The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-16
Until After the Presidential Election.


Judge uspgRwoop, In his developments -
the little band of destractives OF Aissana".
told the truth when he declared the oole.. =.
the leading Republicans OF Congress 'o~s
keen the southern States out OF the Union
.,,,s, ,,.- tae ,.s Presidential election Ihis Is
80 go They are determined, first, II pos
- :. aenriye the Southern states OF any
.,,.,n.tion in that election, In order TO MAKE
.nrs of the Presidency and Its appointing
nouer for themselves; and, In the second
Mao 70 they can carry Il, through the black
snffrase and the Freedmen's Bureau, to or
xanixe a genuine Black Republican party in
the South in order to perpetuate their pre-
dominance in the national councils Such
grand calculations are ever doomed by provi-
dental laws to Illustration. Perhaps there
could be no surer way to defeat than the ac-
complishment Of their own plan Of operations.
They would then break to pieces by reason OF
their unwieldy proportions and the rivalries
Of ambitious aspirants which are multiplied
according TO the increase Of the numbers OF a
party-especially party like that whose main
object is the offices and the patronage OF the
Government.
Whether the South is to be kept out or not
is vet TO be seen. We trust the people OF the
South will maintain their dignity, and not
show more solicitude on this particular ques-
ton than becomes them. For the sake OF
the country-its peace, harmony, and pros
perity, it would be we'll if the Constitution
could be thrown over the whole Of the States,
comforting upon them the rights which 1t at
once accords and protects. But for the mere
matter of mingling once more In National
party politics, that is not only secondary, but
matter of indifference to the great body OF
the people.
The scenes Of Presidential elections We're
disgusting enough. They brought out the
baser passions, and in latter years the baser
men Of the country. Oifice-hunting had be-
come the rage, and involved almost the entire
frame work Of society. The offlce-seekers be-
came so numerous that they and their rela-
tiyes and friends embraced the larger part OF
society. The demoralizing effects upon the
country cannot be exaggerated; and the evil
increased as the power and expenditures
of the Government were enlarged. 1t
has, indeed, been the bane Of this coun-
try. 1t was that which in past days embit-
tered the Presidential canvasses and nearly
.all the local elections, and gave those signs OF
sanguinary conflicts in the future which
intelligent travellers did not fail to detect
With the present immense patronage OF the
Government, the streams of corruption flow
ing through the land must be swollen beyond
all precedent. Whatever may be done with
the Southern States, we think they may felici-
tate themselves that this source of deprivation
of public virtue is not hurting Southern
society much at this time, and will not proba-
bly, for some years to come, even II they are
admitted squarely into the Union.
With regard TO the offices, it would besa
happy thing for this nation if the feature in
the Confederate Constitution which made
offices permanent could be introduced into the
Constitution Of the United States. 1t would
do more to check corruption and protect the
public virtue than anything else. 1t would
terminate one Of the greatest, If not the great,
political evil of the country-one which is at
the bottom of the Congressional agitation
which now obstructs the restoration Of peace
and prosperity to the nation, and which
threatens, sooner or later, in the vile scramble,
like the blind SAMSON, to pull down the very
pillars Of the Republic.