The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-09-04

want OF prior human experience. Under
just systems Of government history fur
nished no precise parallels, and consequently
toas patriotism which saw and appreciated
the r1ght was unable to prove its statements
o, ih'ntaln its arguments by convincing
ILLUSTRATORS Failing to engraft upon the
written law the limitations deemed ueces-
sarF, the democratic fathers sought nrac-
tlcil establishment Of them by adyo.
eating strict construction. This doc
trlne was never thoroughly enforced
by any party, and is now totally disregarded !;
hence our present political condition. Far.
reaching changes are needed to obviate it's
evils, and 1t Is only by such changes that we
can successfully inauourate the second stage
IN That grand social reform which was in
tended by the fathers. A free and euigIt-
ened people, with capacities matured under
the benign influence of their experiment, we
can now detect and remedy these defects i'm
their glorious though unfinished work which
experience has developed. They laid the
foundation; upon us is dcvolved the duty OF
completing the super>tructure. The enor-
NOUS growth of official inaversation In this
city and State, which was brought to light
during the last year, invited good men to
action. The discoveries afforded an oppor-
tunlty OF stirring the general mind to per-
sistent effort for reform.
The opportunity was improved, and, cX-
cept SO far Us disturbed by the inopport,lnc
recurrence of "a presidential canvass, the cur
rent of popular sentiment has ever since
moved in the right direction. 4 desire has
been extensively entertained that this move
ment, originating in the nations metropolis,
shond be permitted to run its natural course
and draw into harmony with itself the honest
masses throughout our country, and thereby
lead to the establishment Of efficient, scf-sls-
tilning, and permanent barriers against pre-
vaIent evils.
Facts, however. warrant an apprehension
that the pending conflict for control of Fed
eral power has broken in upon the tendency
to reform, and may completely reverse it.
Governmental intermedding with those con-
Germs of society which, under judicious
'awS, might beneficinlly be left to individual
artion, Is the only real evil actually developed
in our system. This eminencc Is assigned to
it because 1t il the fruitful parent of all
others existing, and because the measures re-
quired to correct 1t are precisely those which
would cxtiEpate the unrestrained powers
now mischievously exercised by our officials.
If. instead Of prohibiting or diminishing.
this vicious practice should impart to il new
sanctions and greater vitality, reform must
become impossible. Now, of this practice.
above all other living Americans, Mr.. Gree
ley is the recognized champion, and no body
of organized opponents to it has ever eX-
istcd i'll this country except the Democratic
party; yet, by the decree of a convention
as 'uming torepresent that party. Mr. Greeley
has been gazetted as It's stundard.bearer. Op-
position to that proceeding has, in my mind,
fur deeper source than mere attachment to
party. That, at least, I am not unduly in
fluenced by that sentiment will appear by
measures adopted against the recently DE-
trcted municipal detaulters. In organizing
the forces employed equal opportunities
were given political parties of every class.
Thus Innocence has been shielded from the
diScredit OF evil associations Inadvertently
formed. Official tillainy stands literally de-
fenceless under actual or impending iudg-
ment. and all honest men in this great city
and State are united as brotherhood for
common defence. Aside, then, from party
sentiment, my views of the public interest
and existing public necessities compel ME to
rcpudiate the Baltimore nomination of Mr.
Greeley. Whenever speaking or writing on
the subject, have uniformly condemned it
and declared my readiness to support Dem
ocratc candidate. This circumstance has led
TO Supposal in some quarters that had
aspirations to office. and it has been suggested
that my name might be offered to your accept
ance as candidate. The object of this letter
is to avoid misrepresentation on those points.
Ii compelled TO decide between Grant and
Greeley as candidates for President the Dem.
ocIatic electors must re y very much upon
mere conjecture. Those incining to the lat
ter as their choice Of evils suggests that the
mitigation of oppression at the South would
result from his success. There may, however,
be equal ground to hope that good may
result in either issue of this rivalry. Once
his second term shall have been secured,
General Grants only motive for intlicting
misery on that portion of his countrymen
will cease, and an effort to secure third
term or establish dictatorship cannot rea-
sonably be unprecedented, and consequently
Il comparison of probabilities offers lis
merely blank on the one band or four
wears OF indefnable activity on the other.
That wise people. whose uSagcs have gen.
orally followed. has occasion to pass through
il transitory period somewhat similar to that
affecting southern interests in their action at
that time. We could find safe prcccdents for
d course of politics which would promptly
reInstate them in their property but if there
be one among the master spirits Of the are
who, even if inclined, could not adept that
policy, it is Mr. Greeley. The success of
General Grant might involve ~, important
consequences, but that of Mr.. Greeley would
corlsecrate the practices referred to, which.
in my opinion, are absolutely incompatible
with the permanence OF republican nstitil.
tions, In saying this it is not intended
smply to pronounce for anti-protertion-
ist ideas. That question is leff untouched.
If the support of home industry against
foreign competition Is regarded AZ sound poll
lev, 1t can be effected rs ihr as ntrdfIll by
much simpler and less expensive and far less
dclno,Ilizing processes than our ovrrgr0wn
customs establishment. The true policy is TIA
tional regeneration. It Is fhr more rompip.
hensiYe than mere free trade, It's aim Is to
break the sceptre Of trading politicians and
emancipate the masses from the filthy gov
ernmental intervention now practced in car
rying on It's affairs. The existing indebted.
ness of the country should indeed he held
sacred, and to the last cent faithfully r.
deemed; but the power of borrowing mo
ney on public credit. either by paper issues
or otherwise, should be absolutely annuled.
Neither the Federal Government nor any
other down to the smallest civil division of
State should possess such power. It is in
consistent with the perpetuity of free repub-
licsln institutions it is The very lite-blood of
aristocritic rule, for it ftttei> Ialor ~ the
bond.slaye of capital. In modern times it
furnishes Il limitation Indispensable to war
without it, that most shocking of all national
crimes and calamities would I've impossible.
Such comprehensive advances in civilization
as are here suggested may lie as yet inlpracti-