The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-28
rhe political Field.

The present is period Of intense Int
rest to the nation. 1t is near the close %
the war period. The motives anu feelings linz
which were inspired and kindled by the war
arc nearly exhausted, 80 far as they control
Che legislation and public measures OF the
country. The policy which grew out OF the
war, Including The imposition Of punish
meu.s and disabilities upon the people re-
gently in resistance to the Federal autho-
r;tv. is about to expire for the want OF pur-
nose and object to act upon. The readm's-
s;on Of the States of the South to positions
of equality with oil the States leaves no
mode. of resortiug to partial administration
for the qualification Of malice and sectional
prejudice, and the citizen finds protection
in the difficulty in the way of distinguish
ing between men of one State and those OF
another. The remaining disabilities can
not be increased in rigor, and must soon,
by the force of circumstances, be removed.
So that the war period will soon pass
away altogether, and the nation will have
time leisurely and calmly to contemplate
the situation and see what is wrong, what
is right, and what should be done to i'm
prove the national welfare.
There will be such an impatience with
any effort to revive sectional hate and re-
inaugurate yindictive legislation that the
party which may attempt it will be driven
from the field. All the party slang of these
times, and the fanaticism over the colored
| race, will excite only disgust, and the party
that maintained it's existence by these
things will either expire or find new springs
Of life from entirely different sources.
The questions that will arise out Of this
change in the political field will be most
absorbing to the northern States. They
| were the theatre of the partisan wars Of the
last ten years, and their people were alone
the actors in that time. 1t is for them to
look into matters and endeavor to reform
parties suited to state Of peace and har-
mony among the States.
The wise attitude of the South, and espe-
cially of Virginia, is to look and gee what
they do before moving to form alliances
with any party. We cannot tell what
changes may take place. We expect to see
the most bitter and viudictive Of the promi-
nent actors in the var retired, and men Of
more generous and less prejudiced charac-
tiers entering the public civil service. To
be prepared to unite with parties based on
this new ground, We should ourselves en-
deavor to slough the old sores and restore
the Interstate political harmony Oh the
kindest and most liberal basic.
This is necessary alike for peace and
prosperity and if We are indeed wise, it
will be achieved successfully.
There is much complication in the aspect
of Federal politics. We scarcely know
what to think Of it. There certainly is q
strange relation between the Legislative and
Executive Departments. General GRANT
has not pursued very even and definite
policy towards Congress and upon the face
Of things there seems to he sn absence Of
that cordially which hes in past times
been considered indispensable to the main
tenance of active and vigorous party fealty
between the Executive and the Legislature.
There has been singular want of method
and intelligent cooperation between them.
Naturally this is precisely symptom Of
the transition stage OF politics, and fur
nishes strong evidence Ct the revolution
which should logically succeed a great civil
war.
The Congress itself is not shackled by
the party obligations. Much independence
has been shown Of late BY members, and
the ultra party lash il 10 mere respected
when heard in the hall than a pop-gun.
The extremely vindictive men who formerly
frightened men and ruled the body ore now
powerless, and are left without single
question upon which to deyide and drive
their colleagues into the extreme of illibe-
rality and persecution.
"The day of jubilee" is probably not
for off. The bloody drama is about ended,
and the country will settle down on the
peace basis of the era of national power
and grandeur which will preceie the next
change in the national life, whatever it may
be.