The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-12-05

aent os w. n' ns FAR the greater portion of
The nronertv and intelligence OF the country,
and Inv Inc independent laboring classes oi lns
manufacturing and agricui..i .,ro,r,h ~ hotb
~ ali polittcal parties in the northern Sthles
,nonsht together by the late war, and now heia
together by a common sentiment ana sslnpa
DIV Young men arriving al the age oI i,tn
mood naturally fall into, and thus SVEN its
r,nks IL will become stronger for many years
10 come. This may be termed the do'n,nd"
ptfty, led by tho ardent and cultivated inter.
ieets now representing 1t In Congress. ~
glance at the details OF the late elections VIII
convince the most sccptical OF the correctness
of the views rs to the composition OF the TWO
pa rtics above taken. $780,
The great Atlantic cities are old, and have
been aptly termed the great ulcers OF the body
polite. The lower classes there live ON excite
ment, and are mostly controlled by their pas
sions and preiudiccs except where 'hey are
tntelligentiy employed in healthy manuiactu-
ring establishments; there roNerhihenl pa
tronage is layishiy dispensed, and there The
President finds his greatest strength. AS you
approach the great agricultural ana manu-
featuring districts, where cducatlon Is rs COM
mon rs childrcn-whcre the people read ana
think-you find the great strength OF the con-
gressional party.
The practical question for your consideration
now is whether, 10y the rejection OF the pro
posed constitutional amendment, you are
likely to place he pe"pie Of our State In 4 bet,
ter condition If the views have presented
be correct, there is no hope o. better terms IL
is urged that il would be dshonorablc 10 nc
cept the terms offered Ill the amendment.
think this objection is not substantial. Ihere
was 40 polite power acquired by the surreh-
der OF the Confederate armies. The 'erns
were, as TO the soldier, the surrender oil ms
arms, giving his parole that he would go 10
his home and remain there peaceably uhlli en-
changed rs Il prisoner of war or released from
his parole: the officer had more liberal terms
81 an ted him, but these terms were only such
point of view. This position Is fully con
iirmed by the fact that after one OF the fede-
raj commanders had attempted 10 give poii-
teal status TO II large division OF the nsurGcht
army, the political feature OF the treaty was
ordered 10 be stricken out by the Government
nj Washington.
Up to this point no political status had been
given TO those who had been engaged Ill levy
| ing war against the Government II Is hot
material to the argument whethcr Inc uiilc-
presented States are TO be regarded rs MEM
beers of a de fuctO government, when mao beeh
oyerthrown by the arms OF the United states,
or rs IN aggregate OF individuals VINO h;lu
been engaged in rebellion against the Govern
mpur which had been suppressed. If these
Confederate States are regarded as 4 de J"cto
gorsrHtasHt, they had surrendered ana were ~
The discretion Of the cohqucror. Ii we regard
/ the inhabitants rs persons who were engaged
in domestic violence and waging war against
the United States, they Welesubdued ana were
amenahle 10 the laws. The President Oh the
United States regarded them III the EIll'r ca
paClty and decided that all the State govern
ments in the unrepresented States except IT.
ginia Tennessee, Louisiana, and Ark:thsaS,
where governments had been rc-cs tahlis hed by
the LOYAL people, had been aboiished by this
domestic violence lie ordered conventions
TO he called TO make new organic laws or con-
situations for those States, prescribing VINO
should and who should not vote ior dclcEates
TO these conventions. He issued proclaiha-
ton enumerating some thirteen or fourteen
/ l1A 80, In
| the United States unless they should OBTAIN
his special pardon. Thus he attempted 10 AA
the pol teal status of these STATES.
