The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-08-27

Has this party changed its character or
purpose? Their standing resolutions, pub
lished daily before our eyes, assure lis that
these principles now are exactly what they
were i'm 1869. Grant gives them the custom
houses, which they turn into sclninaries of
scdition; for there they cOncoct their
schemes of oiliciollS intcrncddling with the
State elections, which III purer times would
have been the signal for their instant election
from office Us we hope it will bcagain. There
they contrive for the negro vote; for control
hy its means Of the Legislature Of the State;
and that once attained they themselves tell
lis what will follow. support Grant and you
support them.
Do Virginians desire to preserve the State
us an independent political institution!
Would they see the States, the creators Of
the Union, absorbed in the central dcspotism
which is fast uSurping It's place: Ever since
the Grant Radicals found themselves in I'M
checked control of all the legislative and
executive powers Of the Constitution they
have been unwearied in building up ut Wash
ington centralized personal government on
the ruin Of the States and the people. With
malicious ingenuity they lave perverted the
negatives upon the powers of the States con.
tanned in the recent amendments to the Con-
Sttution into affirmative grants of power to
Congress to legislate originally upon all the
subjects TO which these negatives refer.
Should this Interpretation continue to be sls-
tanned there will not be left to the States 4
vestige of political independence For EXAM
pie the amendments declare that all born or
natlralizcd in this country are citizens, with
equal rights and immunitieS Us citizens !;
and that no State shall deny to citi-
zen the right OF suffrage. nor any Of these
privileges and immunitles, nor impair their
right to life, liberty, and property. on &C.
count Of color or previous condition of SER
yitude; subject to this condition, the State
may regularly regulate by its laws all these
subjects as before. Thus suffrage must be
impartial as regards color and previous con-
dition of serYitude, but it need not be uni
rersal unless the State shall so decide. The
whole field of legislation as TO crimes and
pllnishmentS, too, remains with the States as
before, subject only to the same conditions.
Similar inhibitions OH the States existed be-
fore in the Constitution; for example, in the
power to pass laws imImiring the obligation
of contracts. Laws of this sort, when passed,
have, in cases arising under them. been de-
cluled void by the courts, and there an end.
No one has ever claimed this negative as Il
grant of the power to Congress to legslate
originally, certainly not In the absence of the
forbidden legislation by this State.
But, without a pretence that the States OF
the South have in any instance denied or in-
paired the right of the negroes to vote, Con-
gress passed a law (approved by Grant May
81, 1901 entitled IAN act to enforce the
right OF citizens to vote aud for other pur-
poses" which denotfnces severe penalties
against all who interfere with the rights of
those ''to qrhonl the right Of suffrage IS Sc
cured by The Fifteenth dmendinentto the Con-
stitttion," by which severe penalties are de-
nounced, and many causes Of action are
given, over all of which exclusive jurls-
diction is vested in the Federal courts and
an elaborate machinery is provided for the
g convenient" arrest and examination of
offenders, supported by indefinite power in
the President to employ at his pleasure the
navy and army of the United States. Where
an election for Federal and State officers is
held under the same registration, and at the
same time, full power over the registration,
counting, canyassins, and returns OF votes
is given to the Federal officials, and by an
amendment, in such elections in cities OF
over 10000 inhabitants, unlimited control
is given them oyer the whole regisfra-
ton and election, the whole being under
military control of the President. And near
the close of the last session OF Congress there