The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-12-27
The Split.


Of the alleged split in the Radical party pre-
vious to the adjournment for Christmas tue
long holiday which the members Of that party
have given themselves would have dispelled
il. Congress adjourned on the 2lst day OF De-
cenhar. to meet again on the 9th Of January,
allowing the members time, not only to reaen
their homes, but to see, consult, and stimulate
to the desired point, their constituents through
out the entire North. That such is the object
there cannot be a doubt; that there would DE
any necessity for so long an absence from their
duties, and so much political man1uverlnS as
il implies unless a catastrophe were lmm-
nent, no one will believe. The crack In the
body which, at the opening OF the session, pre-
sented a surface as smooth, as clear, rs coio
and as hard as the ice of the Northern pohos'
became perceptible before the adJournmeht'
and rs it is beyond the power OF man 10 re-
unite the fragments of ice when once crackeo
through and through, so we take 1t, not I'll the
politicians will be able to put together again
the parts of this huge party when they snail
have been rent completely asunder
The Radical party of the United States car
ries within itself the seeds OF speedy dlsso-
luton. It may live long enough to DO m"ch
mischief, but the period ofits duration must ma
turally.be short. No party which comes into
ascendancy No destructive party can long con-
t;nue to exist. The so called Republican party
is both one ideaed and a destructive party
Its one idea is the negro; its general policy is
the overthrow of the Constitution not by
revolution, open and with arms, but by legis-
1otion. Mr. STEVENS, who is the leader OF that
party in the House, is bold and impetuous
enough. but altogether, wants discretion. He
has ayowed his object too soon and too openly
The majority even Of the Northern people,
have respect for the Constitution. They will
not consent to alter it SO entirely that the very
men who made it would not know it again. in
order that Mr. STEVENS and his party may be
enabled to keep the Democratic party out OF
Office. This is what he proposes AS the OBJECT
of all the legislat ton which he has introduced
Even were the legislation OF itself benenclai,
the people would not give 1T their sanction
when they understood the motive The END OF
all legislation should be the benefit OF the
country ANY end of less Importance will not
Justify any system of legislation. MIR. STEVENS
proposes to make the reign of his party per-
petual; and for this purpose he makes use OF
the power temporarily placed in his hands
Legislation for the purpose of securing power
to the party passing the laws never has been
successful in this country, and never will be-
In order to secure the object-the continu-
ance of the power and plumber in their
own hands-these men do not hesitate to tear
down any portion of the Constitution when it
happens to come in their way. They resemble
an engineer who should tear down half the
houses in Bond street or Broadway in order to
have a straight track for his railway. Inc
MONOPOLY of the Camden and Amboy railroad
is ANNOYING to some of the members. The re-
medy at once presents itself. Take away from
the States the power of regulating the railways
within their limits, and give to the General
Government the power of regulating the same.
The Constitution says all powers not expressly
granted blythe States are withheld. Ihls power
certainly is not granted; but what OF that.
Congress, like the British Parliament, is ON
nipotent, and can do what it pleases. The
Constitution gives to the States the power to
regulate the suffrage question, each within It's
own limits. Never mind that clause is in the
way of certain designs; pull it down. The
Constitution decides what disqualifies man
from being member of either House. Certain
members-none Of them laboring under any of
these disqualificatiOns- present themselves, re-
lying on the Constitution. What of that
Constitutions were not made for members OF
Congress. An Indian will shoot a fine horse to
get the bell from his neck. These men will de-
stroy, without hesitation, the finest work OF
the Constitution to obtain party advantage.
We repeat it, that sort Of legislation does not
suit the people of the country, and the party
pursuing it must, sooner or later, come to an
| enforced halt.