The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-02-20
THURSDAY EvEN'G, FEB. 20. 1879
The New Cabinet.


Virginia has always, from the ear
liest history of our country, exercised
large influence over the other southern
states-both moral and political. The
opinions of her public men have always
been attentively listened to, deliberately
considered, and not unfrequently adopted
by the South and her representatives. Her
unfortunate attempt at secession created
mere bubble into a dignifed and powerful
Confederacy. The recent political move
ment that placed Mr.. Greeley at the head
Of presidential ticket had its origin in
Virginia, and made preface for itself in
the campaign which pu! Gilbert G. Walker,
of New York, in her chief executive office.
Her example since the war to the other
late members of the fallen Confederacy in
resuming her place, while it has not been
we'll followed, has not been without some
good results.
No secret ku-klux klans have disturbed
her citizens in their rights Of personal Sc
curity or private property; and there
have been comparatively few interruptions
to the free exercise, by all her citizens, Of
the elective franchise, which cannot be said
to the same extent Of any other of the
Southern states. None of her high public
functionarics have been impeached, or dis
graced by corruption in office. These
facts should have no little weight III deter
mining from what state to select the
member of the cabinet who shall be the
representative Of the South.
True, the present State government of
Virginia is not wholly in accord with the
general government; but the people of the
State, by decisive majority, expressed a
wish SO to be at the late Presidential cleo
ton and no Republican doubts that it is
good policy to encourage that disposition
by such a course of action on the part of
the administration as will practically insure
such change in the relative attitude of
the municipal government Of Virginia as
the people have SO clearly indicated.
1t is of vast Importance, both to the
State and the Administration, that the
next Legislature, which must be elected
next fall, shall be Republican. It elects
Senator and state. Judiciary. Let the
South have representation in the Cabinet
by Virginian, and this will be secured.
Vastly more than this. Her legislation
will be SO shaped as to invite, instead of
repel, immigration and capital to devel-
ope her great mineral wealth and contri-
butte it to the worlds commerce. This
result will be certain to follow political
changein the State government of Virginia.
She has always been the leading South
ern state, and the sectional party have
given her the soubriquet of Banner
State,'' because of the controlling infiu.
ence she exercises. This conceded power
and influence may now be turned to great
advantage to the cause Of Republicanism
in the South and the nation generally by
the selection of the Cabinet representative
for the South from Virginia. 1t would be
regarded as compliment to her for the
manner in which the work of reconstruc
ton has been accomplished within hel
borders, and as crushing rebuke to the
lawlessness that prevails in the othel
Southern states, manifestlng itself in dua
governments, executive impeachments
midnight assassinations, scourgings ant
other frequent outcroppings of sectional
hate, to say nothing of senatorial and other
official briberies.
Everywhere in the South there has OBJ
tanned hitherto bitter hatred Of everything
national. This sentiment has but stub
bornly abated. 1t finds advocates in many
of the acknowledged leaders who mould
public opinion, and for themselves make
valuable use of it. 1t is the foundation upon
which rests kukluxism, and that "condi.
ton Of affairs that renders life and property
insecure, and the carrying of mails and col.
lection Of the revenue dangerous" Of
which the President, in March, 1871, com.
planned in special message to Congress
The selection of proper Cabinet ministel
from Virginia as the representative of tn,
South, will break down and forever ami
hilate this state Of things and replace it
venom by healthy national sentiment
Virginia, then, is beyond question, the
state from which the Southern representa-
tive in the Cabinet should be taken, ant
General Grant, with his Characteristic sa
gacty, cannot fail to see and appreciate tn
cogency of these reasons.
The Virginian to be the appointee sheal
be a national man; without narrow sec
tonal views or prejudices the exponent Q
that comprehensive sentiment which is th
antipode Of sectionalism and must ye
obtain in the South. He should be entire
ly independent Of all cliques, rings, quar-
rels and jealousies within the party, thu
frequently render it powerless for good an
ineffective but for eyil-some such man Q
Robert W. Hughes, who is doubtless tn
ablest political writer in Virginia, an
who has done more than any other ma
in the State, perhaps, to root out Souther
sectional prejudice. The tendency of til
popular mind in Virginia is now receiyin
its impress from his efforts. Sectionalisr
has reached the hood-tide Of its existencl
and already begins to wane before the pow