The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-27

That a war such as we have had could not
close without leaving its effects alter IL 1or It
long time, all wise men We're convinced IN
deed. most people We're satisfied the cohSe-
GuenceS could not Ice trammelled up with the
terms of peace Yet few agreed Is 10 What
shane and form they would assume, ana the
general disposition was for the lettering OF
fortune by speculation or active pursuit oil
business on a liberal scale. In the larger
cities, especially in New York, tn" event was
the signal for an unusual activity anu the
indulgence of the spirit OF adNentuf" 10 4
degree of extraordinary freedom
EXAMPLES Of lines past seem TO have hal
little effect. and men, although SenefaHS
asserting that some extraordinary commercfti
troubles w"r" to come acted Is though lh'S
could easily protect themselves III any storm
that might happen.
But the storm i beginning, and The compla-
cent reasoning Of communities Is refnleo'
They are not ready for the first gentle WhlS-
pers of the blast. With Il country occupying
more than half the present Union OF St"''"
nearly desolaicd, and its labor dlsorganlHed,-
with Il national debt of three Thousand mn
lions of dollars, and taxation more enormously
oppressive than was ever known III the land
how, couId II be antiripatpd that Il career OF
uninterrupted prosperity could b" chJoyede even
nv IN. uniniurcd half of the Union? Great
wars are always followed by great commercial
rroublcs: but our war had ruined nan the
Union, and that half which had furnished the
oreat STABLES which had mainly contributed u"
the commercial wealth and power of the couh-
try What could be anticipated short Oh Inc
most disastrous consequences?
In contemplating the subject, we thlhk we
NAV console the South upon the TACT mat Ut
the close Of the war, the Northern merchants
and manufacturers would not creniI the
Southern people. Ii was the best lhihS Ill
the " Ord for them. 1t left them 10 be@lh' IL
beginning at all, with small means Ill Il small
way They viii therefore be less involved
and have less To lose when the crash does
come: and by economy and industry they may
p,ace themselves III comparative comfort.
Industry and frugality bring good digestion
and good health, and if Il m;tn has these bless
ings and is OUT of debt, he need not be very
unhappv. Then, if the Southern people but
follow up the course and policy to which they
were admonished by the Northern merchants
and others. they will not be greatly damaged
bv the storm They will, like the less aspi-
ring members OF the forest remain unbroken,
while the tall trees, and, besides, those lofty
spires of the cities, viii BE- Frustrated III utter
ruin.
The National Government 1T Il time lIk"
this has Il great responsibility. The naviga-
ton of the Ship of State amidst the troubles
that are increasing daily will require the
greatest amount of wisdom and patriotism.
When we see the Congress Ut such II time
almost exclusively dcyoti4p itself for four
long months TO the business Of increasing the
proong the power and official existence OF
party that Hts founded upon those preiudices,
we cannot bts feel the greatest alarm and APP
prchcnsion. President JOHNSON sees the dan
gers ahead but what can he do, opposed by
an impract!cabe and selfish majority OF the
National Legislature!