The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-04-27
[For the Dispalch.I
Governor Kemper's Eotfor.

90 not think Governor kempers recent
letter ought 10 pass without comment from
at least one Of ''the people" to whom he so
Confidently appeals; and having waited-in
yain-fcr some one else to do II, take the
task ,.33n myself. Let ME clear the way by
stating that do it in no acerbity Of feeling
and from no other motives than any other
citizen may claim as arising from sense OF
public duty. Lam not in league or sympathy
with any supposed clique that may be in
clined to haraSs him. lam not Of those who
blame bis visit to General Grant, which
I presume to have been based on
spontaneous invitation; and l thought his
discharge of an unpleasant duty in the veto
of the Petersburg charter bill brave and
right, though deemed him unhappy in some
of the reasons assigned therefor, and unortu.
nate in not being able to prevent rather than
compelled to extingu$h that fire. But being
most decidedly one of those whom he mis-
names extremists" and thinking the opin-
ions he attacks precisely those which are ell
tertaned by a majority of the people of Fir-
gnia, think them worth relteratins with
freedom which bis Well.knoWn manlineSs
will fully appreciate. l regret that the linz
its of newspaper discussion forbid my arSu-
lug them at length and contrasting them with
the policy which he thinks it the duty oil a
statesman" to adopt and impress upon the
p ople. ..,,,.;o,
,voc Govern1r Kemper's astounding declara-
t;on that "in view of the necessity Tor re-
curing and adhering to fundamental prlncl-
MES =" it must never be conceded, for it is
not true, that the civil war has destroyed,
however it may have invaded, any of the
rights Of the States or OF the people, or any
of the vital principles Of American liberty"
If this be his opinion, those who plotted the
overthrow of the Federal Constitution may
feel secure that be at least will never indict
them for that "treason to the hopes of the
world" which Mr. Jefferson invoked upon
their heads just tifty-four years ago when
he gave up the experiment. His hope, it
would seem, springs eternal. Nor is it re.
markable that q gentleman with such opin-
ions should insist upon it that it will be
"captious" to take note Of the fagtious
past, because "justice, honor, interest, and
our deliberate party pledges all require US
to cultivate the most harmonious relations
with the common Government and with
every one OF its departments which may con-
siSt with our principles"
Up to this time l had supposed, in COM
mon, as thought, with all the people of this
State, that "the fundamental principles Of
Union were the sovereignty of each State,
an equality and equilibrium of astronomical
| accuracy among them, the inYloiability of
| territory, the guarantee of republican form
of Government, the protection of property,
| the uniform distribution OF burdens for
| common purposes" TO not one of these
fundamental principles has the Federal Gov
ernment adhered. The State Of Virginia has
been compelled to rcn0unce her sovereignty
and reenter the Union bya vote under du.
ress to submit TO the abroSation OF equality;
to see her territory dismembered against her
will to endure the imposition Of a Govern
ment which she never accepted voluntarily,
and which lacks the first clement ola Repub-
| lie in substance because it had not her assent;
to see one-half OF her property, to vital her
negroes conhscatcd and destroyed, and to
witness the Interpolation of the principle OF
protection III the Constitution, fixed there
| by eighty years. continuance, whereby the
taxing machinery of the Government has
been ceaselessly worked against her until
she now pays not less than fifty per cent. OF
| what she consumes to her northern friends
| whilst in direct taxes she pays more to the
Federal Government than the whole of rict
and thriving New England put together
There stands our yeneEated mother, the vic
tim OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT, naisruie, robbery
and outrage, s.s,.
| .~ SCr sudden lost,
i Defaced, detlowered, and nov. to death dcvoe,"
and one of her sons. Calming to be !" in I
i position Of onerous Responsibility ina crit
teal period Of hes history" telling the 70:
!, of us that it viii De "cap!ious" fo<quarr'
j with those 'SGr have despoiled her, oecau'
J really tt,ey have NOT destroyed spy Of u