The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-10-24
Elf coulter Once More.

SOtI1cE VHCc IaOECe
PETERSBURG, VA, October %, 1868.
Messrs. Editors,-The past is worth no
thing but to prove the present. How
frankly would, if in truth l could, confess
that all nv life has been in error. They
who know me can tell with better grace
than my self-claimed frankness would
wear. am, indeed, very sorry that the
list is 80 long of the men and.the measures
and the popular movements-most OF them
very lately-that. have "a the space OF
forty-four ycars Deen in the ascendant,
the very opposites of which, at the time
Of their rising, l would have sub
stituted. More heroic than patient or
prudent, the South has often ascribed
to rashness or some less worthy impulse
the more moderate counsels than those the
results of which at last demonstrated that
they were taken at disadvantage. do
not write that respecting myself; for am
proud to know that however | have been
thought to be changeling when | was
standing firm, or however on memorable
occasion was ruled to be wrong by o leeis-
lative committee who had record evidence
that was right, it has never been imputed
to me that my conduct in any act was dis
much less dishonestor unworthy,
in its bearing on any person or party. If
other fame have ever had, it was and is
sealed against my inspection.]
Il venture the declaration that the world
has never witnessed spectacle more start
ling than was the eagerly-manifested desire
of the South to send representatives to Con-
gress in 1865, just at the end Of struggle,
in blood and tears, of four years to make
good the denial of the duty during that time
to hold any such election, and to be a power
apart from them. It cannot be estimated
how much power would have been in the
position of awaiting an invitation from the
Federal authorities to renew our represen-
tation in their councils 1t was in all the
absurdity and weakness of holding that we
might, of right, get out of the Government
and get back again at our will, as it might
please our testy humor. 1t was quite as ri
diculous as President Johnson 81 plan, which
he had too much knowledge of constitu-
tional law ever to have originated. All the
worse that he did not display the courage
to reject it even as prepared by Stanton.
1t was Lincoln's plan, which no statesman
could or patriot would have conceived.
Yes, they in this district elected Chandler {;
and under the lead Of such men, mostly, as
believed in the doctrine Of secession, but
who were careful not to expose their pre-
cious bodies in battle to defend it, and were
swift to get the practical benefit Of the
emoluments land honor p of such appoint
ments to office as soon as their theory
was put down by arms. Nor did l agree,
though the South and her press would con-
cur, to send delegates to that Philadelphia
Convention which President Johnson was
not reluctant to assist in getting up, and
which he did not think was unlikely to give
him better prospect Of being elected to
the Presidency, and after which he so over
acted his part as to array in utmost vigor
against him all the venom of the Radicals.
# it had so turned out that the South had
not been made to suffer, it would have been
well enough that the electioneering strategy
in it's reeoil had spent its fury on him.
The public opinion in all that did not
agree with me. Let the events to which
have SO abruptly referred be reviewed. The
present situation is the logical result. Let
him who can rejoice in the part he has
played. WereI young and ambitious (and
despise the man who is not ambitious) l
would despise myself if, with q view to pop
ular favor, were now to lend my efforts to
aid in hot-bed growth of foreign immigra-
ton. Indignant as / am on the subject of
the lawless misrule to which we of the South
are subjected by the leaders Of the univer-
sal Yankeedom, / do not hesitate to declare
that would rather have immigrants from
that region than from Europe. will not
dwell on this preference, and am satisfied to
state it.. | confess that l would be glad to
see q higher class of Yankees coming
amongst us than such as have as yet come
since the War-most of them -baggers,
it is to be deplored, whilst there are 60
many of q more congenial order that want
elbow room, and could find it here to their
profit and ours. Welcome all these.
The speech Of Hon.. u. B.. Vance the
other day OF Danyille was quite right that
the native labor which we have" And the
letter Of Hon. Frank P. Blair Of August
"a, 1868, [see Dispatc of October %, 1861
is altogether right, that "to restore the
Government and the great guarantees of
freedom contained in the Constitution, and
inherited from our ancestors p is the work
in hand that challenges the most vigorous
efforts Of all patriots; and he is Q coward
that is deferred by any threats, or by what
ever fearful apprehensions, from proclaim
ingit from the house-teps. Il is revolution
as against the misrule Of the rump Com
gress. It is the labor of the lovers Of free
dom to, get rid of the usurpations that have
dislodged and (elsel will destroy ourifede-
ral system. In such views as Yance's and
Blair's see q light that gives me hopes
that all is. not lost. care not for the order
or the lack Of adornment Of my thoughts.
Take them, my country ) and oil the worse
for you if they are not yours. III
Your obedient servant, s
B, 3, coLLIER.