The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-08
.,,,, c;+,at;on The New Year.

xo,,cd inside the Union, but 10 Pc'ui'"'
.a ,oco, circumstances. When the Con-
s.;t,,;on was framed in 81 we had for our
commander General ScHoFIELD, one 0i
tho mos, clcar-hcadcd and far-see'ng men
holding trust under the United States nov
cr,mcnt. He wns wise and consioer"'e'
ue considered the Constitution aooIniha'ie'
He though, it had features that wouio r'aN'
Il ;n,olerable in its operation, and caicuia-
ted to destroy al confidence IN the "'a'e
Government. and all prosperity in the pur-
suits of the people. He would not take
s,crs to put ii in force. He knew that II
., election then took place it would be
adontcd, and this State, for which he had a
high respect, would be plunged in misery
and ruin. lie had good enough reason to
postpone action. There was no money 10
pay the expense Of elections and the meet
inr of the Legislature. This fact JUSTIFIED
,lat postponemcnt which be rightly believed
would afford the opportunity to the people
Of Virginia of voting ont the most abom-
nublc features Of the Constitution, and save
us from n DISCRIMINATION and ruin greater
than was visited upon Tennessee.
General ScHoFIELD in this way saved us.
General GRANT and General SHERMAN
came to our aid: The former to permit US
70 vote out the Objectionable clauses, and the
latter to stay the enforcement OF the test
oath" upon the Legislature by General
CAxBY and to these three gentlemen, and
others cooperating, we are bound in lasting
gratitude; for they have, indeed, saved u.s.
The "committec of nine" put in motion
the policy which General ScuoFIELD In
tended we should have time to mature, and
General GRANT secured its adoption.
So that VIC are not out thus long from hos
tile causes, but owe to delay our salvation.
To proceed: BY this fortunate concur
renee Ct events We were enabled to place
Virginia in safe position, and at the same
time carry out TO the letter the reconstluc-
ton acts. So entirely were they obeyed
that Congress had no good ground to delay
for single day the admission of our repre-
sen;aiiycs. But yet that delay, to the sur
prise Of the whole nation,-the North az
we'll as the s:outh-has taken place. The
Georgia question, as that involved some de-
gree Of party resentment, of course took
precedence of ours, which involved no such
icc!ing-and that question showed us aside.
Yet that is disposed Of, and Virginia must
Ic attended to upon the rcasscmbing OF
Congress.
What will he done with her? Reason
ably, she must be promptly admitted to
REPRESENTATION. She has done everything
that has been required Of Georgia after the
ALLEGED contempt Of that State towards
CONGRESS- Can more lie demanded OF Nlr-
rinia? We think not. We cannot see how
i; can. We believe the northern public
sentiment is opposed TO the cxaction of any
th!nr in addition. 1t is considered by the
North that the entire acceptance of the
terms offered to Virginia closes contract
PROPOSED by Congress, and which it cannot
now alter without the grosscst want of
faith. We say the North cntcrtains this
ouinion, aud we say 80 because the north
crn journals of the extreme Republican
stamp express ii i'll the most cmphatic Ian
guacc We cannot believe Congress will
violate the plain obligation imposed upon il
10y It's own acts in the face of northern
public opinion. Therefore we still hold
that the State will be soon admitted.
Admitted, it becomes our solemn duty to
act Us citizens of the Federal Republic. and
10 use every influence and talent we have
topromotc It's prosperity and our own. We
should cndcavor to make it as good Co
ycrnment as possible, and to secure to our
selves an equal share of its benefits. No
man who has n proper estimate OF his public
responsibilities can suffer any rashness or
sentimental idiosyncracies of his own to
prejudice the interests of his State in the
Federal Administration.
50 that it will become Virginians still to
preserve that dignity, wisdom, and self
CONTROL which have carried them through
the trials Of the past year, and not in any
sense to bring scandal on their public cha
ractcr by any reckless and suicidal impul-
sivencss-the mere indulgence of needless
and unmanly temper.
VIC arc not ready yet for parties. The
day is not ripe for them,--at least, for
our participation in them,-and we can
very conveniently keep aloof from them,
and should do 80 as matter Of policy and
public duty. Virginia would be compro-
missed by forcing her into partisanry now.
Che wouli sacrifice character, dignity, and
interest, by submitting to the control of
hot-headed, ill-adviscd, and shallow men.
But there may be a combination of the
members of the Lcgslature-the patriotic
and sensible portion of them-those who
arc not Office hunters and partisans-for
the purpose of securing the election of the
hest men in the State to the responsible
civil Offices mon, without respect to party,
who are noted for their integrity and COM
rctcncv-men whose claims rest not upon
birth or association merely, but who are
commended by their own talents and worth.
IN understanding that would give the ma
iority in the Legislature the power to do
tbs would be great public blessing. We
want no drones-no incompetcnts. Wo
want wise, efficient, and honest govern
mcnt and any combination which can Sc
cure these, aud save US from incompetency
and inbccilitv, will be most welcome.
We imagine things will 60 right. The
L q L. Ii