The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-01-24
A RETROSPECT.

The whole history of Congress since the
end Of the wal has been the history of an
audacious revolution. Even the miserable
excuse Of party necessity has been want
ing to those who have contriyed and con-
Quoted it. The Republican party, by
making itself national at the close of the
war, and by pursuing course of benef-
cence and Cancellation towards the South,
might have established its power end
ascendancy on q foundation which could
not for many years have been shaken. 1t
was wholly unnecessary to resort to revo-
luton as means of perpetuating its rule !;
for no party ever in this country enjoyed
prestige more powerful. In fact, the
revolutionary course which it has pursued
has driven from it the support, and alien
ated from it the good will of all conserva-
tive classes in the Union who still hold
virtue, integrity, and honesty in esteem,
and consider the public good as of supe-
rior Importance to party success. Indeed,
it is difficult to divine what motive can
have prompted this party in the strange
career which it has pursued, unless it was
the same that actuated the herd of swine
which, on becoming possessed of a set OF
devils, ran violently down steep hill and
persisted in the sea.
That the Republican party are at this
time running violently down steep de-
scent to perdition is very apparent, and
the best indication of these frightful times
is that their course is so headlong and pre-
cipitate as to leave no further doubt of
the destination that will soon be reached.
The Republican party has, in fact,
ceased to be anything else than an organi-
cation devoted to the uses of the violent
spirits which it fosters in its bosom. How
this Radical faction has contrived to OBJ
tain complete authority in and to mono
police the entire control of the Republican
organization is little known outside of the
party councils, but the fact admits of no
question whatever. Probably the progress
of its influence in the body of the party
has been as gradual as have been its as,
saults upon the Constitution of the coun.
try. That vicious faction has not only
subdued the Republican party to its will,
but it has, through the party drill, &C.
quired absolute control over Congress. In
fact, it has degraded Congress into mere
Radical Presidential committee, having
this important advantage that it can give
the sanction and authority of law to all
measures which may be deemed for the
advantage Of the party.
The success of the Radical faction has
certainly been remarkable. Their first
and most important achievement was in
obtaining control of the Republican or
ganization and filing Congress with their
own creatures. Having accomplished this
much, they embarked boldly on that re-
evolutionary career which has for two
years marked the history of that body.
Their first encounter was with the PreSi-
dent; and in this quarrel they have en-
acted those laws for subyerting the consti-
tutional independence of the Executive
that have filled the country with SO much
surprise and indignation. Their next at
tentions were addressed to the southern
people.
Under the pretence of establishing in
these States, governments republican in
FORM they have abolished those govern.
ments that were devised and instituted by
the trainers Of the Federal Constitution
and placed the whole South under mill.
tary dictatorship. Mr.. francis P. BLAIR
the elder, has, in a recent letter, pointed
] out the design of this military surveillance
to be to insure to the negro population
control of the governments which
arc about to be substituted for the
old. Under the impression that the ne
groes will be more docile to their will
and convenient tools for their purposes,
the Radical faction have resolved upon the
brutal expcdient of crushing the spirits of
the brave white people of the South under
the rude and revolving domination of half
sewage negroes. 1t is not pretended that
these measures are in accordance with the
spirit and in pursuance of the terms Of the