The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-07-10
fter the Battle.

It is after the battle that the greatest de-
gree of prudence and moderation is de-
manded, and we cannot too urgently lm-
press it upon our friends. The victory
which has been just achieved has been called
.'The Bull Run" by the leading organ OF
the Radical party Of this State, and we are
reminded by it of the AppomattoS. No day
In the history of Virginia was ever marked
with more order and discretion THIN the 9th
Of July, 1869. We owe our victory to no
sudden panic of the enemy, nor TO any sud-
den reinforcement to our scattered host.
The field was fairly fought with well-or-
dered, serried ranks. The enemy brought
all the venom of his power against us, and
used every device and falsehood of which he
was capable.
Heaven has blessed us with victory but
we must remember how much more diff
cult it is to bear victory than defeat. We
must not be idle and asleep on the field, but
must improve the advantage we have Won.
We must remember that I; It was i hard
fought battle, lid that it shook lis to our
c centre i 1t will be, however, for Virginia
the last great political contest if we use the
opportunity with discretion; but if we do
not, our success may be our curse.
Let us ever remember who was our enc
nv: he was tan, dis hontintbuSQue hosts
The power of the enemy was hurled with
all the force which the numerical strength
of the colored people gave him; but we
must discriminate between the will that oil
rected and the mere blind instrument that
was thrown.
When the northern armies, with their mil
lions, encircled us from the Potomac to the
Rio Grande, and every inducement WA:
offered to the preparation of every crime
there was no class or race in our beleaguere(
lines that proved itself more faithful thar
the colored race. They have lived with III
from our birth, and will most probably BIZ
with us at our death. Shall we, then, for
getting the past, and without regard to the
future, remember only the misfortune &C
companying our present victory! TIL,
colored man turned against us only after HI
had been poisoned by that vile serpent, tina
common enemy to God and man, who ha
been for the last two years feeding on an(
gloating over our misfortunes, and now
fully gorged, is about to wend his way t.
his northern home. The colored man wa
true to us before the advent of that serpen
brood, and if we act wisely he will be tru,
TO us ever after this. But we must &C
with discretion we must not judge his ig
norance as we would Judge the other
crime.
We can now make the colored people on
firms friend or our lasting enemies. We mus
bear anG forbear. We must not thrust then
out of our doors to prey on society and tt
become the outcasts Of the earth--the read,
instruments of crime. They are here anon.
us, and, as far as we can discern, the proyi
dence of God will continue them, at least du
ring our day, part of our civil community. L
we deprive them Of all means of an honest
support they will of necessity have reeours,
to every crime. Christianity, humanity
and policy, alike dictate to us to show to thu
colored man by our conduct that we arc
superior to those who have so long mis-
guided him, and that his happiness de,
pends upon his maintaining relations kindly
and harmonious with us.