The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-03-18
THuRsDAY. MARCH Is, 1859.
: ssvirainia and Reconstruct ton.


the National Government. In the relation
of this State to the general welfare and
power Of the nation, her situation should
be deeply interesting to the whole country,
while her past history and participation in
the establishment Of the National Govern
ment, and in oil that is glorious in its Life
down to the late war, should fill every gene
rous and enlightened mind with anxiety
for her fate.
She stands now, with all her great natu-
raj RESOURCES, with ell the moral force and
energy of her public character, in pitia-
BILE condition. Her industry is without
discipline and order, her enterprise is Grip
pied, her hopes depressed, and her prospect
gloomy. Her social and political condition
are alike unsettled. The fanatical agita-
tons that Immediately succeeded the war
alienated the whites and blacks and estab-
lished war Of races. This war has been
continued by the swarm Of stranger Office
hunters who Immediately followed the IA
natical missionary preachers, and whose
whole art Of electioneering has consisted in
fsttering the negroes, filling their minds
with vain imaginings and suspicious OF the
purposes and dispositions Of the white peo-
pie towards them.
What wonder, then, that there are disturb.
ance, disquietude, and apprehension, and
that in O commercial, industrial, and social
sense, there should be chaos come again IN
Old Virginia.
Now, the Government Of the United
States cannot afford and should not dream
of being deprived Of the great resources
and great intellect of Virginia. We say
this boldly, because we know We speak the
truth. And this being the truth, the Go
yernment must take measures to place It
self in possession Of the advantages that
must flow to it from these great elements.
The source and fountain Of all our trou-
bic here, the obstruction in the way Of
throwing all the strength and moral force
of Virginia in the great volume of national
power, is the local government Of the State.
1t is not such as will compose the social
economy Of the population-not such as
will inspire confidence and stimulate enter
prise-not such as will secure peace and
prosperity. 1t is working necessarily to
ALLEVIATE still further the races and perpetu-
ate q state of discomfort by inspiring a
want of confidence in the sincerity and
fealty Of the white population, without
whose energy end untrammelled enterprise
and participation in the Government there
can be no success, and no peace in the
State.
These are facts. These are matters for
the deliberate consideration of the United
States Government in all its departments.
They involve the prosperity, harmony, and
very life Of the nation.
The people Of Virginia are satisfied that
negro suffrage is settled question. Where,
then, is the cause for perpetuation Of
that political line of division upon color only
which was drawn first by the fanatical
preachers and afterwards continued by the
mercenary ofiice-hunters for their selfish
purposesS Simply that those who prohted
by it should continue TO enjoy the Offices
they secured to themselves-a reward
which was to them everything, while the
negro was nothing but On instrument: q
ladder on which they mounted.
The only question involved being settled,
will the Government perpetuate the st ate
Of war which is destroying every interest
in Virginia and giving up to despair and
inactivity population which is inferior to
none in this Union, and which desc
from the men who gave to the nation its
chief renownY
What, then, should the Federal Govern
ment do? 1t should accord at once its trust
and confidence to the people of Virginia.
1t should bring these people back into full
cooperation with those of other States. as
sured that they will contribute their share
to the national power and prosperity.
1t is great misfortune for the whole ma
tion that this venerable State is now chiefly
governed in her civil relation by men who
hold staff in hand ready to depart at any
moment-who are here merely to fill the
offices they occupy, and who only hope te
continue in them by those agitations which
disturb the social condition of the people
and perpetuate disorder and peril. What
ever becomes of these men, that policy
should be adopted towards Virginia which
will put an end to the condition Of things
by which it appears they alone hope t.
rule. They excite the suspicion and jea
lousy Of the naturally suspicious and jealous
negro. Those suspicious and jealousies
should be allsyed, and the tendency tt
alienation between the races terminated
They declare that the people Of Virgins
are still rebellious, and not to be trusted
avery great lie which WELLS has uttered AND
his followers have endorsed. This great lie
the Government of the United States owes
it to justice and to the welfare and peace Of
the nation to denounce in the only effectual
way-viz., by practically putting trust in
these people by restoring them to freedom
and equality amongst the citizens Of this
North American Republic.
This measure of Justice will do more to
promote the harmony and peace Of this
Union than any that could now be adopted.
The latest information from Spain leads
to the impression that the Duke Of Mont