The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-31
4itl>mond 1ispatth.
81, 1870
THE CIRCULATION OF THs. DIsPATCH
IS LARGER THAN THE CoMBINEn CIR
CULATIoN OF ALL THE oTHEE DAILY
NEWSPAPERS OF TEE CITY. .....
Tho United States senasor.hip.
(Frnm The Chatham Tribune.1

Tho United States Senstorship.
(Frnln The Chatham Tribunal
Among other important duties devolving
upon the Legislature Of Virginia ia that Of
filing the position which becomes vacant
on the 4th OF March next by the expiration
OF the term Of one Of our representatives In
the upper house of our National Legisla-
ture.
There has been in certain political circles
throughout the State much discussion and
some variety Of opinion as to the character
lstics which it is essential that this repre-
sentative should possess. 1t is urged by
some that the ultima thule has been reached
when man is found who possesses the con-
hderce and understands the interests OF the
tobacco buyers and manufacturers Of the
country, and others find In this Il potent
argument to austain their advocacy or pre-
lerenceS founded on sectional location, not
TO say prcjudices.
Others, while asserting to that view,
claim that this is not all that is to be eX-
pectcd Of the representative Of the old
Dominion in the Senate Of the United States.
We confess ourselves Of that number, and
hold that while it is proper that the inter-
ests Of the buyers and manufacturers OF
tobacco should be properly represented,
that the interests of the growers Of the
weed, constituting large majority of the
people of Virginia, shall not suffer thereby.
Last, hut not least, among the qualifications
required for this representative is that he
shall he man calculated by character,
talents, position. and name, to truly repre-
sent and efficiently uphold the ancient fame
and dignity Of the Commonwealth.
Since one OF the present Senators from
Virginia has proven himself traitor to his
people and 4 renegade to his party, it is to
the successor Of the other, whose term is
about to expire, that the people of the State
must look for efficient representation, and
that fact furnishes m additional reason for
care in making 4 proper selection. 1t has
| been argued that the National Tobacco AS
Sociation desire that Virginia >hall furnish
a representative embodying the peculiar
views of that body, and perhaps it is not
| strange in the present era of the politics Of
| the State that Nirglnians are found who
advocate the acquieScence Of the LegiSa-
ture in the hope OF that association, and
urge rs an argument that such selection
will give to our representative weight in
| the national councils. In former days Nir-
ginia needed no eXtraneouS influence to
| make the power Of her representatives
| known and felt. and we are 10th to believe
that her people have grown so degenerate
As to be neceSSitaled TO lean for support on
the influence Of Trades Union.
| Were they forced into such position, as
they have been forced into others equally
degrading and mortifying, at the point Of
the bayonet. the influence of such Il Union
a. this National Tobacco Association is the
last they would seek. As we before re-
marked, the large majority of the Eirgini.
| people are tobacco growers. They are MT
| deceived by names, but look for principEs
before they lend their support to any prep
| o>ltion, and they are well aware tnat tlis
| Tobacco Association, with the lmpoang
name, is collection of buyers and msnu-
| facturers OF the weed, banded togethr in
cally opposed, 30 far as any tax on the artl-
Gle is concerned, to the interest OF
the grower. They have not yet for
gotten, and will not soon forget the
| resolution passed by that body at its meet
| ing in Richmond expressing as the sense OF
| the association that the present oppressive
| tax Oil tobacco was causing large reduc-
ton, and would ultimately have the effect
| of q prohibition Of the production OF the
| manufactured article, and inducing con-
sumers to use the weed III its crude state.
I'VE donot pretend to give the exact words
| of the resolution, quoting from menory:)
| The people OF Virginia Will recognize this
| rs oStensb!y IN effort to cause the reduction
| of the tax on tobacco, but rs Really an lnVl-
tation TO Congress to transfer tie tax from
the manufactured article to the weed
in its crude state, or Ut least TO d.
vide the tax between the producer and
the manufacturer. True, the gentleman
bv whom the resolution was offered Is
now largely connected with the growing
interests. but who nevertheless has been
nearly all his lie, and probably is now,
more or less, connected with the manuiac-
turing interest. Possibly he may have
been unable to so entirely dlvest himself OF
the ideas imbIbcd by the associations OF
lifetime to fully realize the effect of his
resolution.
The growers of tobacco, however, ap-
preciate it. The honest yeomanry of the
land-the hard-tisted working men, both
/! white and black--are discussing it on their
court greens and around their hresldeS;
We trust that the Virginia Legislature will
also, in time, have its eyes open to this
| - cat in the meal tub" We have hereto
fore refrained from expressing any prefer
ence for men, but on other occasions, as IN
this article, have given our views OF the
principles which snould govern the Legls-
iature IN its selection.
We much desired the election of man
from this immediate section OF the State,
and our intention was formed and express
ed of urging the election of that gallant,
true-hearted Virginia gentleman, Col. Ihos.:
stanhope Flournoy, whose distinguished
talents and character enable him to ennt-
bic and dignity any position which ne occu-
pies. Circumstances, however, rendering
such advocacy lnteasible, we congratulate
ourselves that Virginia-has another son,
equally worthy, who, perhaps, by reason 81
nresent incumbency, and certainly by rei-
SON of contrast with his renegade colleague,
nosse>ses higher claims than any other.
irne course of Judge Johnston has been
manly, consistent, and dignified. Repn-.
spntinp with ability all the interests pf
Virginia, his efforts to procure reduction
of the tobacco tax enttle him especially 70
the lasting gratitude and support of al
who feel the burden OF that tax. we nave
heard Judge Johnston censured because he
sat silent in the Senate while debate WAS
going on in which the name and character
of General Lee was aspersed. We commend
him for it. The fame of Lee will live an0
his character be honored when the very
names of the hyenas and jackals who now
howl around his grave will be forgotten
forever, and it was meet that Nlrglnla>ss
representative should treat with silent and
diguificd contempt the brayings OF the asSea
who essayed to kick the dead lion.
Judge Johnston's name AN open sesame
to the hearts OF the people OF Virginia.
Recalling to their recollection the gallant
soldier who last upheld the banner OF the
starry cross" east of the Mississippi river,
who was the peer Of him who has passed
over the river and rests under the shade OF
the trees" and of him whom they mourn
nrf N n