The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-02-06
A Tribute to Virginia.

Messrs. JAMES WENTWORTH, A. &. COL
TAR, NEIL 6. Brown, G. j. HuBBLErIELD,
W. MOTT BRowN, and II. S. FooTE, Of Ten
nessee, have addressed to the New York
Tribune long and earnest appeal in be-
half Of universal amnesty and universal
suffrage. They are prominent men in their
State, and Messrs. NEIL 8. BROWN and
FooTE ha e!s g. 'paasienal reputation. The
IroIse especially commends their letter
to the thoughtful regard Of all who
heartily unite in General GRANTS aspi-
"ration Let US have peace
We find in this letter the following allu.
sion to the proposition from Virginia, con-
Guiding with feeling reference to the dis
franchised Of the unhappy State of Ten
nessee .s. ~ "
"Again we repeat your noble words, and
say Let an earnest and cordial response be
made in Washington city to the Virginia orer,
turs.' This overture has invariably originated
with the wisest and most patriotic sons now
10 be found In the Tenerated mother OF States
1t has been conceived in the truest and most
exalted spirit Of conservative statesmanship.
1t is precisely such an overture as Washing.
ton, and jefferson, and Marshall, ard Madi-
son, and Patrick Henry, and George Mason,
which none but the shallow, the factious, and
the disorganizing, can oppose or discounte-
nance. Let 1t be met in the spirit OF re
let 1t be met as the Virginia of former days
aid In protecting, by the valor OF
her sons, the soil once trodden by the
Pilgrim Fathers. Let the Virginia of the pre-
sent day, oil bruised and battered as she Is by
nl~ -
accidents Of civil conflict Of much of her
formar glory and power, bowed down as she
has been by the overwhelming force Of I'M
counted legions, all clad as she is in the gar.
ments OF mourning for the untimely death of
myriads Of her heroic sons. whosshed their
blood for what they had been persuaded to be-
lieye to be her sacred rights; let Virginia
yet erect In spirit, yet proud even In her desc
waited by all the sorrows and sufferings
through which she has been called to pass
with her ancient love for the Federal Union,
which she aided 80 efficiently In building up
revived and strengthened by what she has
been doomed to see and to feel of the true value
OF its protective influence, as we'll as of the
woes which must result from all un-
1ustlnabla attempts TO destroy it-let Vr-
gtnia be cordially welcomed, as you atfec-
uonately recommend, once more TO the noble
sisterhooc OF associated commonwealth, and
let the broad terra frraa which holds in charge
the ashes Of so many Of the tllustrious dead
OF the past be again recognized In the fullest
sense OF the word, as completely restored to
her Prtmsrdl hoaors and to all her original dig
MY. And then, 1t may be. that when all
0taors except our own loved State shall have
osen permitted TO emerge from the cruel
nous, mouse OF bondage, and the great day of the
'anons hsden.ption shall indeed nave drawn
near, even our eighty thousand disfranchised
SlliIens shali ieel the chains which have so
long shackied their manly limbs at last melt
us away beneath tbs fervid breath of Lii
eerty. and be permitted 10 forpa, ~ thew cen
snat tney have felt the weight OF, Oppression
W lsnguished In dishonoring servitude." :, .