The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-09-23
Yichmond 9ispattIr.
THURSDAY. ;. SEPTEMBER %, 1869.
The Senators.

The change of opinion with reference 70
tho election of senators at the appfoa'h'ns
eass;o, Of the Legislature has been remark
ob,o Two weeks ago hardly anybody
,honcbt Of the subject, and the prevalent
;doa was that no senators were to be elected.
Bpt the bare suggestion that it would DC
nroper that the State should go with its en-
fire delazation to Congress and ask for al
mission started discussion and reflection
and the change in favor of immediate eiec-
,ions Of senators is so rapid that we believe
before the Legislature meets 1t Wall De
favored by the great majority of the people.
WHY should we not send the senators
Whv send the representatives and not the
senators Why might we not as well seho
the former and not the latter ana why
should we send any at all if we may 1all 10
send either? :,
The Congress, it is known, has proceeded
unon the assumption that we are not out OF
The Union, and their acts never speak OF
admitting the States into the Union; on'
invariably phrase it ms admitting the States
now under military or provisional govern
mcnt "to representation Congress" thus
itismade an dispcnsable part of the " recon
struction'' of State that she appear NJ
the doors of Congress through her allotted
number of representatives in that body
viz her senator's and representatives,. The
reconstruction laws so clearly establish TINS
,hot there can be no mistake about 1t.
" Admission of representatives," admis-
sion to representation us the indlspen-
sable and complete act of restoration-both
the form and the substance rs it is esta-
blished by law.
Now. so clear is this the fact that We
think Mr.. HoAE, in giving his opinion mao
no idea that @ matter go entirely conse-
suential required specification from him
We do not suppose he thought That his
opinion would have any bearing upon II or
interrupt the performance OF an act 80
plainly indicated by the reconstruction
laws. He used the term Cuisines " IN ltF
relation to legislation, and not So the
act of elccting senators, which seems
to us to be required by the reconstruction
laws. We'see nothing in this opinion to pro-
bibit such an election, and it has been de-
clared by the President and Gen. SHERMAN,
that the State is expected to send her whole
Observation-Disclosures and all. General
CANDY, whose authority is predominant
here. unless countermanded at Washington.
has declared the same opinion in private
conversation. All the Government authori-
ties whose will governs us have said that
Mr.. HoAR's opinion docs not and was not
intended to prevent the election OF sena-
tors.
Every consideration favors the early
election of Senators. Even the argument
that postronement may "enlarge the range
of eelcction' is fraught with suggested
perils. For instance, the postponcmcnt un-
der the hope that disabilities will be re-
moved will far more likely postpone the re-
moval of disabilities, Congress being I'M
willing to accommodate such motive, which
will probably be interpreted into little
game played for the senators. 1t will open
the field of counter operations, and revive
ill-feeling which may continue for months
the chatting, and irritation, and apprehen-
sion, which have so disturbed the public
peace and impaired the public interests.
But frank and prompt movement by
the State-the election of admissible scna-
tors and the presentation of her whole dele
CATION at the Federal capital-will disarm
suspicion, subdue prejudice and passion,
and Virginia will be Mt once admitted in
her full voice and weight into the national
councils with the general welcome of the
republic. What follows? The early reno
val of disabilities, the restoration of peace
and harmony, and the era of good feeling
and general cooperation for the promotion
of the dignity and power Of the Union !!
Shall we postpone this grand epoch single
month to discuss the claims of dozen gen
tlemen for the United States Senator We
know the answer of our people.