The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-12-24
A Season Of Repose.

For the next three weeks we are 10 pe II
this happy condition. Congress mas a..
iourncd. The members have gone 10 thc'
homes General BUTLER has dined ah'
yv;,od his friends, and has made tracks 10
wards massachusetts. "IMoS ma? nov
seek his pillow at an early honr OF Iii
NIGHT. and WALLACE" cease his labor
long enough 10 rest ard refresh h'mscil
The renders Of the Dispatch must cohteh
themselves for u short space OF time upoi
main food. We can furnish them no sucl
>pirv seasoning for their mornings meal a
We have Tor several weeks been in the haoi
Of supplying them with. Our columns
must be comparatively dull. and conse
qucHtly our people must be happy.
Let Us hope that the pleasant greeting
which will fall upon the ears OF the mem
berS Of Congress during Christmas ana Ne"
Years weeks, and the kindly influences O
The home circle. will dispose them TO cXcr
else a better spirit towards our people
when they assemble in January. We have
zen made TO wait because Georgia had OBJ
,.rurtrd our pathway. Congress, was fcNed
! Ill. that il really had no power TO recon
..-i,rt GEORGIA second time: but Ii alsC
saw that there WAS II alternative. "foWci
!. always stealing from the many to the
few: and so Congress, which tour years
ago doubted its power TO reconstruct
Georgia the first time, bur which llhaii!
concluded that il must needs DO so,
a..tiu o,crrnne its doubts, and took an
other long stride towards that michal-
lcrrcd exercise Of governmental powers
which leads 50 naturally from the republic
:, .fo cmpirc. The members could not but
see tlat they had rs much right 10 recon-
s.rtict New York - 10 reconstruct Georgia.
Both are independent States-hardly SoIe-
reign States, We should say. They knew
what they were doing; but il must be adj
United that they were almost compelled 10
10 what they did. Logic is logic, and logic
(, memorable especially the logic of events.
Georgia had sci them at de tancc. They had
..thor 10 allow every state. including those
~ The South, II pas, whatever laws ii
,.I.a>ci. and 60 TO regulate suffrage and
olfirc-holding TO suit itself, or else to take
hold Of the rcins Of government and sci Il
r~accdent Of gcycruin" every state. mclu-'
d,ng those Of the North, according to Its
own will and pleasure. We ar" not SUR
't:iscd at the election which Congress
made. On the contrary, we should have
hccn surprised if that body had yielded
the point. Georgia gave them but
alternatives. They were forced to take the
ut. or the other. They had to decide once
.lr al either to exercise unlimited control
over the several States. or 10 admit that
:tt.r al The states We're sovereign and the
id Democratic doctrines true. They
Lave crossed the Rubicon. They have de-
cf2ed = make ours Consolidated National
Government. They have declared in effect
+ cmnipotcnt; that it is bound by 10 writ
to,l constitution. hut will act rs Circum-
Stances dictate. So Mr.. DAWES, Of MaSsachu-
,a,'s. after bordering the subject well, and
experimenting correctly th" meaning OF the
notion of Congress in the Georgia case, de-
y!urcd in his place in the House Of Repre-
s"n1ativcs on Wednesday that "cqualv in
Wisconsin and Massachusetts rs in Geor-
ia il was the duty Of Congress to man-
"t:an republican governments, and Con-
gr.ss 1rGS tn" iudge q the facts and the
" cccGsiou.' This tells Us that Congress
l1s chosen 10 derive lis power to recon-
etrllct Georgia the second time from that
clause Of the Federal Constitution which
require, Congress 10 "guaTautec rcpub-
iiran form Of government TO the several
states, anI also tells Us in unmistakable
language that Congress is the sole Judge as
. what Is 4 republican form Of govern
McUt.
All this neither surprises lis nor disturbs
our cquanimty. Ever since the war ended
We have been prepared for such legislation.
For 10 our minds it was always clear that
# the States had 10 right to redress their
Wrongs they had no rights ut all. 1t is
lG0ckcry 10 give n man right without
remedy. Ii is mockcrv also to say that
state has any rights as against Congress if
t,ngrcss is to be not only the wrong-doer
hut the Judge as to whether its own acts
are tor,ous. We wouldn't give button
~ any such rights. And So we do not rail
al Congress. We await the sober second
thought Of the northern people, who will
"uo day perhaps wake up to their own de-
i.urolcss condition. For if they do not, it
would he folly for us Of the South to at
tempt 10 withstand the power Of the Gene
ri Government.
This leads US back TO where we started.
let us rest awhile. Let us possess our souls
in patience, and not fret ut events over
which we can exercise no control. We are
helpless. We are powerlcss. We are at
the mercy Of Congress. Whether they treat
~ well or i'll. we cannot mend our condi-
ton. We hope and believe that they will
not trouble rs with further and harsher
conditions. We expect Virginia to be adj
united 10 representation upon her present
record. We cannot believe that there il
"ny room for doubt. But let all this be az
4; may, we know that we of Virginia have
done al that reasonable men could ask us
- DO, and, so knowing, let us enjoy our
Christmas in peace, and leave the turmoil OF
politics 10 our northern brethren, who are
VET happy in the belief that they at least
c.n compel Congress 10 do their hehests.
While it is honorable to submit to the de-
crccS Of Fate, il is shameful to fret and
rage and bite the chains Of nature"