The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-19
Moderate Men and Moderate Measures.

There Ii no novelty In the knowledge tnat We
can see with clearness and sagacity tnose
faults in others which we cannot reanse :"
ourselves, and II is highly probable .ne' 0.. sa
Southerners have not been exempt Io.' ~
operation OF a nearly universa i".S "
months and years loud ana strioehs wiz.
have been raised against the extremists Vi tne
North In a manner which has shown ohiy TOO
MAINLY that the censors themselves were
oui,tv in no small degree OF the same exagger-
alton Of thought and expression OF wnich tney
were so urgently complaining. Noise ana
rant are not always real, and those who are
content to look quietly behind the scenes are
satisfied that big words and general bombast
are more frequently used to answer purpose
than because their full force is felt or under
stood.
Far be ii from us to palliate or excuse for one
moment the attacks which have been made
upon the Southern people; but it is our sincere
and earnest belief that we shall gain more py
moderating our thoughts and words thah "
endeavoring TO return with interest the eoh'
tumely which has been cast upon us.
The his tory of thcworld has taught us one
great lesson, and that is, that men OF trans
cendent genius-those mighty warriors, states
men or philosophers, who at memorable epochs
den splendor TO overawe and astonish the
human race, have produced but seldom any
permanently beneficial effect upon the coun-
tries in which they lived. They have been
more powerful to destroy than 10 create, ana
tho memory of their works too generally per-
ishes with them. Those nations, on the other
band which in modern times, have been
remarkable for the solidity and reality OF their
material progress have been built up, not
bv men Of genius, not by the brilliant debater
or theorist, but by the quiet and unobtrusiVe
labors of men Of medium capacity It's the
tortoise and not the hare in the fable which
wins the race and SO it must ever be. The per-
manent wealth of country is produced Dy men
who are quick to realise business advantages
men of commercial ability, men OF sense, put
who are far from being men Of genius. 30,
also in Affairs of State, the most lasting
results have ever been obtained by men OF
nlain practical sense hard, earnest thinkers,
who were not sufficiently men OF genius 10
allow themselves TO be confounded by subtle
distinctions or to be carried away by the Dill
liant and startling novelty Of q new ana orlgl-
nal idea. 49,
At this time, of all others, we cannot afford
10 disregard the experience Of others, ana no"
our whole country pre-eminentiy oenahus
moderate men and moderate measures. Inc
fiery passion of the fanatic, the turgid decia-
nation of the seeker for sectional popularity,
NAV be attractive 10 the few, but II now agra
waited and perseyered in, they will involve US
all in one common ruin
God knows we have suffered enough! Our
heart-strings have been severed; our dearest
hopes have been swept away, and homes wnlch
were happy and prosperous five short years
since are now Borrowing and desolate. we
would be the last to advocate any diminutlon
of that chiyalrous devotion or naughty spirit
which has ever been the characteristic OF the
South but to retain these in all that purity
and freshness which caused our people to be
loved and honored, we must, above all Things,
preserve our wonted se1f-respect. Most men
can become good haters, but hating will not
now draw us from the slough, or pluck the
brand from the burning; and that charlty OF
feeling which we desire for ourselves we our
selves must extend to others! Some dincui-
ties, some prejudices, may never be smoolneu
away, but many of them are personal ana
peculiar in their character, and should not De
allowed 10 influence our public life. NO oph-
cation rests upon US to make this man or that
our bosom friend no obligation rests upon
us TO make any particular person the conndant
of our hopes and fears; but it is necessary In
this crisis in our affairs that we should be
moderate in speech and moderate in action
The man who eternaly raves and storms
must soon lose his power, and has no terms
strong enough adequately to express his
ideas when a new contingency arises. One
word of dignified rebuke or explanation is
worth a volume of passionate repining. We
of the South, we who know what honor and
virtue are, can afford to pass by in silence the
attacks of those who would have the universe
to believe that we are destitute alike of mercy,
generosity, or moral worth. No loss Of dig
nifty or position will be necessary. We know
our rights and to what we are entitled, and
those rights can be better obtained by calm
and moderate reasoning than by vehement
and frothy defamation. Let MS be cool and
deliberate, but never time serving or obsequi-
GUS. No man will accuse the South OF cow
ardice or weakness, for our fortitude mas oeen
proved in the struggles and trials OF q fearIui
and devastating war and, whenever the Iihe
shall come for the South to speak in the cause
Of Justice or honor, her voice will ring ike
clarion throughout the land with power
and force that will show that we are still all
that our forefathers claimed TO be.
Above ALL let US refrain from giving erro-
naOns impressions. 1nat WHICH VITO AiuNC PAo-
missed we will perform; the covenant shall
not be kept in letter and broken in spirit! As
we were consistent and true in our struggle
for independence, so will we be consistent and
true in accepting those obligations we have
assumed as the inevitable issues Of war.
We need no men Of violent assertions-no
mere party hacks. We require men who will
be moderate in their demands, and firm and
reasonable in the expression Of their opinions.
We have much work before us, and must not
expect to obtain in moment, as the price Of
defeat, that which would have been glorious
yictor's crown! Let our statesmen and people
be but moderate in their expressions and
actions, and we shall secure confidence and
respect in the place Of ill-disguised fear, and
in the end we shall yet realize that freedom Of
thought will, and deed, which Is the dearest
boon that liberty offers TO mankind.
The Two Cons titutional Lawyers.
Judge UNDERWOOD sustains the legality Of
the Alexandria Legislature-Mr. Boris pro-
nonnces IL unconstitutional. Judge UNDER