The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-02-11
The IyucilburG Republican Comes
ont S~auarciS for the New Plan.

~. arr, informed from Washington that
r..>.dent Johnson has ~telcgraphed the
.~IaruvcS OF the several southern States,
-ng them, ~ q private citizen, 10 adopt
.. new plan OF adjustment published by
as. Jew DAYS ago, and constructed by pro-
... >.uthern men recently in conSulta-
.n with the President. We make no
a-v 10 tAe readers of this newspaper
expressing the hope that our LegiSla-
. Wltu Virginia in the lead, will
~ respond 10 that suggestion Of the
4 ui. We do not approve Of the new
,unr dn we ever expect TO have a set
.ul, which We shall approve. Neither
C expect tie Radicals TO accept the
wien adopted by the southern States.
H.. the plan is infinitely better than that
r... .,I 0y Congress and recently rejected
9Hr people, and infinitely better than
.. Liza, Congress ever will propose TO US.
. while we fully expect the new plan
z. Me rejected 10y the Radicals, We desire
rg sc : adopted 10y rs simply as a means
u ,.al'4g in the hands of our northern
ads and supporters a powerful weapon
r.4 which to defend themselves, and
IT, make effective war upon the tanati-
l of that section. Congress clamors
for negro sulis age, and the northern peo-
90. arc constantly led to believe that the
W. .le of the South are deadly hostile to
Tin. negro, aud are not disposed to show
m any favor or give him any rights what
ever. OfcourSe these representations are
.' t.,se and SIanQcrous, but the northern
people believe them, and are made radical
them. II northern Democrats deny
. 49, 49,. .e 4.N,.r,l a,l tla p,lf-
Gals point 10 us as Q set of obstinate rebels
r.o need reconstruction by force. To
.~..etuallv do away with these false i'm
r.us>itus, and to take the wind out of the
,.Es Of RtdiCalism. the southern LegiSla-
tr.cs should at once adopt the new plan of
adjustment extending qualified suffrage
&. such OF our negroes as can read and
write, and have $3.50 worth Of taxable
r-.rrrty. This We will have to do, and
u...; TO do eventually, whether Congress,
....gs us to do il or not. Policy and ne
c.>~i.v Will compel US TO give the ballot to
the most respectable portion Of our negro
fpDulation. jas, As we have given them the
v..t 10 testify in u courts Of justice,
.alu-L not to the same extent, and 1t is
u..Etss to shut our eyes 10 events which
are surely and rapidly drifting upon us on
t..t.le Of time. The prejudices of our
people, we know, have been strongly
a.. INST these things, and with none have
tcy been stronger than with ourselves.
Bat We are placed under circumstance
.-- bow where preiudices must be con-
e.. Led by common sense and give way to
s,l.d policy. If we do not adopt qualified
.r Mm,ed negro suffrage, we shall soon
have forced upon Us unqualified and uni
yr.~tl uegro suffrage with ali its attendant
,v., and dangers. We have no hesitancy
(. choosing the former, especially when
~. are confident it will be a powerful
Weapon III the hands Of the President and
SUR northern friends with which to contend
a-..ust radicaiiSm.
The new plan simply amounts to quail
aat wagro outrage and universal amnesty.
We Lave no belief whatever that this plan
will be acceptable to the Jacobins in Con-
gr-,>, bat we have strong hopes that it
may be the means of defeating them be-
fire the people at no distant day. 1t is at
.ga,, worth the trial.