The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-09
sr1n1r or rHR moRNINe PRESS.

SPIRIT OF THEN NlOh~NANW az
The venerable magician of the Dispatch
waves his wand and raises tempest--in
teapot. Calling Caliban to his assistance,
he proceeds to make US howl with aches
and pinches." The fact that Mr.. Porter
has succeeded in revonging himself on this
paper for opposing his nomination, gives
our neighbor q text for very severe
onslaught upon the STATE JOURNAL,
and in his wrath against us ne makes
very reckless and untruthful state
ments. For instance, he says: The
JOURNAL attempted to get the nom-
ination for Congress in this District
over Porter, the indomitable. And
in that, too, the JOURNAL was defeated"
Mr.. ellis never so much as even dreamed
of such a thing as the nomination for
Congress and the only place his name
was ever publicly mentioned in connection
with that position was in the local columns
of the Dispatch. He looked upon it at
the time merely as joke Of the reporter
of that paper, and took no notice of it.
And although some of his, friends subse-
quently approached him on the subject,
he never for moment left them in doubt
as to his determination not to allow the use
of his name under any circumstances.
Will the Dispatch do him the justice to
correct the error into which it has been
misled by its own reporter. So far as the
charge made against us by the Dispatch
that we called the Chahoon prosecution
"mere political persecution" we promptly
admit it. We did so declare it, and do so
still, and shah continue to think so for the
remainder of our natural life, no matter
what changes in the political face Of
things may take place. We know that
but for his politics, the case never would
have been brought before court In an
other thing the Dispatch spitefully does us
a grievious wrong. We did not sustain
the ''iron-cad" oath. If our neighbor had
read the JOURNAL for itself, instead of, as
most people do, taking it for granted
that we sustained this or that, he would be
aware of the fact that early ia the Wells
Walker canvass we came out strongly
against the test-oath, declaring that no
matter what others might do, we were
unalteraby fixed in our purpose to oppose
disfranchisement through that instrument
tally, and our vehement protest against
it, and persistent demand for general
amnesty, have been the principal cause of
quarrel between the faction which has now
triumphed, and ourselves. Our whole
course has been dictated by desire to
restore the Union on basis of good feel
ing, and to re-establsh at as early day
as possible fraternal relations among the
people. If in doing this we have oc-
cassionally seemed to use harsh terms
or advocate extreme measures, it was only
that good might come of it, or because we
were goaded to it by the stings of our ad-
versaries. 1t mattered little to the JOUR-
NAL how the Union was restored, or who
restored it,-only so it should come back
to us at last, the Union of hearts and
hands which our fathers formed and which
we knew in other days. We have sus-
tanned General Grant and the Republican
party with all our ability, and shall coz
tinue to do so to the end, believing it to be
patriotic and not mese party duty. We
think the good of the country demands his
reelection in 1872, and the retention of
power in Republican hands : and to the
omplishment of these desirable objects
W shall direct all our efforts. 1t is the
onty way in which the debris of the war
can be finally removed, end the reunion
of the States under the new order of
things made perfect. To change parties
now would be to establish anarchy.
As for the pity of the Dispatch, we
scorn alike its pretended sympathy and its
malignant hate. The path of duty lies
open aud plain before US, and we shall not
falter in pursuing it to the end. The true
interests Of Republicapism are still in our
keeping in Virginia, andwe shall endeavor
to prove ourselves in the future, as we
have in the past, their faithful custodian
and jealous advocate.
The Enquirer has something rather
milk-and-waterish or nom commital nature
in regard to the Senatorship. 1t alludes
to Mr.. Cochran's being family connection
of the Hon. John T. Lewis, accounting
for his popularity with the Republican
members, and says:
While this circumstance may make this gen.
tleman very strong with the Radicals, we do
not exactly perceive why the man who beats
the Radical leaders in the Radical party,
should also beat the Conservative leaders in
the Conservative party. These parties were
little mixed, when John 4. Lewis be-
came the caucus nominee of the Virginia Con
servatives for the place of leader OF the Radi-
Gals in the United States Senate. But we have
been assured that the elements have been
since more settled Ii this is true statement,
however, and the Radicals are not only to
have John F. Lewis as a Senator, but are also
to choose Judge Johnstons successor, how
would it do to hear from the people, before
any election is made ?
As Republicans we do not object to
leaving the matter open until another
election, as we expect to carry the next
Legislature.
Our Democratic neighbor appears to be
Disguised with the present General Assem-
bly,, and rejoices that the time is drawing
nigh when like the baseless Fabric of
faded vision it will dissolve, but unlike it
will leave soreck behind. It thinks that
but few will be permitted by their con-
stituents to return to vex it next year, and
yet by threatening them with the pains
and penalties of defeat it makes a last
effort to induce them to do something for
the good of the State and the suffering
people thereof. 1t warns them:
People dressed in q little brief authority
used, according to old accounts, to play fan
tastic tricks. We do not know that the Gus