The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-01-02
defiant" or ADa the tic.

In this interval of idle holiday making,
we find that the political Speculatlons and
dissertations of people at the North are
mainly occupied with US, the late Con-
fcdcratcs, our hopes, wants, aspirations,
and the like. They do us much honor.
We confess that We are somewhat apa-
thctic ourselves about all that, and are
thinking mainly of how TO pay our New
Years bills. A considerable difference OF
opinion, we find, prevails as to the actual
disposition of the southern people. Inc
favorite doctrine of our northern brethren
is that we are "defant" rebels. A great
mistake, indeed we are III no condition
lust now to defy anybody. But 1t seems
necessary to the designs of the dominant
partv in Congress to have it understood
that We do not consider ourselves defeated,
refuse to accept the consequences OF de-
fact and DEFY our enemies TO come on.
Another view OF our position Is taken by
gentleman who has lately travelled III the
South. and who writes to the New York
Times. He is described as an officer OF
b;cb rank and eminent distinction, and lis
report of us perhaps crrs as far on the one
side as the "defiant" theory errs on the
,,,,ar Here is an extract from his ac-
count of us:
oTbe sou thern politicians may be as a whole
,,acid enough in their temper and tone. The
.outbern newspapers, as general thlhg, may
be temperate enough III their utteranceS. me
southern Legislatures may nave Expressed
their deep desire for peace, iulel, ana con
citation but neither the politicians, The Jour
nalists nor the legislative bodies sNealeple'
scntation of the all-controlling ana mex.
Drcsslble desire that exists among inc eiea'
body OF the southern people-the planters,
the townspeople, the traders, &c.-ior reAei
from political turmoil aud excitement lhey
have little care about the terms Oh recon
struction that may be offered them, or the po-
Mtical form that their north cohq"eFo!s
may impose upon them.
II is very true that We do want relief
from political turmoil that we need peace,
and quiet life that we are unable to re-
sist at this moment any outrage which our
northern brethren may choose TO commit
upon us. But We wonder where the "ot-
lccr OF high rank :" found that we care little
about the terms Of reconstruction that may
be offered We have been offered, as yet,
no terms Of reconstruction al all, and
the officer might have observed in the
course of his tour, or learned through the
usual channels Information, that the mea,
sure lately proposed to us, not as terms ol
reconstruction, but as preliminary to al
thought of a future possible reconStrnc
TOMS by us universally rejected. Iii:
report continues thus
Nay, If the Congress at Washington wer'
10 decree an entire change OF government, ant
10 proclaim a regal or imperial order OF things
for the South. the d!spiriied people woul(
pAsSiyely 1T least recognise the Emperor, ant
would make not even n show OF resistance Il
the force which they have already acknow
lodged TO be supreme over them"
As to the Emperor, perhaps, this officer il
not wrong. Where there is au Emperor
there is always some law in the land and
even if he were az despotic as the Gar Of
Russia, and law were bis sole will, that
could be no greater tyranny, and would be
much less provoking tyranny than that OF
brute majority, which has taken as q