed their oppressors To shut
the eyes TO this certainty is to be blind to
American nature. Whatever the motive, the
act is one of infatuatOn.
The South is now in its most impressible
| stage. All Southern men are waiting to see
how Southern submission will be treated by
/ the North. OF the fair and conciliatory dis
position of President johnson they are well
satisfied. Yet he is but single man. OF the
spirit of the Northern people toward them
they are still in doubt. Any unfrendly mani
fcstation by Northern Senators and Represent
I atives will be taken rs proof that the North
ern people have no desire again to fraterniZe
! with them, and mean only to be their masters.
An Enthusiastically generous and magnanimous
policy by Congress, in admitting their Repre-
sentatiyes and buryihg the past, would soon
overcome their last lingering resentment, and
eXpunge the last trace Of that sense of humili-
alton, which cannot exist without bitterness.
A Jealous and rigorous line Of treatment
would, on the other hand, soon CONCEAL every
better impulse of the Southern people into an
infieXible determination to oppose and thwart
the Government in every practicable way, and
would perpetuate the spirit Of sectionalism in
its worst form for years, and perhaps genera
tiOns.
| Some say that the new loyalty of the South
is still very defective-that it consists in pro-
fession mainly. We can hardly concede this
is yet immature, it is the. very reason why it
should be encouraged and strengthened. We
have not q doubt that the predominant feeling
in the Northern heart to-day toward the
South is yearning for complete reconcilia-
ton. 1t would be Il blessed influence upon the
Southern people if they could truly know this.
But they cannot know 1t, except through the
words and actions of Northern Congressman.
! Let those Representatives look well to 1T that
! they do not give occasion for = miscOnceptiOn
Of the real spirit of the North. They cannot
long continue to keep the gates of the capitol
barred against all Southern represen ia ton
without producing upon the Southern mind a
most mischievOus impression, that the North
means not to be reconciled, but to domineer
and degrade.
What harm can Southern representation
| do? Even suppOsing the worst, that it would
| be dsafiected and tactiOus, it would still form
but a weak minority in either House; and
cratic strength the combined force would still
be less than twO-fifths of either body. The
| Thirty ty-ninth Congress, upon which devOlves
the completion of this work of reconstruction,
has magnificent Union strength, which no
possible combination of malign elements can
hinder from working its own high will. Let
it trust to that strength, and be fearlessly
generous. Let it admit, at an early day, into
its bosom all the truly accredited Representa-
tives Of the Southern people, so that it shall
have every facility to legislate tntelligently
and justly for the South, as well as for every
other part of the land. This is what is impera-
lively demanded by the spirit of national con.
cord and by every practical interest of the
! Union. No speculative dogma, or old resent.
ment, ought to stand in the way Oft.
| CHOLERA AND CATTLE PLAGCE.-The United
States Consul writes from London to the
State Department., under date of November 80
1865, to the effect that no reliable indications