The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-02-02
THE NEW MOVEMENT.
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENTS.

W ASulNGTOS, JhuuSTy lOOJ.
Yesterday wound up another week with
out action upon the Virginia proposition
save lit is understood some informal con-
versation upon the subject in the Judiciary
Committee of the Senate. -.. ...
As you have been informed by telegraph,
the House yesterday passed the bill pro-
posing new constitutional amendment to
give universal suffrage to the negro by the
requisite two-thirdS majority. 1t is not
very clear that Congress intends to pass
this measure. I shall not be surprised if
it fails between the two Houses. But this,
together with the action upon the PROPOSE
ton to vacate ell the Offices in Virginia,
affords to the impracticables ground for
haunting the committee of "nine," the
more especially as Bingham's amendment
to the constitutional amendment was re-
jected, as were BOutwelps and Shellabar-
GERS.
The truth is, these measures have no in
tended bearing on the Virginia proposition.
The constitutional amendment was pre-
determined affair among the Republican
leaders, and when up for consideration it
was deemed best to reject all notifications.
AS for the resolution vacating the Offices /
have already stated on the best authority
that the only intended reference to the Vir-
ginia movement in that was the postpone
ment of its operation for thirty days out of
consideration for that movement. But the
resolution is not yet passed, and may not
be passed until the thirty days will run
into General Grants administration.
After the best observation it has been in
my power to make here, it is my deliberate
opinion that the people of Virginia will not
be placed under the Underwood constitution
as it is; and that they will be shielded from
it by action in this city. E".Ts
1t is possible that the present Congress
may not mature any measure for our relief.
There are but twenty-seven working days
remaining, and some twelve of these will
probably be devoted to private bills. Then,
amidst the aspirations for appointments
under the new administration, and the jea-
lousies they suggest, there is more or less
disturbance Of views and hesitation on ma
tional questions that tend to retard action
upon them. So that it may be the fate of
the Virginia proposition to be handed over
as q legacy to the next Congress. Anxious
as we all are for the immediate introduce
ton Of the State into the Union upon some
tolerable plan, we may, nevertheless, be just
as well, off with the new Government and
Congress. There are many new men in that
Congress who, although Republican, are
more free from party trammels than their
predecessors, and may more easily adapt
themselves to the less rancorous order of
things, and the necessity for removing dis
content by reestabishing equality. ta 81
General Grant remains very quiet, pre-
serving his eouanimity and smoking his
cigar. He is not guilty Of the folly Of free
talking and bringing on his part before the
proper time-he is not going to commence
the action prematurely he will not throw
letters into the sea-. This, however, does
not please everybody-especiall the large
number Of expectants for Cabinet appoint
ments. But it is proper, and aecords with,
the habit of self-possession and prudence
which distinguishes the President elect
from most public men who are honored with
high positions in the Government. 49,
General Grant has resisted every arti6ce
to draw him out and to get into his conf
dence by all sortsof psople.- He keeps his
own counsels, and avoids every sort Of COM
pication with partisan projects which may
embarTass his administration He will not
divulge the names of his Cabinet officers
probably until his installation, or upon the
eve of that event. ~ ,oia14la gftsA hass4
All rejecting men must feel admiration
for the stern yet quiet d gn;ty with which
the President elect has repealed oil move
nents Of those vino essayed to win his ia
Vors by. battery and parade and the cum
ming strstesies Of the partiaans and news
paper agents.