The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-01-22
law-abidipg predominant sentiment in the

Ilaw-abidipg predominant sentiment In the
North, why by this time the South would
have been almost upon its legs again. do
not say that the negroes would all have
been at work-that all the plantations
there would have got to prospecting as they
once did. But there would have been none
Of this hurry to thrust negro suffrage down
the Threats. as it were, of people whose
ually overcome. The uanity Of the negroes
'rould not haze been so fed to bursting that
labor, free labor for their old masters, should
be neglected, shirked, and lost. There would
have been no military usurpation, but
civil governments organized in each State
By the citizens most familiar with the
character aud requirements of the several
populations and interests. Finding their
old social and business interests thus con-
cerned, with the single exception Of slavery,
the property owners, merchants, and in
dustrial classes would have had incentives
to give the war the go-by and return to
their enterprises. Then the negroes, or at
least the majority Of them, would have
worked, because the Freedmen's Bureau
could have been dispensed with, and they
would have been obliged to work and have
had work TO do. It is highly improbable,
too, that there would have been at this
period any such talk about 'war Of
races or any such distrust and disgust be.
twixt the whites and negroes in several
districts, as now prevail"
ais it your opinion that the military
governments, as they now exist, could be
prudently removed from the Southern
States at this time ?'
"Perhaps not, just at this moment :
famine and anarchy have been too long
cultivated there. But Of this am con-
vinced, that if every district commander IN
the Southern States should be changed to-
norroao from district commander to de-
partment commander, aoith duties similar to
those Of the military commander IN your o,on
State, for instdnce-that of assisting the
civl authorities 10 preserve order in case of
neea-ciuI governments mould be rapidly
and peacefully restored. There might be,
to be sure, few outbreaks, and the mill
tary might be called upon to put them
down; but in my judgment, the speedy
result would be the Reorganization of the
entire country"
"But we come back at last, Mr.. Presi-
dent, to the first thought-that Congress
is determined not to allow this happy con-
summation"
$50" remarked the President, leaning
back in his chair with another grim smile ;
$50 it would appear"
(which naturally leads US to the pros
pect of continued and, perhaps, worse
anarchy"
"a revolution, such as these headlong
spirits seem determined to precipitate,
may haze, if it is sufredto 90 on, an effect
more damaging than that Of the last ciua
acor."
"The President-pardon me-has been
understood to express bis intention to ex-
ercise all the authority vested in him by
the Constitution to repel these revolu-
tionary measures"
"The President" said Mr.. Johnson,
with a resolute gesture, has already ex-
pressed his intention to perform his duty.
AS to what that duty may involve"
(laying his hand lightly on the table and
drumming with his fingers during the
pause) sit would be rather premature,
just now, even to suggest. We a1M leave
special measures for special occasions oohen
they arise. I have confidence in the good
sense Of the army, and certainly believe
in the people. believe in the young men !;
they will not permit revolution to be &C
complished, even though" added the Pre-
sident, in serious though not at all threat
ening tone, cit might be necessary for the
people to tQlce the matter into their oecn
hands," J. B. S.