The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1868-04-03
FOR EMPERoR-ULYssEs s. GRANT.

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FOR EMPERoR-ULYssEs s. GRANT.
Three delusions occupy the minds Of |
that small portion of the American peo-
pie who are able to think seriously |
about political affairs.
First, The moderate Republicans,
who are unwilling to sacrifice liberty
to party ascendancy, dream that this
country may be governed permanently
by the Federal Legislature, to which |
the Executive and Judiciary shall be
not absolutely but relatively subordl-
nate.
Second, That wing Of the Democrat
ic party which is represented by the
New York World, dreams that, the Rad
icals being ousted, the Government
may be restored to what it was before
the war and the Constitution re-estab-
lished, minus the institution of slavery
aHd the heresy, as they esteem 1t, Of
secession.
Third, That wing Of the Democratic
party which Is represented by the La
Crosse Democrat and its adherents,
whose numbers in the North are be-
coming considerable and whose unre-
fecting followers at the South may be
numbered by thousands, dream that
the overthrow of the Bondholders, the
Reputation Of the Public Debt, and the
uprising OF the working people, will in
augurate new era of peace, prosperi-
ty and happiness under a perpetual
Republic.
1t is high time these delusions were
dispelled.
This country cannot be long or well
governed by the Federal Legislature,
for the reason that that Legislature,
even il 1t were Democratic instead of
Radical, would, under a system of gen
eral suffrage (supposing negroes to be
excuded,) represent the mob and its
passions.
The Constitution cannot be restored,
minus slavery and secession. Slavery
secured an aristocratic representation,
and secession was the sole safeguard
against consolidation. If State have
not the right to secede peacefully, eve-
ry right which it claims must, in case
of dispute, be established by force oi
arms, and, arms failing, tas in the late
war; the Federal power, whether 1t be
controlled by the Executive, the Legis-
iature or Judiciary, becomes, SO far as
the States are concerned, Supreme--ir
word, it is despotism.
The hopes of BRICK PosERoY and his
followers, North and South, do not
merit serious refutation. They are
hardly sincere and they are certelnly
wild. The reputation of the Public
Debt is chaos, anarchy.
What then Is our state?
Looking to the past, we now see
clearly that the American Revolution
In so far as 1t was supposed to have es-
tablished the right of self-government
was blunder as we'll as crime. The
experiment has failed signally, and (fol
ages to Gomez hopelessly.
The question of secession, which re
manned in dispute from the foundation
Of the Union, till 1865, has now bee;
finally decided, and the sword has lief
to the States, North as we'll as South
no rights whatever. The authority il
Washington is paramount to all othel
authority in the land, and none need OF
dare gainsay it. fi
War being ended, it remained to de-
eide which of the three branches of the
central government should control tn,
others. Hence the long and bite
struggle between ANDREW JOHNSON an
Congress. That struggle Is DRAWN,
near close. Ours has been, hereto
fore. Presidential or popular govern
ment. A few weeks hence, 1t will be
Congressional obligarchy. and We al
know what to expect from that.
This obligarchy, inflated by pride ant
maddened by passion, could not, undo
any circumstances, remain long in pow
or. 1t is not an obligarchy of aristo
Gratis, but Of demagogues. They hav
neither the sense, the discretion no
the breeding necessary to the mainte
nance of their high position. Alread.
their heads are giddy.
Fortunately for the country, the.
cannot remain long on trial. They ar
compelled next Fall to go through tn
forms of Presidential election. Still
more fortunately they are forced to pre-
sent General GRANT as their candidate
We think it rt.lnate, because We be
Heve firmly that GRANTS election Ger
tain and because we believe GRANT viii
prove their master.
Many will dissent from this opinion
which we have long held and shall con
tinue to hold until we see reason t
change it. Many will be offended, bu
that we cannot help. There is, in on
opinion, no earthly chance of the resto
ration of Republican form of govern
ment, and if we are to chose between
Senate of fanatics and Tyrant Xix
GRASr. We declare unhesitatingly in ia
yor of the latter.
We should much prefer limite
Constitutional monarchy to a despot
ism. But that is not possible here
In England, where the franchise is re
stricted and where the Parliament re
presents the landed interests and tn
vested rights of the titled gentry, mon