The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-07-04
Fourth Of .Iulv.


This day is the ninety.seventh anriver.
sary of the declaration Of American indie
pendence. None can hail it without ad-.
miration for the statesmen and heroes
Of the Revolutionary period, and for their
very wise and just principles relating to
personal liberty and personal rights and the
rights Of communities. The more rejecting
portion of mankind, however, will not. at
the same time, fail to deplore the wonderful
falling of in the appreciation of those Prin-
cip!es and the manner in which they are
abused in our DAY. We here have rs great
share in the Revolutionary glory Of our
land as any other people in any part Of the
Union. Virginia, indeed, furnished the
leaders both in the council and in the field.
And where do we standr We are elbowed
aside, and but poor participants in our Co
rernment, save to bear more than our
share Of It's taxation. Our constituent
body has been grossly degraded against
our wish and without our consent by the
simple process Of force-the bayopet and
the cannon of our own Government, thus
giving the lie to the declaration put forth by
the heroes of the Revolution that "all 60
yernments derived their just powers from
1.-the consent of the governed" We know
it will be answered by our oppressors
that the negroes have claim to equality.
They were slaves, not parties to the Fede-
raj compact, and were incompetent to
mot nj
without such claim. They had not as much
claim as the Indians, who owned the land
and were here before our forclathers knew
there was such land. The white people
were the governing class, and the Govern.
lnent had no right to impair the dignity. in
telligence, and security of government by
forcing the introduction into the governing
class of an incompetent element that de-
graded it and brought into the Representa-
tive body vices never before known Ia the
community, to the peril of the Slate and the
destruction Of public order and honor.
Certainly, then, we here have to -deplorc
the most wofu departure from the princi-
plies Of our ancestors and from the censerva-
proceedings and in their laws. II Is a sad
fall for the country; and what makes it all
the more grievous Is that it Is q fall wrought
by corrupt politicians for corrupt and sordid
ends.
1t will be well for the country Il the reiicc-
tious of the people OF the North should take
the turn Of comparing the business and
grandeur Of the past with the degradation
and corruption OF the present. II they
think Of this, they must naturally inquire
what is the cause of the painful decay of
. tie real greatness and virtue Of the land.
They can in $40 better way honor the mem
DRY Of the men made great 10y this day
mncty-sevcn years since than by lanenlin2
:hc great abuse Of the heritage they left Us,
and resolving in every possible way to re-
,rieve 1t, and restore it, if possible, to its
original purity.
Moreover. we say very sincerely that il is
day every way appropriate for the culiva-
ton of kindly relations between sections.
and for cheri>hng The spirit of forgiveness
and brotherly affection. The nation can
not arrive at thc highest degree Of peace
and power without harmony, and especially
without vontcntmcnt everywhere. \
wronScd people are not the bes, reliance OF
Che state. Equality and imlmrtiality in pub
lie administration, protection from injury.
protection from sectional. social wrong, arc
indispensable to general contcntment and
10 the cherishins everywhere of the spirit
Of industry as well as of patriotism.