The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-08-13
General Grant and the Conservatives.

General GRANTS election. 1t was impesSi-
bic that the people Of this State could APP
prove every act OF General GRANT. Indeed,
there We're many that no Firgn'an con'o
approve without hypocrisy. There was no
reason why we of Virginia should give III
our adhesion as the general advocates OF an
Administration which, while it did things
we could approve, did so many others mat
were contrary to the theory of our Govern
men:, and directly opposed to our interests
and welfare.
So that we could do no more than approve
where appreciation was proper, and disap-
prove where ccns,lrc was just. Thus says
the platform.
This paper has pursued this policy-it has
acted as it thought fairly to the President,
and In good faith to Virginia and her peo-
pie. 1t was amongst the first to demand
that General GRANTS salary should be raised.
We went for giving him 100000 per an
mum. 1t was due to the nation that the Dug
nity of the office should be well maintained
with some regard to the usaScs OF civillzed
ginning of this century, when the population
of the whole country was about three mil
lions, certainly four times that sum should be
necessary now that the population Is forty
millions, and when the style OF living has
been multiplied in cost, and when in so many
ways are accumulated upon the Presidential
office expenditures for purposes unknown
in 1900. The argument was solid and just
Congress only gave half the sum that they
should have given, and they meanly coupled
with it an increase of their own salary-thus
forcing the President to increase their pay
or reject it and along with it his own.
General GRAHT we suppose cares little
about the criticism Of Virginia. lie needs
not our assistance. But if he values it in
anything. we suspect he does so as much
when we support the increase of his salary
Is he would in any other matter!
But while he may thus set no great value
upon the support Of Virginia, We "ill give
him credit for respecting much more our
Independent action in approving what we
ought to approve and condemuinS what we
thiuk deserves ccns,lrc than he would an
unconditional surrender and our wholesale
applause when he knows we cannot thus
applaud him sincerely.
Had General GRANT adhered to his policy
avowed Just before he took his seat he would
have had all the southern States in his
brccchcs' pocket This he did not do; and
he has "gumption " enough to know that
we cannot honestly declare ourselves his I'M
conditional supporters. He cannot, there
fore, expect us to yield such support; and il
he is the man we take him to be he would
more readily trust those who frankly object
to some of his acts and approve others than
those who avow themselves "GRAST men,"
General GRANT is called UNCONSTITUTIONAL
SURRENDER GRANT" But, nevertheless, he
showed in his treaty with LEE that he hadin
his nature something more humane and
civilized than the mere barbarous rule of
eXactng blind submission from brave and
gallant foe. If, when holding parley with
such men he, found the unconditional sur
rendcrcr" inconsistent with the dictates of
humanity and justice, we wonder what he
must think Of an unconditional surrcn-
der" where unqualified submission has not
been eXactcd, and where, if he has judy. |
lnent at all discriminating, he must know
that it cannot be made without discrimination
and without motive that must be at least |
questionable. He cannot therefore consider |
the unconditionals as particularly trust |
worthy. nor can lie be greatly impressed |
with their worth. We doubt whether Gene !
lal GRANT thinks such gentlemen great |
acquisition to his cause.
Virginia is helpless. She, like the South,
has no power to initiate national movements
in national politics. 1t has been too plain
that all causes she and the South espouse
are prejudiccd by their support. Nothing
is left to her but to take things rs they come.
To become a follower of power would in no
sense change her condition, while she would
thereby be put in the disgracetu light of APP
proving all the wrongs done TO her. She
would be made to shout praises to the hand
that smote her and rejoice in her chains and
humiliation.
no make indscrminate war would be
silly; for we have no power, and can right
no wrong nor redress any grievance. But
shall we approve the suspension Of the writ
of hobeas corpus in Virginia? Shall we praise
the appointment of incompetents and of
strangers amongst us to office! Shall we JUS
tify the invasions of State authority and the
subsection of every citizen to the will of the
Federal Executive and to the mercy of
Federal judges: Shall we praise the system
of measures by which the white man is
humbled and the negro eXalted-by which
the white man is torn from his home,
marched hundreds of miles, tried by preju-
diced Judges upon the testimony Of igno-
rant and malignant witnesses, and after
wards imprisoned thousand miles from
their homes: Shall we, indeed, declare to
be wise and just the overturning of the Go
vernment our torelathers gave us, and the
prostration Of all the sacred principles of
right they bequeathcd us?
No. General GRANT does not expect it;
and il he does he will be sadly disappointed.
Nirginians will be independent still. He
should admire them the more for it. Ii he
does not, it is all the worse for him. Come
veal come woe, we believe that Virginia
will maintain her honor.
- Fill high the bowl with Salnian wine, ,,,
For the Greeks-the Grccks-they never VIII DE
Slaves" ------
Right for the North-Wrong for the