The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-11-07
ReCoCSt rNctiOn.

The New York Times of Tuesday, as if
anticipating Democratic victory in the
Empire State, declared that mo victory
(which the Democrats may now achieve
evil give them the slightest chance OF
"succcSs in the national contest, or affect
I" in any serious respect the leading fca-
lures of the policy under which the
"Southern States will resume their places
/" in the Union"
We suspect that there is some truth in
this declaration. The Democrats will rot
have the power to prevent the forcible
hustling into the Union of Alabama, or
Louisiana, or Georgia, or Mississippi, or
any other State in which the Radicals
have the majority Of the registered votes.
Twelve months ago the Democrats were
clamorous for the early admission Of the
seeded States, and The Radicals were de-
tcrmincd that they should not enter the
Union until after the election Of Prcsi-
dent had taken place. Then negro sui-
frage had not been determined upon
Now the Radicals are clamorous and
really anxious for the immediate admis-
sion of every reconstructed State, and
the Democrats are silent. They know not
whether to oppose or to favor. They arc
afraid of the results of negro suffrage. 1t
is to the Democrats in Congress that VIC
are indebted for negro suffrage. They
forced it upon the Republicans in order to
benefit themselves in tho North, and they
have rcaped the reward Of their labors.
But they have not only almost ruined the
South, but they have placed her in such
circumstances rs that it is doubtful whc-
Their She can ever lift q hand to break
the chains that bind herself. Uoa. HENRY
J. RAYMOND, who is well informed in the
premises, states tho following facts, which
il would be well for us TO remember. In
replying to Mr.. EWlNG'S denunciation Of
the caucus system Mr.. RAYMOND says:
"But the caucus system is not accounta-
bic for the action TO which Mr.. Ewing
takes exception. Neither universal ne
gro suffrage nor the military reconstruct
lion bill was passed in consequence of the
decisions OF Republican caUcuSes. On
the contrary, they were passed against
those decisions and because they were not
adhered 10. At every Republican caucus
held in the session Of 1866 on the subject
the vote was two to one against universal
nero suffrage and in favor Of Il qualified
suffrage. Mr.. Stevens being out-voted,
declared that he would not be governed
by the decision aud when the bill {rela-
ting to tho District Of Coiumbia) came to
Il vote i'll the House, he and all the rest of
the Radicals voted in spite of the decision
in caucus, against giving the negroes a
fR0tfca suffrage, as did all the Democrats.
1t was thus defeated; and when the queS- !
ton was next taken on giving them miuer-
SUI suffrage, all the Republicans voted for
II, IS the only way to secure the colored
people any vote whatever.
at was by precisely the same monnu-
Hrc that the Shellabarger amendment to
the reconstruction bill was carried and the
southern whites DISTINGUISHED. A ma
iOrity Of the Republicans were opposed to
50 sweeping measure, and had rejected a
bill in which it was embodied by decl-
Sivc vote. But it was afterwards brought
forward in the form of an amendment to
another bill--the Democrats voted with
the Radicals against the previous question,
aud thus allowed the amendment to come
in, and then the whole party vote was cast
Tor the bill. All the worst features of the
reconstruction policy were thus forced
upon the Republicans by the Democratic
votes. The latter refused in every case
to cooperate with the moderate and liberal
men OF the Republican party in defeating
the extreme and rigid measures brought
forward and pressed SO tenaciouSly by the
Radicals and they never failed to give
the latter the aid of their votes. Their
policy seemed to be to make the laws as
severe as possible upon the South, in hopes
that they could reap q party advantage
from the odium they would excite"
SO that we may safely assume that the
Democrats will take, as to Us and our
rights and interests, whatever course will
most benefit themselves at home, and that
the Radicals will do the same. If SO,
Congress will surely admit the cotton
States at its approaching session. Those
States are in the hands Of the negroes and
their allies. We can see no hope of DELAY
SO far as they are concerned. Then only
Virginia, and perhaps North Carolina, will
remain 10 be reconstructed, " nile the
other southern States will be powerful
anXlliaries OF RadicalSm.
We commend these facts to the thought
-ful consideration Of the public.