The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-07-13
Mr.. Wallis Reply to the Sacflems Of
e. Tarmmany
From the Union County Herald.

80 TRmmany. 100 ..
sr- From the Union County Herald.
We publish this week the following in
structing and ably written document, being
the reply of Hon. james w. Wall, of this
city feX-United States senator), to the So
schems of Tammany, who invited him to be
present at their banquet on the 9Th instant.
1t is caustic review of certain phases Of
the late war, and seathine rebuke of the
Internationally performances. It viii be
read with interest by all
ELIZABETH, June %, 1869.
Hon. William M. Ttceed, Grand Sachen1;
d. Oakley Hall, Brennan, Bell, ct ais,
4 Sdchems:
Gentlemen,-I have this moment received
your highly-esteemed favor inviting me to
participate in the ceremonies on the ami
yersary Of American independence with the
venerable Tammany Society. I regret very
much that it will not be in my power to be
present.
If ever political prophecies and warnings
were verified and justified by events, the
present condition of this nation is now sadly
indicating the spacious patriotism that
foretold the consequences Of attempting to
maintain, by violence and slaughter, q go
Ue,71nlent founded on consent. Had not the
recent revolution caught us with wretched
class of ignorant and corrupt politicians in
power, the Constitution might have been
maintained by honorable compromise, and
republican institutions cOnsecrated and per-
petuated by showing their capacity to take
the sting out Of civil discord. They were
warned of the peril which must follow the
introduction of military force rs an element
in the popular government.
They were told of the folly of attempting
to preserve by armies a Union which
would be worthless as soon as brotherhood
ceased to animate it. They were warned
against the wretched weakness Of supposing
that they could entrust absolute power to
their rulers, and yet live safe under its
shadow.
1t was demonstrated to them that, even if
the fortunes of war should be ultimately
with them, victory would be but the be-
ginning of their real danger, inasmuch as
conquest would put an end to equality and
liberty, and it was madness to suppose that
nation could be enSlaved in one of its sec
tions, and continue free under the same
Government in the rest.
Years have gone now since the last sword
of the war was shcathed, and where is the
Union, where is the peace for which the ma
ton and its institutions were upheaved?
What has become of the patriotic officials
who were to bring back, and deliver up,
the extraordinary powers with which they
were entrusted for the hour Of the crisis!
Where is the Constitution in whose sacred
name so much blood was shed, and so much
hope, happiness, and plenty, turned into
desolation? Except the vllltures who have
grown fat on power and plumber, the
greedy monopolists who have thliyen on
high tariffs, and the taX-gatheripe leecheS
who suck out the marrow of this land,
from the Aroostook to the Rio Grande,
where is the man who is better off for this
he hut shn
God, on Bonded knees, to be RENTED to
what we were in 1861, before the touch of
"the irreprcsSiblc conflict" was put to its
incendiary work? Not n discarded warm
ing of those days but has been brought
home to lis in sorrow. Not a prophecy
whose fultilment is not written on the crllm-
bling walls of the great cditice our fathers
buldcd. And how many who Scot1cd ut
warning, where TO have needed it would
have been our salvation, are now tlmldly
muttering their useless protests. How many
who who denounced hesitation rs treason,
and rcmonStrancc as rebellion, are now
shuddcrin- at the terrible uncertainties ola
future which they could have avcrtcd by
the cOmmonest exercise of moral integrity
and courage.
The corrupt and ambitious organization
whose elevation TO power brought this Had
of woes upon us necessarily magnify the
events of the late civil war rs far surprising
those of the Revolution, which released us
from the thraldom of the British tyranny,
and hence, to use the forcible language Of
your invitation, "thcy seem willing our
children should be taught that anniversaries
which arc peculiar to the recent war Of the
great rebellion should usurp the place of
celebrations Of days rendered illuStrious by
revolutionary events to emphasize some Oc-
caSion that seems to cOnSummate Il fresh
amendment to the glorious old Constitution
rather than to commemorate the annlYcr-
sary of national independence, once so re-
vcrcd 10y men of AL parties" 1t was not so
with the Pagan nations of antiquity, who
had never been taught the divinity Of for
yivencs> like this nominaly Christian ma
| ton.
The national craftsmanship of those in
power in this Christian land, on the con-
trary, in>cribcs OH the rcgimcntal color>
symbols commemorative of their having
| been carried calamity in our tratcrnal con-
| ilicts; crcctS monuments and ordalns ccle-
brations to keep alive the memory of our
domestic calamitics. The object is appa-
rental the glory and power that this
| party have ever achieved were won upon
| fields wet with brothers blood, and mid the
devastation and ruin of sister States once
prosperous and happy. To forget these
| CiItlHllitS Nbtiiu bC w iolSNO Ih'o i"''.''i
fanaticiSm had ever ruled this country To its
ruin. Let il be the aim Of your patriotic
association TO keep alive the memories of
| those glorious events in the better and
purer days of this Republic, that won for us
| i place among the nations, and to cherish
the principles Of our earlier patriots and
heroes whose warning voices, had they been
| needed. would have saved us from the
calamtics that now hem Us III OH every side.
With sentiments OF respect, yours, truly,
| JAMES w. WALL.
| Up i'm BalI0on---VOyaSe of the Ely-
periOn from Buffalo to the Allie"
Ghany MOuntains---TwO Dips into
Lake Erie..-Thirty Miles an Hour
Above the ClOuds---A Descent Among
the Trccs-..AH Night on u High
Ro0st-.-A Happy Delivcrance.