The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-22
FAIR PLAY.

EAh
Uader this caption, the Richmond Dis
patch Of last week, attempts reply to an
editorial of the Lynchburg Press, charging
the Democratic party of the South, the
Dispatch among them, with resisting the
new amendments to the constitution. The
Dispatch travels nearly two hundred miles
to find political adversary to encounter
upon this question, we'll knowing that
neither hills, valleys, or rivers interviewed
between it and ourselves, who have fire.
quently made the same charges. Why it
should have pulled on its league boots and
strided so far, we are at loss to know,
unless it is that it fights better at dis
lance than it does nearer home.
10 reply to its assertion that it is acting
10 good faith with reference to these amend
rneuts, we have to say to it in the language
of Philip S. White, who, when he accused
fellow of being drunk who was stagger-
ing from one side of the street to the other'
was told he was liar, informed him he
had better take down his sign. If the
Dispatch is acting in good faith noac, it is
only recently that it has come over. Its
columns are constantly filled with argu-
ments to prove their unconstitutionality---
It charges our party with having outraged
the South by ENGRAVING them into the
constitution, and even in the article alluded
to as reply to the Press, declares thai
they are liable to be stricken out at any
time by the provisions of the constitution.
We believe that the Dispatch, together
with the Southern branch OF the
Democratic party, are in favor OF
their revocation the moment they ac-
quire the necessary power. upon the very
principle that the constitution provides for
their repeal, and will not hesitate to avail
themselves of the provisions whenever it
becomes possible. But short while ago,
II followed the lead of the Norfolk
journal urging the party here in the South
of the necessity of declaring to their friends
in the North, their desire and determina-
tion not to make war upon these amend
ments, because the Northern branch of the
party was opposed to any such measure,
and would not support for President, any
pne who countenanced such fight. After
thus pledging itself to this platform, one
OF the Northern papers declared that if
Southern Democrats expected to make a
successful campaign with the reconstruct
tion measures of Congress declared
unconstitutional, that its members
North would not support them,
neither could they hope to succeed H.
dignant at the declaration, the Dispatch
fired up and dealt its Northern contemporary
some severe blows about the ribs, assuring
1t that Southern politicians knew their bu-
siness and would not be dictated to by that
class.
We mention these facts to show that the
conversion of the Dispatch if converted at
all. is Of recent date, aud that it is our
duty to take its professions on probation,
for fear it might reflect by improper con-
duct upon our society. 1t holds certain
opinions with reference to the war and its
consequent constitutional changes, but pro-
poses to base no action upon them. If the
Dispatch can honestly entertain the opin-
ion that public measure is wrong and in
furious to the interests of its party and
section, and not favor the abolition Of it,,
then we confess it possesses supernatural
powers, seldom exhibited. Its skirts are
clear of any violation of the constitution,
and wipes its hand of the "slave robbery"
For party purposes, we might be willing
to concede its statement as true, but to do
Justice to history, We must declare that
you were the immediate cause of the rob-
berry at the time it occurred, although, if
left alone for little longer, the controlling
Influences Of Providence would have con-
summated it. Heaven had decreed that
the cords which had SO long bound their
gettered limbs should be severed, and the
combined strength of man and devil could
not have prevented it.
You accomplished by the rebellion, in
four years, what for more than fifty had
been the prayerful efforts of philanthro-
pists at the North ; the abolition of slave
ry, and yet you wipe your hands of it l.
We are glad they are claimed to be clean,
hut we imagine they are still stained with
the blood of the war, in its defence, and I'M
less you are acting in good faith, and we
hope you are, pardon us for being suspi-
Clous) and will cease to fight US on the ques-
tlon of equal rights, you may drive your
mad followers into another hopeless effort
to curb the progress of human civiliza-
tion.
POLITICAL Prescription. When we