The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-11-12
TUESDAY EvE'G. NOV. II, 1872.

ranged in the list of those who uphold an admin
istration the most despotie demoralizng ana
corrupt in modern times-Uhtg.
1t may not be very pleasant, in certain
political circles, to have Virginia range her
self with the entire North, in support
Of the administration of General Grant.
The spectacle is somewhat novel, we adj
nit, and yet it is not altogether without
parallel in the history of these states. The
thing has occurred before, and the Incl
dents relating to the occurrence are EN-
phatically the most glorious in the history
of the Old Dominion. This the Wing will
not deny.
The Administration of Washington was
upheld by Virginia ranged beside the whole
North, and although some of the disaffected
party leaders growled at the result, and
talked about despotic "a and demorali-
zing" influences at the time, the judgment
of the world was not turned aside from
just appreciation of Washington's charac-
ter, nor was it deferred from accord
ing to his administration the high
commentator which was its meritorious
due. The world is not always quick in
making up its superior judgments, but it
is very apt to make them up correctly,
when the evidences of individual triumph
and justification are so complete as they
were in the case of Washington, or so
crowningly displayed as in the individual
achievements Of General Grant.
The charge which the Wing indirectly
makes against the Adminstration--tha it
is !" the most despetic, demoralizing and
corrupt in modern times, us one that has
been blown into numerous bubbles before,
if not displayed in more glittering colors
and greater attractiveness to political
babes and sucklings" than our contempt
rary is likely to give it. The charge is ex-
ceedingly "thin" in the hands of the Wing,
it is true, and bubbles are very apt to in
crease in brilliancy as they become
alternate and exile in the character of their
initiation. But this, we regret to say, is
not the character of the Whg's bubbles.
They are blown thin enough in all consci-
ence, but the 1imsier they are in fact, the
less prismatic and attractive are they in
color and in character.
In what particular has the Adminstra-
ton been despotic? The charge as made is
too broad and unqualified in terms, and
needs more ample specifications than the
Whig is likely to give it. When, where,
and under what color of fact or circum-
stance has there been despotic act dis
played by the Administration of General
Grant in Virginia? Prefer the indictment,
with charges and specifications, and we
make the defence demanded. But the
answer may be that the despotic
acts complained of were not committed in
this State, but in North Carolina. Well,
name them there as circumstantially as you
may, and we will meet them.
Whatever Federal interference has oc-
Cured in that State, is was much an act of
justification as that Of crushing out the re-
bellion, or indicating the national author
ity within the maritime limits of the Re-
public.
Had the authorities of North Caralna pro-
tected the American citizen in his constitu-
tional rights, and not tolerated white men in
hunting unoffendng negroes out of the
State, there would have been no Federal
interference there any more than in Vir-
ginia. Suppose that in South Carolina the
negroes had commenced to hunt white men
out of that State, with no Interference by
the local authorities, and had they appealed,
with their wives and children, to the Federal
authority for protection to life and pro-
peIty, what would have been the duty
of the Administration ? The Wing
can give but one answer, and that in vim
dication of justice, right, and humanity.
Nothing of the kind has occurred, it is true ];
but had it occurred, the duty of the Admin
istration would have been clear and para
mountly imposed under the circumstances.
But this supposititious case in
South Carolina has been the real
case in North Carolina, with only the
difference of color and race. White
men hunted negroes with relentless
fury and vindictiveness, making the local
government one of complete terror and
despotism. What the Federal government
did was to interfere in the. suppression of
despotic acts, not to engender them. 1t
accorded protection to the citizen in North
Carolina, that was all. Had the de-
mand for such protection come from an
American citizen in Cuba, it would have
accorded it just the same; no more, nor no
less. Its duty was as imperative in the
ore case as it would have been in the other,
and no Administration should stand an
hour which refused to recognize such q
duty as imperative, and governed its action
accordingly.
Ir, L., br,,, Oh kx1 :, ,-o