The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-04-22

To Mr.. JOHNSON and to State rights, and
finally the Supreme Court, they success
sively attached themselves with indomita-
BILE tenacity. The Dispatch (which seldom
errs y told them they were doomed to disap'
pointment. And now, what is the Supreme
Courta ga reed shaken by the wind -
"No jurisdiction :" What prop! And
SO It must ever be. The judiciary belongs
to the Government, and never fails to 60
with it in revolutions and in all great
issues of power. 1t is but the ear Of the
elephant to the Government-moves with
it, and flaps as it directs.
So that after four years Of appeal and
remonstrance, and all the prancing Of our
high-mettled steeds, where are We 7 Face
to face with "power," as We have been
since the war. a power We cannot resist,
and which pays as little respect to the con-
stitutional remedies we lipger over as over
the remains of the beloved dead, as would
an invasion of army worms to the resolu-
tions OF '9S-'99.
Fortunately, the trials through which we
have passed and the lessons we have learned
have had good effect on many. Yet still
there is o brigade or 80 Of these estimable
gentlemen who, although they walk about
with eyes wide open, are thinking only of
the past-the state and dignity Of other
dsys-the order and justice-the golden
social circle, its joys-the feast in the har-
bor-the bright halls and lovely danes and
gallant men--the roses, the myrtle, the
mocking- bird, and the gay scenes and sweet
sounds that made theirs the happiest land
on earth. How to bring back these, and
the policy of rejecting everything, occupies
their thoughts and employs their tongues
and pens necessarily. Alas their devo-
tions are pious and yirtuous, but vain.
They do as little service in the way Of elu-
cidating the present and of relieving the
troubles and embarrassments Of the hour
as did OLD MORTALITY in cutting out afresh
the inscriptions upon the tombs Of those
who had been long dead.
The situation is full of peril. The facts
are irresistible. Such reveries are un-
timely and futile. They would be only fit
for that seventh age when mans powers
are gone along with his hope. AS long as
there is spark of energy left, as long as
the mind has even remnant of the powers
of reason, no man should abandon himself
to such condition of utter uselessness.
After war of the most bloody and de-
structive character, followed by four years
of steadily increasing poverty and embar-
rassment, it is most assuredly time that
we had settled down to the only practical
conclusion, that there is 10 way but to
make the best Of our situation, and bring
the State into the Union under the direc-
ton of that Federal power which there is
DO escaping. For the first time in the four
years the Executive and Congress are
agreed in the policy of reconstruction-and
for the first time in those years that policy
has been somewhat relaxed in behalf OF
this State of Virginia. Not to seize the OPP
portunity thus offered to bring in the State
would be folly aggravated by madness.
What hope beyond this is there? We have
on administration that has four years to
Run; House Of Representatives, the politi'
cal complexion of which cannot possibly be
changed in less than three years; and
Senate which is alike Interchangeable for al
least ten. For what shall we pause, and on
what shall we fix our hopes but in imme'
diate reconstruction under the modified
measure now offered to Virginia Indeed
if anybody harbors the hope that the peo'
pie who now control this nation will ever
change their views Of the measures now pre-
vailing it is beyond question that that
change cannot take place while those mea,
sures are resisted.
Gentlemen, old and young, you must come
to this conclusion. There is none other open
to you. There are still life and resolution,
and fexibility of muscle and movement, in
the gay and festive elderly politicians, and
they, too, can accommodate themselves to
the present fate, and may yet, if they
choose, gid their declining hours with en-
honorable public service. The fourteenth
amendment, indeed, has shut the door upon
3 them; but they can open it in no way else
but by accepting the situation and throw
ing their whole force along the line Of the
public current. Old and young can meet
on the common platform and work together
for the immediate restoration Of Virginia.
That done, We can nobly retrieve our for
tunes and those Of our own best and grand
est of mothers, dear old Virginia. We may
not, indeed, revive the gentle glories, the
serene happiness, Of the past, but We can
accumulate for the State power and opu-
ience she never knew, and for ourselves an
abundance, along with new form Of social
order, which win be rife with pleasures and
consultations peculiar to itself. A brief
paried, dear Virginisns, and all this, if
you viii, may be triumphantly achieved,
-
Dr. LIv1sGsToSE's safety is assured, -
says the telegram. And how? He bss