The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-03-02
General Grant and Reconstruc ton.

General Grant and Reconstruc ton.
In our kilograms from Washington pub
lished yesterday it was stated that General
GRAxr on Saturday visited the House OF
Representatives, and, retiring to one Of the
cloak rooms, sent for Governor boutwell,,
and had long conversation with him
upon the condition OF affairs in Georgia,
Mississippi, Virginia, and Texas. 1t was
further stated that General GRANT had
promised Mr.. You've, Of Georgia, the day
before, to see Mr.. BOUTWELL,, and have q
talk with him.
This bit of information is not without
interest. That General GRANT should have
been so impressed with the information
conveyed to him by Mr.. loUSG az to be
induced to 20 to the capitol to converse
with Mr.. boutwell, about it shows that
the matter of reconstruction has assumed
in his mind an Importance considerably
greater than is accorded to it in Congress,
where, for mere party objects, and to boil
ster up few incompetent strangers who
have gotten into Office in the South, the
States have been detained in an interme-
diate condition, in which their interests
have been daily suffering from uncertainty,
apprehension, and loss Of confidence.
General GRANT, from his education and
habit as O soldier, quickly surveyed the
broad territory to be brought under his au-
thority as Chief Magistrate of the Union.
he readily detected the inequalities OF
government, and the political disquietude
which existed in part of the country
whose "peace it is his avowed object to
secure. And knowing that until this is all
changed, and until there is equality
amongst the States of the Union, there can
be neither contentment nor prosperity, and
that without them there is no peace, he ad-
dresses himself even before the day of his
installation to the work Of accomplishing
these important objects.
We have no doubt that what General
GRANT said to Mr.. boutwell, was entirely
in accordance with his oft-expressed views
upon the subject. One Of the strongest
proofs of his wisdom is the interest which
he evidently takes in the subject of recon-
struction, and his desire for its speedy settle
ment. He settled the question as far as he
could at Appomattox Courthouse, and ne
religiously observed the obligation assumed
by himself in that settlement. In Deem
Der 1865 he declared that it was time that
the Southern states were restored. He was
satisfied they were ready for restoration.
Yet here in March 1869 he comes into the
Presidency and finds only part of the States
restored. and that in the most lame and in
complete style. Naturally he is weary ofthis
delay, and his impatience is openly express
ed. He fully appreciates the national evil
that flows from this broken condition Of the
sisterhood Of States, and he addresses his
mind to the subject with an earnestness IN
keeping with its Importance.
We do not mean TO hope too much from
General GRANT. We do not believe that
his policy will be as harsh and as needless
as that Of the majority Of the present Con-
gress. 1t may not be all We could desire.
But there will be one consolation, and that
is, that whatever his plan be, he will carry
it out at once. There will be relief in that.
We are wearied and worn with procrasti-
nation, with hypocritical professions, false
accusations, and the impudence and eff
frontery of imported yulgarity and incom-
petence. Let us have an end of it all in
some way OF other. We should be williSg
to-day to leave the whole matter to General
GRANT, and whatever his policy be, We
trust he will carry it out OF once.