The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-04-27
Alta Time Like This

-=scsn virginisns think Of anything else
than the ,esuscitasion Of their State from
utter poverty and bondageS Can they be
led away from the great matter Of iioe-
rating themselves from condition OF ban
;shment from oil participation in their own
government Can there be higher mo-
tive 70 exertion, to patriotic devotion How
utterly insignificant in comparison with
these objects is every question OF State
nol;oy and local and sectional Interest!
1--we arc to continue the mere bearers
Of burthens, the mere payers Of taxes, with
no right to participate in the government
what can we expect but continued prossra'
ton and despondencyf How is q country
with It's intelligent and capable people
under, the ban, and public affairs IN the
hands Of Incompetent and untrustworty
nersons-to look fer anything but ruin
Success in commerce, industry, and arts,
Gan IAN only be achieved under the favor OF
GOOD government and freedom Of the citi-
zen. Deprive q community Of these ana
decline and ruin must be its fate. 1t 10
especially true Of this country, where Co.
vernmen., according to our theory, rests
upon the will of the people, that any
irregularities such as now exist here, any
denial of equal rights to citizens, must Do
calamitous to the public welfare. Were
the whole country under arbitrary autho'
rity 1t would be different. But to submit
apart to disqualification Of the citizens, to
denying them really oil the benefits Of TO-
yernnent, and imposing upon them only
its burdens, is sure to afflict the population
40 oppressed with the direst misfortune.
The sad situation Of Virginia cannot
be contemplated by any citizen of GIT
mind and true public spirit without the
deepest modification. The picture OF
her suferings is darkened oy the
fact that the blacks, late slaves to the
whites, are accorded privileges which are
denied to those whites. And now, four
wears after the war is ended, We have Q
party which labors to fasten upon those
whites disqualification from participation
in the government even in its most unlm-
portant Offices. Looking of these things we
cannot understand how any man, whether
he be fully impressed with the higher SEN
timents Of patriotic duty or not-even if he
be man Of the most ordinary sense Of hui
mainly and justice-csn fail to be stirred to
the bottom of his soul with sympathy for
his State and determination to devote
himself to her deliverance.
Then let every other consideration Pc
IRISH for the present, and the grand one OF
dsliverance of the people from the horrors
of the UNDERwoop constitution alone en-
gross every mind. If we avoid that, and
free the people, re can take care of all
questions Of local policy in good time; we
can restore the State to prosperity; we can
be the artifcers of our own fortunes; we
con direct our government SO as to restore
order and confidence, and make Virginia as
great in wealth and population as she
always has been in the worth and renown
of her public character.
Sink oil minor questions, felloW-citizens,
and let us be free. Seek first this, and all
that State can desire in this worlds gains
will be added unto you.