The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-05-29

Englis Views Of the Radical Policy
I'm COngress-How the south In Go.
verncd.
From the London Herald derby organ), May H.
The present state of affairs in that vast
part of the continent of North America
which has its centre at Washin gton must
DO an interesting subject of contemplation
to every thoughtful man. To the student
Of history, to the political theorist, to the
partisans Of democratic or .aristocratic
forms of government, to the practical phi
lanthropist, to optimists and pessimists in
such questions as the future of America
and the development of our race, to phi
losophers, in fact, Of every shade and hue
this crisis offers spectacle as strange as
1t is novel-disappointing, if not unex-
pected; paradoxical, if not altogether
unnatural. The fathers of the republic
when they cast off their connection with
Great Britain and her mnarchical tradi.
tions, established their commonwealth
on the broadest basis of individual IL
berty that had ever yet been asserted
or claimed by man. All men, they
said, were free and equal. The several
Il
already divided were to govern themselves
freely and absolutely by the independent
vote of all their citizens. The Federal
Congress and the Federal Government at
Washington represented the union OF
States in its foreign relations; but at home
was as much restrained in it's authority as
the executive of the most limited monar-
Chy known in Europe. The
Rump Congress which now governs the
American people has brought matters to
something very much like redactiO ad
dbStud,um. Either the ten southern States
are a part Of the Union or they are not.
| II they are not, Congress has no po,oer to
make la,rS for them any more than it has
for Canada or Mexico. If they are, they
have right to representation in both
Houses, granted by the original Constitution
of the Union, ,rhich has neuer yet been abro-
gated, and cannot, indeed, be set aside nth
ott their consent. The northern Congress,
however, mas its army, which the South has
no longer, and the power to make just what
terms it pleascs. The use which it makes
of its power is to deny to the southern
States all share in the Government, to
question even their right to consider them
selves as States. 1t depriyes the six mil
lions of southern men of all political and
civil rights, treating them like red Indians,
except in this, that the latter have the ad-
vantage in not being taxed. All this has
been strenuously opposed by the President,
but to no purpose, as the Radicals in both
Houses have passed the bills over his veto
by majorities of more than twc-thirdS. The
last act and climax of this injurious sys-
TEN of oppression has been what is called
the reconstruction act, which places the
South under martial law, and assigns to it
five military governors, with special de-
partnentS.
The South is now under a military
deSpotiSm, and all civil law whatever IS in
allowance. The soldiers in command are
men of character, gentlemen and Chris
tians, and we believe them incapable of
the terocious unfairness displayed towards
the South by the notorious Radicals, Sum-
ner, Butler, and Stevens, who seem to
carry all before them in the Washington
Parliament. Acts of petty oppression
| have been committed which illustrate the
danger of confding in irresponsible au-
| thority. General Sickles insists that the
tremen of Charleston shall dcfle before
Federal flag, and make solemn obeisance
to it. General Pope admonishes and re-
primands the civil Governor Of Georgia for
having ventured to express an opinion on
the reconstruction act. General Schotield
threatens to suspend the Richmond Times
for having alluded with some pride to the
prowess of the defenders of Virginia. All
this is mild in comparison with the attitude
taken up by the triumphant politicians Of
| In int "a
the reconstruction act !" was that as soon
as the people of the South had made up
their minds to grant the suffrage to the
negroes, TO repudiate their debts, and dis
own their late leaders, they might Or
ganiZe State conventions, reeStablish State
governments, and return representatives
| to Congress. The Radicals, however, lind
ing that they have it all their own way, be-
gin to think of insisting on still harder
terms. Senator Wilson, haranguing whites
and blacks at Hampton, in Virginia, tells
the people that they will be readmitted to
State rights if they will only promise to
"return Union men," Even this is toe
much for the old demagogue, Stevens OF
Philadelphia. He writes letter, in which
he solemnly denouuces Mr.. Wilson for hav-
| Ing promised so much. What right has he
to promise il when there is no such State
as Virginia, and no one has authority to
saw when or how it will be recognized
There must first be punishment for the
guilty and confscation of the property OF
disloyal men. BY this man, and such as
he, the restoration of the Union is lndeh.
nitely postponed. 1t is by his fault and
and that of his fellows that the prosperity
of the Union is at a stand still, that the
southern fields are relapsing into primitive
wilderness, and the southern people are
starving or emigrating from their homes
America has been fitted by nature to be a
Paradise on earth-why will her sons dc
their best to make her hell!
Jeff. Davis Ola Bail.
From the London Star, May 10.