The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-12-07

readily be persuaded W suiAcnuSi VI iAio..'
under the bright sunshine OF kindness, hos.
pitality, and affection. His happy appliea-
ton Of the fable was received with perfectly
unrestrained and uproarious applause.
The night will never be forgotten BY
those who participated In it. The Rich
nond hosts acquitted themselves most Gre
ditably but of that it would better be-
come the guests than ourselves to speak.
Few things have contributed more than
win this public festival to the restoration OF
good feeling between the sections.
!. without meaning to Intimate that sln-
Gle incident occurred to disturb the smooth
flow of the stream of geniality and intersec-
tional affection, we venture to refer to I sort
ofplayfalraillery of Virginia by Mr.. TAYLOR,
of St. Paul, which perhaps demands 4 word
In reply. That gentleman spoke In the
kindest spirit, we are aware, but even
Jest, which suggests departure from pllh-
ciple, leaves an impression, however laln''
Mr.. TAYLOR, in explaining his vote against
the central line in the Board OF TRADE, al
luded to the rigid States rights doctrines Oh
Virginia before the war. and contrasted her
adherence to them then with her readiness
to receive appropriations from the Federal
Treasury at this time.
The highest compliment paid By any
member Of the Board to the central water
line was paid by Mr.. TAYLOR in explaining
his vote against it. He thought it proper.
But he need not have tainted Virginia,
whose position is clear, contentious, anu
invincibe. As long as she adhered to her
construction of the constitution, which was
left BY its trainers open to two construc-
tions, she never received one cent by her
vote from the Federal treasury. She thus
proved her loyalty to her principle When II
was AGAINST her interest. But the war has
settled the question. The sword has been
thrown into the scale and established tha'
construction which makes it alike the right
and the duty of the Federal Government to
make all Improvements within the national
territory demanded by the g general wei
fare" Virginia has yielded to the decision.
And shall she he called in question now for
obeYing the law thus established by sharing
with other States in the disbursements
from the National Treasury which grow out
of it? Is she to be impugncd simply be-
cause it is her interest to conform TO the
settled construction? Does not her rigid
adherence to her principle, 1chen 1t 1rds
uqdinst her interest, when millions were
voted to other States, and not cent to her
who gave to the United States, without
compensation, the vast northwestern terry
tory-vindicate her from suspicion now;
According to the old prorerb. it Is bad
rule that does not work both ways.
If Virginia were now TO set up her vie'fs
agrinst the power and the duty Of the Fede-
raj Government to construct great national
works, she would justly incur ccnsure as
absurdly obstinate, madly refractory, IN
sanely hostile to her own interest-in short.
as faithless to the law and her own welfare.
As she proved her loyalty to what she be-
lieved the true constitutional construction
by DENYING herself everything and opposing
all appropriations to internal improvement
by the Federal Government, she will now
equally display her loyalty and wisdom by
sustaining all appropriations to works OF
proper dignity, az well those within her
own border as elsewhere.
We know the kind feeling of Mr. TAYLOR,
and know he meant no imputations. But
it is well to let this matter be ali the time un
derstood, Virginia is now fairly under the
new dispensation, honorably acqlicscing in
the decision of force, and will oppose no
refractory resistance to the new order, even
though she is benefited physically by it
With this brief comment upon the playful
raillery of the member from st. Paul, III
view OF all the scenes and sentiments OF the
past week, and with the political and physl-
cal prospects before us, in the most eXube-
rant spirits we heartily eXclaim
"Now, BY ST. PAUL, TIE WORK GOES
BRAvELY oN!'