The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-12-30
"Reeons truction in Virginia. Neces-
sitv for Action by her Statesmen"

in its issue of yesterday the considerations
which should induce the statesmen OF VIZ
ginia TO take some action at the presen'
time in order to avert the evils which
threaten her people. In previous article
that journal had stated the threatened dam
gers; which are" The power, influence,
"and arts of their enemies; the great diff
fsalsy of obtaining justice, or even 9
"hearing, from the present Congress; the
.srisk Of such legislation by that body 90
"will exclude from the polls full twenty
81 five thousand voters entitled to the suf-
"frase under the existing reconstruction
claws and, lastly, the hazard, by this
"means, of having the UNDERWOOD con-
stitution fastened upon the State, binding
"them, snd their children in an odious and
almost into!ersble slavery for an indeh-
"nite period" -.r ..u
But even if defeated at the ballot-box
this infamous constitution might be revived
by Congress and forced upon our people
under a., so-called provisional govern
nent," just as the constitution rejected by
the people Of Alabama was forced upon the
people of that State by act of Congress.
The Iateligencer says: n-o,s5. NJ
at will thus be seen that there is double
danger Of q cruel and corrupt government
first, by n vote on the constitution with large
masses OF whites excluded; and secondly,
supposing this peril safely passed, by the ac-
ton Of Congress at this very session. proceed
ing to ipflict agovernment fully as bad as this
constitution would produce"
After referring to the probability that
the negro vote can be controlled, or rather
tho improbability Of such result, the dan
ger that there viii be so much cheating by
the officers conducting the elections as to
secure the ratification Of the BAYNE-UN-
pERwooD constitution, and the perils that
may fow from inaction, the Intelhgencer
comes to the question Of negro suffrage,
which 1t treats as follows:
"But whether for purposes of appeal to
Congress, 10 get justice or q hearing, or OF a
think 1t will be necessary for the people of
Virginia to abandon their past opposition to
negro suffrage. So far rs this measure of en-
franchising the blacks is concerned, our OBJ
jections TO 1t as an abstract proposition are
strengthened, rather than weakened, by time.
It Is, we think, a baleful and mischieYous
degradation Of the suffrage, detrimental to
good government and social order, and tend
ing, II persisted in, to the final and complete
overthrow of the republican system Of govern
ment.
"But neither we nor the people of Virginia
have any volition or choice now about the
matter. The question has passed from their
control; it is in the hands Of the leaders of a
party who control the Government, and will
continue 10 control it for years. These lead
ers have chosen TO inflict negro suffrage on the
South as part of their revenge, or "punsh-
ment," as they call it, avoiding at the same
sine 10 make the issue in the leading States Of
the North and West. As to the atrocity and
meanness Of this proceeding our opinions have
already been repeatedly expressed, and are
unchanged. But we have TO deal with the
situation we find it, Negro suffrage is q
fact. The negroes voted freely in seven south
ert States the other day for President. They
will have n vote on the proposed constitu-
tion in Virginia, while, perhaps, some forty
thousand white men will not be allowed TO
vote at all. Congress has declared that this
race shall vote in the South, and the Chi
cago Convention re-afflrmed the declaration
at the late election. From ouT Enow Wedge
ofthe temper and spirit of the Republican
members in Congress we are able to say that
there is not one member in either branch who
would be willing to modify or relinq uish the
negro suffrage feature of the reconstruction
laws. 1t is perfectly idle, we know, to address
any memorial, opinion, or proposition, to Con-
gress which does not accept negro suffrage
Deplore this we may and do, still the fact
is so, and it is important for the people of Vir-
gicia TO know it. Had the Presidential cleo
ton resulted differently, they could probably
have escaped the evils of negro suffrage. The
practical question now is, Whether they can
by accepting negro suffrage obtain from Con-
gress any mitigation in other matters of a
policy OF malignity, ruin, and persecution.
Can they secure by this concession any escape
from acknowledgements, and obtain decent
State government and constitution in other
respects than suffrage, instead of the Internal
yoke Of Underwood, Wells, and others of that
ik7"
This is precisely the view taken by
"SENEx," and which has been received
with much favor in various portions of the
State-with more favor, indeed, than could
have been anticipated Immediately upon
its appearance for any proposition so di-
reotly antagonistic to the policy which has
heretofore been that of the white people of
Virginia. Having thus disposed of the
question of negro suffrage, the Intelssencer
adds:
"By q distinct and early acceptance Of the
question Of suffrage as settled, and by limit
ing their opposition to the other bad features
of the proposed constitution, the power Of the
people of, Virginia, whether before Congress
or the tribunal of public opinion, will be i'm
mensely engthened-suticiently, we think,
10 prevent any further gross and monstrous
wrong. As to the effect of such u change Of
position in winning over large proportion
OF the black vote to act with their employ
ers, and thus securing the rejection of the
proposed constitution by q heavy and over
whelming majority, there can be, we think,
no sort OF doubt. For either beneficial re-
suit, but especially for any effect upon Con-
gress, time is a vital element Not q day should
be lost, for not a day can afford to be wasted.
In q week or two the mischief may all be done,
and the evil be past cure. Our fear is that
when it is too late to affect the decision of
Congl sss those who control political action
In Virginia will look back and see what might
have been done. The statesmen Of Virginia,
past and present, have ever been distinguished
by their sagacity and prrctical wisdom. Since
the conclusion or the war many reasons have
combined TO make them cautious and reserved
in their utterances. The present crisis is one,
however, that demands all their statesman
ship, and yigilant and prompt action upon
some line that may seem on reflection to pro
mise safety and a future for the great State with
which they and theirs are identified. To drift
merely upon the current, to wait for events 10
shapethemseiyes, and for almost irreparable
mischief to fall upon the people who trust to
them for counsel, when perhaps by their
timely action such evil might be averted or
greatly lessened, would not be worthy of their
admitted patriotism or abilities
These are words Of wisdom. We have
no time to lose. Congress may listen to
our proposition if presented to it before it
shall have passed law authorizing an
election to be held to ratify or reject the
negro constitution but it will assuredly
never agree to retrace its own steps to &C.