The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-09-15

A favorite motto in this country from lis
earliest days has been "principles; not
men," Yet no country has exhibited man
Worship in greater degree. There has
been proncness to following after men
and clinging to cliques and superannuated
nuhlic characters that had lived through
an age of wonderful progress, with which,
in spirit and policy, they were utterly una
bic to keep pace. Having become dead
weirhts-only acting as INSTRUCTORS OF i'm
provement-they should have been shaken
off by the vigorous and active spirit OF the
constituent body. But this has not been
done, and the growth and prosperity Of the
country have been consequently greatly
retarded.
The present period requires more than
ever that this devotion to men, and that
kindred sentiment of respect for old no.
tons in practical politics, should give way
to policy better suited to the great change
that has taken place.
The revolution has changed the relation
of the States to the General Government.
The theory of States rights has been prac-
tically annihilated. The rights of the
States are unsustaincd by remedies. They
arc subordinatcd to the Federal power. As
long as o State so administers its local
affairs as to avoid conflict with the Fede-
raj Government it will be permitted to 90
LxI.z how -, n HInt hn
State goes to the wall. Then the States are,
indeed, las Mr.. LINCOLN said, and PATRICK
HENRY said before he did), no more to the
Union than counties ore to the States.
Now, we have indeed the essence Of q
Consolidated Government. We have the
imperial age in its inchoate state. 1t begins
now that career of grandeur and force
which must display itself in great works
in military and naval power, and that gen
eral and supreme rule which subordinates
the subdivisions of the national territory
to the national authority.
So great change demands a thorough
revolution in the representative body. Men
| WHO GcCOIulkS lilc lcN UiNCl ti.lt VIM al"
so moulded as to adapt themselves to the
new energies and the new impulses which
are born of the newly cstablishcd system
of government under which we live, must
be put into Office. We cannot get along
with the old material. We must have the
new wine in the new bottlc6-thc young
| shirt in tho T0uur America
Imagine that Virginia should select the
old-fashioned statesmen, with their old-fash-
toned theories, who would be ever opposing
their opinions to the force that has rem
dcred them imperative and absurd, what
benefit would their representation confer
upon Virginia Could there be q greater
Jolly than to trust the public welfare in
the hands of men who arc so impractical as
to deem their opinions a shield to stay the
hand of force ? Aswcll attempt to subdue
the cquinoctial gale by whistling. 1t would
be an act Of madness.
True wisdom would indicate the policy Of
clecting men who "acccpt the situation"
WHO 90 with the stream whose course they
cannot reverse, instead Of standing on the
shore and cursing it for going tic wrong
way.
In the new impulse the Republic is now
to receive there must be built great works ;
the rivers and harbors must be improved !;
conluitg Of trade which rise to the dignity
of nationality will be constructed; costly
cdifccs for the public business will be
built; and the public means in many ways
will be appropriated to the increase of the
national power and magnifcencc.
These improvements become important to
local communities, and will be the means Of
dispensing wealth and prosperity among
the States. 1t would be q most suicidal act
of Virginia were she to send such repre-
sentatives to Washington, or SO bear herself
towards the supreme political power as to
cut herself off from a share in the advan-
tages which will thus flow from the new
order Of things. She should thoroughly
acknowledge and acquiesce in what she
cannot alter or amend-she should rccOg-
nize the National Government as hers, to
conform to and to support and defend
as condition precedent to her sharing in
the protection and the benefits it may be-
stow. And her representative men should
reflect her sentiments-they should be alive
to the necessities of the times, and in mind
and body adapted to make the best of
thcm-to do all in their power to promote
the strength and prosperity Of the Union,
and to secure the equal and just admins
tration Of the Government.
Let us thus become practical, and secure
to Virginia the greatest benefits that can
| flow from the Government which is ours,
and to which our support and fealty are
alike due.
| TRADE OF RICHMOND.