The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-08-23

ana just foah rares and colors Honecan with
truth deny, ;ndr do i recoilect to have beard
u disputed. .AoBut ION the; contrary, the re-
verse mas been the case with. the whites in
all the southern sStatcslin which the coIored
men ana carpct.baggerss and {. scalawags y
have controlled the government. 4, When
ever this experiment has been tried in the
South we see<r fgE i. l,,-,.
LOADS OF DEBT coERUpTLY CREATED,
heavy and unnecessary taxation, criminal
4 prosecution for political offences Arising out
Of the confict,'of races, aud ione-sided ad-
ministratiOn of pretended justice in the
courts, which ought to afford a common and
equal protection to all. .n' II any man wishes
to learn the probable effects of trusting the
power Of State in such hands let the his
! tory of South Carolina for the last few years
teiiLthe tale.' Or even worse, when ne specu-
late upon the possible or probable results of
such state of things, Jet US look to the
present condition of Louisiana, whose peo-
pie are deprived of seltgoyernment by the
decree of Federal judge without jurisdc-
tiOn, who has undertaken to establish an
other government which can give no legiti-
mate evidence OF popular support, but is
| MAINTAINED BY FEDERAL BAYoEETs ,t.,sr
|
ginis, on the other hand. where still power
for the most part is in the hands of the
whites, we have not been afflicted by these
evils, and have enjoyed peace and good
order throughout the land. Can any just
or wise man blame us for refusing to sub
sttute one system for the other, or for using
/ the most strenuous efforts to avoid such q
change?: Give us a government of Virgil
| mans. in any: sense of the term, OF men who
wilt be governed by Virginia principles and
interests, who are, reasonably competenk to
understand them, and whose action will be
properly influenced by Virginia feeling, and
| in my opinion we shall be reasonably safe
! from all hostile or corrupt legislation, Or
| from any conduct in our public servants
calculated to disgrace the State or wound its
self-respect | do not say that there would
| be no danger Of mistake; to promise this
would be to claim too much for human
agency; but let Virginians,
REAL vIRGINIANs, RULE VIRGINIA,
and we may trust that they will do their best
| for The honor and prosperity of the State !;
| they will do nothing to injure or degrade
her. Give me such a government as this for
| all matters~of strictly State concern. and
| for one will be content. Feeling secure
against all voluntary misuse Of power, per-
sonally, shall be willing to run. the hazard
| of mistakes. Nor is there, nor can there be,
any other ruling power in the State of which
| can say the same. There is no other 60
yernment so safe as this, nor will l give any
aid or countenance to any scheme for putting
another in its place. This is the govern
ment to which we are entitled, if, indeed,
TIE RIGHT OF 'SELF.GovERNMENT
has been restored to the people of our State
| in all matters of strictly State concern. This
| is the government under which L have lived
for many q year; it has sheltered me in
peace and iu war, and II there has ever
been any better for the objects of its crea-
ton, or which has moved more wisely and
benefcenlly to its ends, am not aware OF
| its existence in the past or the present. Nor
can point to its place in the page of history.
This is the government which we are all here
seeking to maintain, and with the assistance
of a kiud Providence we will do it. This,
| nv countrymcn, is essential to self.govcrn-
ment. to real reconstruction, and to freedom.
Virginia must be governed in matters of
nlIrely State concern by Virginians, or we
are conquered and Suhjugated still. II an
army with banners without rightful autlIori-
ty should seek to subject this Government
|
| who should refuse to risk life and property
for its defence and protection? But if he
can defend this Government simply by his
vote. what shall We think Of him if he refuses
10 give it for purpose so holy? If | am
I called upon TO suggest the measure which
wouId soonest restore the southern States to
peace and prosperity, should say put their
State governments substantially in the hands
| of the whites of those States as far as may be
consistent with the Constitution of the
United States IFS it now stands, and with the
circumstances of the country. Let the Caro-
linians. govern the Carolinas, the Georgians
/ govern Georgia, and so on OF the Others, in
tcrpreting these terms rs did that of Vir-
| oipians. Next to this would ensure that
| THE ORIGINAL PLAN OF THE CONSTITUTION
| in regard to committing the affairs strictly
| roncerning the States to their own govern
! mrpts should be carried out fully and COM
! oletely. Then The plan Of selfgovernment
i by the people of the States would be exc
cuted. and popular government would be
secured to the States in regard to the lnte-
l'rests in which their domestic peace aud pros
lIncri,v were most concerned. This is the
Fundamental principle of our scheme OF
IFederaI government, and iE is thus that So
ciety in each of the States can train and gov
ern itself in all domestic matters according
to the genius, the principles, and the tastes
of its own people without control or poten,
tia interference from any others. shoiiitl
1.-The people of any State believe in regulating
by government the questions OF temperance,
education, marriage, and labor III any parel-
cular way, let them do so, but deny them the
right of interfering with such subjects ID the
government of the people OF other states,
whose views may be entirely different. Lei
| each regulate these matters according 70 tneil
own opinion, and so in regard to questions
| of The distribution and protection OF pro.
perty, aud the preservation OF the morals Oh
the people. A thousand subjects Oh
4 CONTROVERSY WILL THUS BE AVOIDED,
4 and each people will train and govern the
\ members of their society according 10 III
own notions, seeking progress and prosperity
lin its own way, and thus in honorable ant
| peaceful rivalry some one OF them VIII strikt
out the true and best way to public happ.
ness and prosperity. Pursue any other
method, allow the people OF any State t.
enforce their views of public policy ant
morals upon another which may differ from
is i'm opinion upon these matters and we Cal
expect nothing but collision and hatred be
tween the two. In the government OF I'M
Union where all are concerned let there be
Cancellation and compromise, founded upor
Il fair and mutual
| INTERCHANGE OF VIEWS AND OPINIONS,
Iandtbus the highest efficiency OF the Gen
eral Government and its most benefcen
operation may be best secured. But in do
mestic matters, where people have diheren
and separate interests, a variety OF actor
according to the genius and special opinion
of each, will do most. to secure peace an'
happincss. II there had been little NOR
.lunion and cohesion amongst the ancien