The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-09-22
9ifhntond 1ispatch.
WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER %, 1869

Here ia an explicit statement that the
Eaoairer "admits !" that "ace here, an ~
oin;a> are gnder a promise to conc.hdte
General Grant in retu,n for has great focof
II, enabling as to act rid Of The teSt-odth."
We beg leave to say that NC :. Admit " no
such thing. We never heard of such pro-
misc until we saw it in the Dispatch. No
body else ever heard of it.-Enqu'rer.
The words in italics in The above extract
arc taken from the Dispatch. The words
in the Enquirer'S editorial of Friday, which
we interpreted to "admit' what We under
stood, arc as follows:
Eve are aware that If General Grant
has really-indicated such preference lior
General Williams for senatorl the fact will
have its weight in Virginia, for everybody
wants all the influence he can give us, ana
there is disposition in our people to thank
him-some Of them absolutely, others by
comparison-for what he has done"
If this "disposition - that it is here as
serted exists among the people is OF re-
cent origin, and did not exist in the public
mind at the time Of the election, or before,
or Immediately afterwards, then We err
only rs TO time. But if it was implanted
in the hearts of the people about the time
that General GRANT took steps to enable Us
to get rid of the test-oath, as may be rea-
sonably inferred, and which, indeed, is the
only reasonable infercncc,-for that is the
real benefit which he has conferred upon
rs-thcn VIC claim that we are right, and
that lhc Enquircr has admitted the exist
cncc of the very disposition to do what
We have asserted the people were inclined
10 do, and for the motive We ascribcd to
them.
There is, of course, no use in disputing
about mere terms. We have used the word
''rromise'' with no purpose conveying TIC
idea that there was any understanding
nnv compact entered into between General
GRANT and the people Of Virginia. That
was impossible. The idea intended to be
conveyed, was that under 4 sense Of obliga-
ton to General GRANT there was a general
sentiment felt and expressed to seize an
early opportunity to show to General GRANT
our appreciation of his favor, and the cleo
ton of q scnator-many said two-was
generally indicated as a fit occasion. 1t
was quite common occurrcncc-thc dis
crss;on Of who the man or men should he,
and how General GRANTS preference was
to be asccraincd. The general feeling was
q readiness to surrender the whole Con-
gress 10 Get the State. If the editor Of the
-2a3uircy never heard these things, or
heard of them, then we have to say that
We are greatly surprised to learn it; for VIC
arc sure that what We state here can be
borne out by the testimony Of thousands.
The matter appeared often III the news
papers.
We say that the sentiment was crcditable
to the people of Virginia. General GRANT
saved US from an awful fate. Had the con-
e,itution been submitted as II whole, 1t
would have been adopted us sure as We
live. 4 large body of white people were
wcaricd out with delay and oppression
they wanted to get into the Union at once.
They would have taken the constitution,
iron-clad oath and all, rather than pro-
long their painful condition for six months.
4 large number OF this class would have
voted outright for it-a larger portion
would have stayed ut home. The constitu-
ton would have been adopted, and we
would have been III condition Of indcscri-
bahlc misery. Al our people would have
been diSqualiGcd-thc Government would
have been in the hands Of incompetent and
dishonest men. There would have been 10
faith in anything; no enterprise 10
energy and despair and dcsolation would
have brooled over the land. Il is terrible
now 10 contemplate the fearful evils We
have escaped. ind ore haze escaped hCnl
UWOagh General GRANT. We assert il
positively and alphabetically; and it is
honorable to the people of Virginia that
there exists among them, as lie Enqurcr
says, a DISPOSITION TO THANK
HIM."