The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-12-04
VOL. XXXIII.

do so, and whether 1t should not save
them from themselves" But it is not pro-
posed by Congress that they shall merely
govern themselves; but "that thev shall
"rule the ochite race, make and administer
"he la,os, elect Presidents and members
"of Congress, and shape to greater or less
+" er'e"t the future destiny of the ,ohole
country; and, it is asked, "Would such
!" a trust be safe in such hands,
This branch Of the subject being thus
opened, the President proceeds to discuss
the danger of placing the right of suffrage
IN the hands of negroes, and boldly de-
clareS that they are altogether unfit for it.
Negroes have shown less capacity for
government than any other race Of people.
No independent form of government has
lever been successful in their hands. On
"the contrary, wherever they have been
cleft to their own devices they have shown
:" a constant tendency to relapse into bar
"barism." Yet Congress has undertaken to
confer upon southern negroes, just released
from slavery, the ballot. 1t is questiona-
BILE whether they know more than their
ancestors how to organize and regulate
society. 1t is admitted that southern
blacks are regardless Of the rights of pro-
perty, and $50 utterly ignorant Of public
"nothing more than carrying ballot to
" the place where they are directed to de-
"post it," Remarking that the elective
franchise is the highest attribute of an
American citizen, the message declares
that it ought to be reposed in none who
are not morally and mentally fitted to ad-
minister it. The impolicy and the danger
Of orconferring this sacred right upon negroes
are explained in the clearest and most for
chile style. 1t is added, that while we
should do everything, in the way of kind
ness and humanity, to promote the comfort
and intelligence, and protect the just rights
of negroes, "he transfer Of our political
Inheritance to them ec0uld be an ABANDON
"ment Of duty ,1tich zoe o,ce alike to the
"n,em0ry Of Our fathers and the rights Of
"o,l1 children."
To this view it is added that the period
Of this attempt to put the southern States
wholly into the hands Of the negroes is
most unpropitious. The foundations of
society have been broken up by civil war;
to restore order, industry, and public
credit requires all the wisdom and virtue
of the great men who formed our institu-
tions originally. 1t is believed their de-
scendants will be equal to this task, and
that "it is worse than madness to expect
" that negroes will perform it for us.
" Certainly ne ought not to ask their assist
" ance untu zee despair Of oar o1on conpc-
" tency."
The message makes vigorous summing
up of the evils which must ensue from
the Radical reconstruction system if per-
severed in. The annoyance ami tyranny
Of the negro governmcnts-thc entailing
Of millions per annum upon the Treasury
to maintain military forces to support ne
gro governmcnts--and the destruction Of
southern prosperity, already seriously
paralvned, and the loss of the sta
ples of the South, which have been
so great q source Of national wealth.
The vast expenditure involved in
the measure seriously aggravatcs
the wrong itself, and threatens the credit
of the nation, as it encourages the idea of
Reputation in the minds of many who are
led to suppose that the war was not fought
to preserve the Union, but to hand the
southern States over to the government of
negroes. Many may consider that there
is no obligation to pay debt incurred in
this violation of the pledges of the Go
vernment itself and the provisions Of the
Constitution. While the President con-
siders that there can be no excuse for re-
pudiaton, he invites Congress to this view
as an additional reason for repeating mea-
sures which can bring nothing but trouble
and ruin upon the nation. He does not
fail to call attention to the recent indica-
ton of public sentiment condemning the
measure for AfricaniZing the South and
handing the southern States over to the
barbarous rule Of ignorant negroes.
The President intimates there might be
case of extreme legislation by Congress
in which he would deem it his duty to
interfere, and preserve the life Of the na-
tion by arreSting its action. He has con-
sidcred this question patiently with refer
ence to the reconstruction acts; but re-
garding the people as not without remedy,
he preferred to leave the matter to them
rather than inaugurate civil war, as he
must do when interposing to protect the
people from outrageous and ruinous legls-
lation. He says, however, that if the le
gisative department should pass an act,
even through all the forms Of law, to
abolish coordinate branch of the Govern
ment, "the President must take the high
" responsibilities of his office, and save the
{" life of the nation at all hazards"
Attention is called to enormous frauds
on the Treasury, by which immense for
tunes have been made at the public ex-
pense. This corruption has increased, is
and "if not diminished viii
{" soon bring US into total ruin and dis
"grace." Among the causes are the man
ner of the laying of taxes, which present
irresistible temptation to evade payment,
the chances to make great sums by official
connivance at fraud, and the open disre-