The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-09-25
The Restoration.

tend to disturb the sWoOtHHcSo anu a"i
monc OF the proceeding and threaten mel
with disadvantage after the accomplishment
Of The work. First: EXteriorly we have
the pressure of the partisan confiictapVe'
VIRGINIA. The Democrats are exceedingly
anxious to get little help in the matter 0;
two opyosltSon senators from Virginia. The
Republicans are equally anxious to prevent
such thing, if not TO add two genuine he
publican senator's to their own force.
Second At home we have the itch Tor
Office, the corroding canker Of political am
bition, which in many ways veXes the state
Professional partiSans, old in party strate-
gy,--the strategy of other days, "mch
looked only to men and self ana
contest upon issues now dead-are
maneuvring with view to their own
promotion. These are looking alto
gether to their personal prospects, and
take that view of policy which gives
them the 5es! chance. Then, there are men
in office, appointed by military authority,
who desire to remain in their places as long
US possible, and who, knowing that the
longer the State is kept out of the Union the
longer they will hold their Offices, are indus
triously engaged in creating doubts OF VH-
ginians in Washington, and helping ON IN
whatever will produce division in the ranks
OF the moderate, practical, and really pa
triotc party in this State. Both these classes,
FOR instance, have better chances by post
poning the election of senators than they
have under the immediate election, and
they favor the postponcmcnt.
First, then, we owe the Democrats no.
thing-absolutely nothing. In the pursu-
ance of their own party purposes, and their
war for the national spoils, they have
thought not of us. They have been wholly
selfish--using the questions of reconstruc-
ton for their own benefit and for that pur-
pose combining with the ultra Radicals to
make those measures as oppressive as pos
sible that they might electioneer in the
North upon their odious features. They
succeeded in heaping oppression upon us,
but gained nothing themselves. They have
been beaten at every point. On what
ground can it be claimed that we should i'm
peril our own cause by endcavoring to elect
two senators of Democratic or opposition
proclivitieS? An attempt of that sort would
excite the aversion of the predominant
party, which would still further delay our
admission into the Union, and effectually
forestall any disposition to aid the local inte-
rests of Virginia upon the broad ground OF
their national importance.
Does anybody here want to make such Il
sacrifice as that for absolutely nothing but
to advance the partisan prospects of those
from whom we have derived no advantage
whatever!
Secondly-Must the great interests Of
this State-the prosperity and contentment
Of her people-be subordinated to the per-
sonal aspirations of a few prominent poll
ticians who want to 60 to the United States
Senate? Their device of delay but exposes
their plan, and will incite or provoke the
opposition of Congress and insure the COM
plication and almost certain poStponement
Of the period Of the restoration Of the State,
upon which all our hopes depend. In this
work Of delay there are ready co0perators
amongst the provisional officers, who are
faithfully looking after provisions. 1t
is true the Journal, the ultra Republican
H.
but, nevertheless, that paper would be de-
lighted were it postponed, and there is
hardly military appointee in the State who
would not have that done were it in his
power.
The many aspirants for the Senate in Vir-
ginia are respectable and most of them able
men. They are probably all unaware
Of ha i,,ti, If tbni ,,iC
over their views as to the proper time
for the election, yet they are so intlu-
enced, and they oppose the chief difficulty
in way of the election in October.
But not merely is the peril in which they
place the State confined to the time of the
election. There is the question Of the sort
of men who should be sent, and their effect
upon the Government in the matter of its
friendly disposition towards us. 1t is not
probable that any man conspicuous in the
past feuds OF the nation could be sent with
advantage by Virginia to the United States
Senate. It's our duty now to look to our
physical welfare, which is bound up with
cancellation and concord. We must so act Us
to preserve them, or we shall have for Virgil
MIA an empty representation i'll Congress. We
must avoid men who cannot help i'll this
and no true son of Virginia would offer to
represent her, knowing that he would but
prejudice her cause.
Now, then, against these causes Of trou-
bic, veXation, and delay, the great party of
practical ideas, moderate policy, and public
devotion, which tTiumphed in the election
of WALKER to be Governor, must set itself
with face Of iron and resolution rs firm
as adamant. To yield to them, in a slight
degree even, would be perilous. An inch
soon becomes an ell, and all resistance is
soon borne down. This party must main
tain its ground manfully, and carry out the
practical policy of restoring the State to the
Union i'll the shortest possible time.
There is no reason at this time for Virgil
MAS taking to mere party politics. We can
gain nothing by it. We owe an obligation
TO General GRANT, through whose kind In
tervention-and that alonc--we are to-day
relieved of the test-oath. 1t is not consist
cnt with our honor, nor is it compatible
with our interest, that we should select any
body or take any step hostile to him. 1t is
altogether in harmony with sound principle
and sound policy that we should conciliate
the Administration, and in that way at once
express our proper sense of the advantage
secured for us and advance our physical
welfare. This is the true policy of recon-
struction and if it is not pursued in Octo-
Der the people will have given up the sound
views they maintained at the polls in July
and espoused others at war with their best
interests.