The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-07-23

tmuch involved In 1t as you are from the
grasp of this fearful despotism. 1t is in the fact
| that these Radicals seek power not merely
over you, but over the whole country, by the
sword and are squandering, not your means
only, but that of the whole people in their
| immense expenditures. their taxation Of every
laborer, with their rotten banks and exorbi-
tant tariffs that constitutes your safety. Nor
have l any fears for the result. If Mr.. John
son will cut loose from the traitors and spies
who surround him, take Grant to his coun.
sells, and others in whom the lovers of the
Constitution have confidence, we can rally un-
der him next year, and tread out Radicalism
forever. If he will not do this, we will rally
under some other leader. should prefer
Grant myself in that event. have already
stated, to be sure that the Radicals are labor
ing to antagoniZe him to Johnson personally
and 10 the principles Johnson represents: but
do not believe that he will be weak as TO
abandon his principles and the only true
friend he has and agree to do the work of the
Radicals, which is abhorrent to him, for the
sake of getting their nomination TO the Presi
dency; but If he is, l am convinced that he
will degrade himself to no purpose. Great
rs are his personal merits, they will
weigh little in the scale when the question is
whether the people or the military shall rule,
and he is put forward rs the represen sative
man of military government. If our history
teaches anything, it is this lesson, that they
will not tolerate any machinery which takes
their government out OF their own hands. II
brought Mr.. Jefferson into power against all
the prestige which the Federaists derived
from Washington. General Jackson was
never elected for his military services. His
triumph over Mr.. Adams was in vindication of
the popular rights violated in his person in
casting the vote of Missouri, Illinois, and Ken
lucky, against the wishes of the people. His
triumph over Mr. Clay was on the Bank and
Tarifquesti0n, when all the moneyed interests
Of the country were brought to act in concert
4 .,et t1,n nrTN1n nI hIyh
election their determination to maintain the
control of their own government The cleo
tion of Lincoln was equally Tlndcauon OF
the popular rights against the political
control which had been eXerted by the use OF
the slave question. 1t would be sin gular that
Il people so jealous Of their political power
should sanction the Radical programme by
which twelve States are wheeled into line by
word of command from Washington. When
we remember that the spirit of our people
was reused by the attempt OF the United
States Bank to control elections, and that the
Democratic instinct from Maine to Georgia
rebelled when MIR. Bddle put the screw on
the money market to effect political power, we
cannot suppose it will sleep while R:tdicaliSm
openly wields at will the votes Of twelve
States by military power, and attempts 10 eke
out its force to command the Government by
the protligate expenditure Of money, and sub
iecting all industry to enormous taxation by
tariffs, rotten banks, and thus installing an
odious oligarchy upon the country. If the
American Constitution was nothing more
than q printed record, of 4 temporary agree
ment l should feel alarmed at the present
usurpaton of Congress upon 1t; but when l
remember that there is not Il line Of it which
lis not incorporated with the blood of the ma
tion-that il is the written expression OF prln-
cples TO which the American people and their
ancestors have adhered tor centuries, modl-
fled 10 suit their exact condition here, l
feel that the Constitution is not mere
paper, but the reflex of the very nature of our
people and that though 1t may be here rs 1t
was in the old country, that civil war leads 10
temporary suspension Of constitutional action,
the return of peace leads necessarily TO a re-
turn 10 the normal action of the Government
and the restoration of constitutional rights
and privileges.
The Confederatcs did not undertake to
change the Constitution; but adopted it rs
their own, because il was the EXrRRSS IMAGE
OF THE AMERICAN MIND: ana it must bc per-
petual To oppose It is like fighting against
God and Nature and it wonld be rs well 10
undertake 10 reverse the laws OF SrayitatIon.
The Radicals know this, and are aware OF
cir DOOM 1t is 4 mistake 10 suppose that
they arc rcposing in ease and confidence upon
their places and patronage in the Federal cap
ital. The consciousness of their guilt and the
knowledge of their fate speaks in their faces
and through their eyes.
I thank you, ladies and gen ntlemen, for your
indulgence. II have trcspnssed upon your
patience, you must blame yourselves, as have
Decn tempted 10 IL " VIC Poi',c 81 'ioH o
have paid me. II l have said anything 10 re-
rive your hope and restore your confidence in
the genius and indies Tuctible nature Of our
Government, I am more than compensated
Cog nay enort. BE assured IL s un: N rhe
power of the Radicals TO triumph over the
ppople. 1t is not in the ingenuity of man 10
withdraw the government from the people.
The Radicals are the iincal descendants Of the
old Federal party, who sought to destroy our
republican SYSTEM. and they must meet the
fate of their predecessors in their inglorious
work