The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-09-17
Virginia and the Union.

There arc many considerations upon the
subject of the relations Of Virginia to the
Union which are important at this time.
We NAV assume that Virginia, from her
central position on the Atlantic coast, her
mineral and other resources, her eligible
routes of transit between the Atlantic and
the grand system of interior water arteries,
with their railroad auxiliarics, draining the
richest country in the world, is the most
important State in the Union. Physically
and politically we believe that it is demon
strablc that of this time, and for the good
of the nation, no State in the Union de-
mands so much the attention Of the Govern
: mcnt and the appropriation OF the national
means and efforts as Virginia.
This fact must be confessed by all saga
cious and rejecting public men. Now that
the mind of the nation may be so disposed
as to give the nation and this State the
benefit of policy which recognizes this
fact, and proposes such action as it suggests,
the restoration of Virginia should be ac-
complished in q manner that can provoke
no Just opposition, and which shall be in
harmony with the views and feelings Of
the Government in their relations to the
general welfare and the promotion of the
national dignity, eliminated from the mere
spirit of minor partisanry.
What we have TO do in order 10 accom-
plish this is to dctach ourselves as much as
we can from the prejudices and resent
ments of the past, to surrender the theories
which the hos destroyed, and to select
such men for representatives as will most
assuredly reflect the fact. Those represcn-
tatives must acknowledge the now order
contend for the equal and just administra
ton of the laws-for the municipal rights
as settled by law construed by the courts
and for such policies as will promote the
general prosperity of the Union, its power,
and dignity. This, We take it, is brief
statement Of our national obligations under
the new condition of things.
With this general confOrmancc to an UNI
doubted obligation, and such respect for
our implied pledges and the special policy
suitable TO our case, the State may rcappcar
in her representative character in Washing
ton upon altogether favorable grounds, and
may Immediately he awarded her full rights
of participation in all the benefits of 60
vcrnmcnt.
1t is almost supercrogatory for us to
remind the reader of implied pledges, before
tl,n al to ri1 Z
made, that upon the occasion of the election
Of senators VIC would give General GRANT
q proof Of our appreciation of the favor by
which he enabled us to throw off the terri
bic weight of the iron-clad oath and the
acknowledgements. The testimony was to
be given in the form Of sacrifice of some
sort, rs in the case with al such acts. And
as q proof of their readiness to make such
testimonial, the most prominent of our
citizens declared that they would be willing
TO take even -- and --- and ---.
The reader, or some hundreds of readers,
of this paper can readily FIJI up the blanks
with the names which were exceedingly
distastcful to us all. If General GRANT
desired them, or would consider their cleo
ton proof of our grateful sense of his
kindness, we were ready to elect even them.
There is no circumstance of the recent
campaign better remembered or that can be
more easily attcstcd than this. We men
ton it not go much under the apprehension
that any considerable number of our peo
In 1 Iio4n lo1r
to remind all that it is proper for us TO
begin to consider how best to fulfil it.
Il cannot be fulfilled by selecting only
those whom we prefer; for there is no
sacrifice in that, and no testimonial Of
gratitude in it. The thing must Of ne
ceasity be Concilidtory to the object Of it.
That should be considered settled point.
Now, if, in the performance of this
pledge, we can select man or men greatly
less obnoxious Gf obnoxious at ally than
those VIC at one time signifcd our readiness
to take provided we could achieve exactly
what we have achieved-to wit, relief from
the abomnable disabilities of the UNDER
WOOD constitution-wes should felicitate our
selves as highly fortunate. We believe this
can be done. We imagine that if one such
man rs the implied pledge calls for be
chosen, and we elect another who reflects
more especially the local feeling and char
acter, and VINO is ready to render the Ad-
ADMINISTRATION generous support in its libe
lalpolicy, we shall have fully discharged our
pledges and done the very best to promote
the prompt admission of our representa-
tives, and the fair participation Of Virginia
: in all the benefits of the Government.
We contend that these steps are solemnly
obligatory upon the State-whethor we con-
slider her regard for her own local welfare
or her implied promises.
Personal aspirations and personal pre-
fercnces should be as nothing compared
with the grand objects of REDEEMlNG
VIRGINIA and promoting the peace and
INTEGRITY OF THE UNION. Persons
should be considered only so far as they
Immediately concern the consummation of
these great ends.
Virginia is now o grand theatre for ma
tional policy. All her theories OF the past
opposed insurmountable obstacles to the
application Of those measures which would
1, have made her advantages in the highest
u degree available to herself and promotive
y of the power and endurance of the Union.