The term of the Thirty-thir Congress eN-
pircd on the Sd of March, 1850; the SURRENDER I
| of the Confederate armies took place IN tne
| months of April and May following, ana lie
action of the President 10 which nave Just
referred was had before the assembling OF the
present Congress in December OF t'ir oTart
wear When Congress assembled, IL IN rheC'
denied the validity of the action OF me l.si
dent III attempting 10 define the roHtlc;Il S!a.nS
of the people OF the unrcpreSenteu stu.
who had been engaged in leyNinS war as'',IS'
the Government and denied admission 10 re-
representatives. from those states nhIess w.
should adopt the proposed anhehdih,n' No
has Congress sanctioned the Nall"i'H VI
Presidents action so Tar except ~ "Nf
.scaucr and ON condition that this coh>ltu'
tional amendment shall! be auop'Cu ~ 80 ro
Cislature of each State. IL i t'''i''1,u ~ r
press that being the law making pla"'h VI
determine the political status oil IN" pcol'.o "a
hose STATES Therefore, rs yet, the poNtic;ll
status OF the people III those ,'tars - 40 d,
in the same condition that II WAS Oh 'i,c u''y
ina Confederate armies were suITtNutieu
Th.ro has haen nothing done by the law
making power OF the government ol III.
IImi,rd States to settle that question eXcept
The submission Of this proposition 10 a'i'ei'u
the Constitution. o,,
Tho naonla of those States, as 4 conquered
nation or ms individuals who nave tollelttn
their political rights by rebeilion, are e.,,a
under the ban OF the GoNerhlnehtr VI -. ~
power of the Conqueror. In lhe caSe % 80, 49, |
lions at war the conqucror dictates the terms
OF peace; in the case Of subjects ehSaEeu ~ -
belion when the rebellion IS su Duueu .iio
Government enforces or mllisat,es 'no nr he
The terms of the conqucror III TINS case, VI .i'e
penalties fixed by the Government, aie tin
bodied in this proposed amendment. III el'nvi
yicvv of the case there can be no ulsBlaee III
CURED by the acceptance OF tic .'a ' ,,ar.
nosed. because they are proposed by Il lo"rl-
mi Government TO the people OF states us
armed and unable to resist It's authority. 1he
proposed pracucaiiy 90 no'
go TO the army that s"rTHmarrso not o i've per
cent. of the individuals who composed thi'
army will be affected by the proposed coNsutu-
tional amendment. There We're, perhaps more
able bodied Nirginians III lhe ott.e WY
detailed or exempted III one way or aholhei
from military service than were bearing arms
ON that day. The disqualilcatiohs VIII ii!i
chiefly on this class. They ought not 10 com
plain because they did not expose tneil pei
aons in the strife to secure victory i'll war
they so largely contributed to inauguTaie.
There were few at Appomattox VINO haa peeh
active in bringing on the war. -,
The pardon issued by the President assumed
that severe pains and penalties had been m
curred by the individual receiving 1t, ana re-
quired an acknowledgment by Inc recipient
that he had committed the offence. congress
also declares that the offence was committed,
and afiiXes the disquali1ications imposed upon
certain offenders as q mltigated penalty. Inc
pardonS of the President were eagerly sought,
and accepted with professions OF gratitude.
II cannot be contendcd that no disgrace
attaches TO the acknowledgment OF wrong
where forgiveness is promised, ana tnat IL
would be dishonorable 10 acknowledge the
same fault where the consequences OF Inc al
mission merely go TO the disqualification from
holding Olilce.
But are the conditions imposed by Congress
hard? Congress Indicated that the disabilities
enumerated in the amendment are not 10 be
perpetual by reserving 10 itself the power 10
repeal them. The conditions are not nearly rs
hard us they might be. The person of the cit.
zen is safe; his property Is not threatened
with confiscation; II Is not proposed 10 uu-
minister our laws by strangers the power
over the question of suffrage Is LETT win the
States For the sake of securing peace ana It's
blessings, may ii not be an act OF exalted pa
triotism for a portion Of the old and middle
aged citizens TO yield gracefully 10 necessity
they cannot avertf 1t only brinSs the young
men a little earlier into public life, and VIII
tend TO the earlier development OF their ener.
gies BY the acceptance OF the amendment
tranquility will be secured 10 The Soulh. Inc
Young men and the old men Will enter hpon
new field of prosperity; lntercommunlcation
will be opened between all parts OF tue coun-
try, and by the exercise of little forhearancc,
in n few yearS a perfect restoration viii be