The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-03-23
What Do They Want?

.... -.gs- What Do They Want?
- One of the strange things in this world
is that any man should go deliberately to
work to fasten upon himself the aversion
Of whole community, much less of the
whole world, as We have seen at different
periods, and as we have just seen in this
country. Why should any man now, in the
present condition of this nation, go speak
and act as to provoke the unalterable hos
tility Of large section Of this Union? We
profess not to understand fully why this
is 80.
We have thought that few members of
Congress-certainly none of those who are
prominent debaters-were without some
remote hope of being chosen President Of
the United States. And yet it is very in
consistent with such hope to give such
offence to very large part Of the people
as to make it certain that they would never
vote for the offender! Such offence we see
constantly given in Congress by very
prominent men. If this is done simply to
keep in favor with the more powerful part
Of the Union for present advantage, it is
short-sighted, and fatal to future exalta-
tion to any national position to be filed by
the votes of all the people. If such men
suppose that their popularity is so great as
to secure to them all the States of their Sec
ton, they fattcr themselves and greatly
oyerrate their consequence. With the i'm
possibility Of uniting all those States in
their favor, and having made it certain that
all the others will be against them, they
blight their prospects and defeat their aspi-
rations for the highest Office in the nation
before any one but themselves has even
thought of them for that position!
And why is this Is there in the human
heart an innate malevolence that go blinds
the man that he cannot understand 80 plain
proposition! And must this malevolence
be gratifed, not only in the face CT the
direct personal interest of him who INDUCES
it, but in opposition to the plainest dictates
of policy and humanity? 1t seems 80
strange that this should be SO, and yet we
have the daily Illustration that it is.
The interests Of this nation, physical,
moral, and political, demand that after the
wearisome and destructive war through
which We have passed, passion and hate
should subside, harmony should be restored,
and, under the sunshine of peace and order,
the country should revive in strength and
energy for the recovery of its prosperity
and rapid advancement to that supremacy
amongst the nations which is its evident
destiny. As indispensable to this there
must be reliance and trust in the people,
who must be free, and allowed to partici-
pate in their government. Yet, what do We
seer We behold them distrusted and de-
nounced by the law-givers Of the nation
we see test-oaths introduced to ostracize
them from trust and honor in their own
government-and We are given to under
7 stand that they are only fit to bear bur-
9 thsns! Is this wise? Is this the restora-
ton Of harmony Can distrusted people
. feel harmonious and contented? Can they
put forth their energies in hope and cheer
fulnessf Can they know when they SOW
who will reaps Can they, in short, know
anything while they are kept in chains and
their fate is clouded in gloom?
Tn- Now, why is this For what is this policy
7 pursued? 1t is disastrous to the peace and
I thrift OF the country; it is ruinous to the
e harmony and good will amongst men it is
ssruinous to the prospects of the prominent
men who originate and shape it. Why are
they 80 blind Are they ambitious? Then,
why not be wise to the fulilnent of their
ambition Let them change their plan,
moderate their rancor, liberalize their
views, trust the people of the South, and
thus Invite their attachment to the
Government !; restore the States upon the
broad platform Of equality and justice, and
thus not only make the Union harmo-
NOUS and prosperous, but establish them
selves IN the grateful affections Of the peo-
pie, and firmly root their just claims to the
highest honors! A'~l ~ VI
How con the public men OF the nation
DO SO blind as not to see this! Why should
they pursue with punishments people who
should be consolidated with kindness be-
cause they are so important part Of the
national community, and the Government
, cannot afford to lose one iot or title Of their
energy or talent? Why should, then, pub
lie men waste the life of the nation, OBJ
-seare their own future, and SO act that
when they die they will be remembered for
!, their yindiesiveness rather than their broad
. and comprehensive craftsmanship and that
j great heartedness of all true patriots which
enables them to rise above the paltry par,;-
4 sanship Of the hour and to live for man.
! kind? a.G
as :GovERSoR EELLs.-A correspondent of
tbs Petersburg Times, writing from Wash.