The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-03-05
The Legislature-The Governors Mes
sage-The Crisis.

sage-The Crisis.
The General Assembly of Virginia yes
terday assembled in the capitol in extra
session. The Governor sent in mes
sage. soon after the opening Of the ses-
sion, which was read, urging the prompt
call OF convention to amend the Consti-
tuition. There Is great deal in that mes
sage to which we most decidedly except.
1t shows that the Governor, with all his
kind nature and good humor, is still mucn
under the dominion of partissnry. ne mas
n little too much to say about the press-a
little too much censure of that newspaper
defamation which, in a great degree, was
.impIv uttered by way of retort for aggra-
waiting assaults from northern men and
newspapers. Very justly it may be said
that much that has appeared in the south
crn newspapers was untimely and indis-
Greet; but all that would have been re-
garded as not at all unusual in any coun-
try where there is a press; and Just and
deliberate opinion, unbiased by prejudice
vast community with pains and penalties
for the impulsive and crude diatribes Of
few excitable editors. 1t is quite enough
that the Radicals shall seize upon such
capital as excuse for renting us to the
pains of their destructive measures. our
Governor should not have put such lumber
into his message. We except to other
po;nts in the message, but it is needless
now 10 enter upon this discussion further.
But we are convinced that every express
sion of anxiety for Virginia which appears
in his message is most sincerely enter
tanned.
There was no action in the House of the
nature of a test to indicate the sentiments
of members.
This paper has approached the question
of the day with the elaboration and eau
ton due to one Of such magnitude, and in
volying the fate of the people OF the State.
Having contemplated it in all its relations
with the greatest anxiety, we are satisfied
that practically there is but one step left
to Virginia by the taking of which there
is any hope of saving the State from an
archy and misery. That step is conven-
ton to amend the Constitution. If the
present Government does not call such a
convention, il is as sure as any event on
earth, which has not happened that con-
vention will be called and a constitution
and government formed for us by those
who mean to visit us with pains, penalties,
and acknowledgements such as the body OF
the people now little dream of. The Co.
vernment that will be set up over us will
have this matter Of persecution for its chiet
object.
A popular idea is that when the persons
who get up such constitution submit it to
the people it can be voted down by the
great majority that will still hold the power
in the State. This is delusion. They
will never have this opportunity. Let
them remember what Mr.. Senator SHEER.
MAN said. He assumed the attitude of in
tervention to save the southern people
from the extreme rigors of THAD. STE
yENs's bill and he and those acting with
him did so lop off some Of its bitterest fea-
lures. But Mr.. SHERMAN said that if the
bill thus framed did not find ready &C
ouiescence in the South, as much as it was
against his feelings, he would vote to turn
the matter Of forming the State Govern
ments over to the loyal citizens" of the
South: and we all know who they are
This Is the real danger. In case our poo
ME do not take the matter in hand and
control the Government by securing
the right of suffrage accorded to them il
this bill, this danger will come. Then
whatever their disposition may be, it will
be "too late +" to retrace their steps. Pan
demonium will be inaugurated, and for
them there will be no escape. Years must
elapse before the white race will acquire
preponderance, and in those years what
may be accomplished through oppression,
humiliation, spoliation, and outrage, one
cannot contemplate without shuddering.
There are those who still cling to the
remedies which were offered by the Go
vernment in other days. In this they dream
with open eyes. The Supreme Court is
literally dead. SO dead-and so proved
to be by numerous events of late-that it
is utterly impotent as against Congress.
The President has clearly indicated his in
tention to enforce the law. He will make
all the appointments he is required to
make, and must necessarily leave the mat
ter of constitutionality to the Supreme
Court. II is not his duty to test this ques'
ton. Should the court be resorted TO, Its
decision, rendered, after two years, will be
treated with utter contempt. But by that
time we shall be in ruined condition
our labor system disorganized, trade de,
stroyed, all sorts of enterprise abandoned
and famine and misery brooding over
the land. The Supreme Court, at best,
would only give one majority for the
protection Of the States, while there
are two members now whose physi-
cal condition is such that they may never
again take their seats on the bench.
Even this argument is supererogatory
Congress does not intend that the Supreme
Court shall obstruct its policy. The i'm.
potency of that tribunal alone protects it
from an act for its Reorganization. There
is a law now prohibiting the filling of va
vancies that may occur in it until its num-
Der is reduced to seven.