The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-07-28
IJnirnportant Issues.

The approaching would be compare.
lively unimportant presidential campaign
if the question as to whether General
GRANT is drunkard were controlling
one. II seems to us that our northern con-
.emporaries who are discussing this cues
tion, and that other enc Of similar magni-
tide which touches only his patronymic,
have very inadequate notions as to the an
portance of the real issues involved IN the
canvass. Men do not debate subjects OF no
moment when they are met face to face oy
others which involve life OF death. we !"
the South are in this category. we are ~
doubt as to whether, after November next =,
we are to be treated as fellow-citizens' or
to be branded as traitors ana 1eions de-
seryinp death. We desire to know whether
or not the negro is to be put over us-whe-
Their the best white men among us are to be
prescribed as unworthy Of the right to vote
or hold of6ce-whether our rights of pro-
perty and of person are to be respected
whether we are to remain under the rule OF
the military or be placed under that Of
carpet-baggers and scalawags-whether we
are to be imprisoned at the will of our mas
tiers, and deprived of even the privilege OF
the writ of habeas corpas-and while we
are bordering these questions, and imagin-
ing that the same are agitating the minds
of our northern brethren, We are suddenly
awakened to the contempt with which many
of them regard our wrongs by reading
in leading Democratic journals Of the
North silly dissertations upon General
GRANTS habits and names flor it seems he
is rich in these latter. Those were happy
DAYS when our orators Numbered forth their
cloqucnce upon banks, tariffs, public lands,
the veto power, gold spoons, the national
militia, sc. Fortunate is the country
whose annals are dull" And our people
were blest, indeed, when they could be
aroused into excitement by questions which
now seem to be so insignificant that we
wonder at the simplicity of the people who
congregated by thousands to hear the tariff
question discussed by ignorant stumpers,
and spent their money like water to secure
the election of man who was in favor OF
a national bank rather than one who was
opposed to it.
But the present canvass is to decide
much more important questions. Gladly
would we of the South have all other ques-
tions sunk in complete and genuine resto-
ration of friendship and brotherly love be-
tween the two sections Of the Union, and
none left to be decided in November more
important than that as to whether GRANTS
name is gu. S." or III. IT," or that as
to whether he occasionally becomes tipsy.
But to US these questions are puerile. To
discuss them seriously is to fiddle while
Rome is burning" We feel that the CO.
pacity of the people for self-government-
the perpetuity of free institutions-the
consolidation of all the powers Of 60
vernment in the national agent
destruction Of the rights of the States-thc
ruin of the lately seeded Common
wealths-the welfare Of the people of all
the country, and the very life Of those of
the South-the supremacy of the white
race--the cause Of good government every
where-the early establishment of q mill
tary despotism-are the questions which
the voters will be called upon in November
next to decide; and we cannot but feel
mortified when we learn that any portion
of the people of the North, who are to set
tie these all-important questions for them
selves and for us, are SO little impressed by
the terrible responsibility which rests upon
them as to be debating such points as these
we have referred to. The fact BODIES no
good to us or to the country.