The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-12-15
The Southern Penal Colonies.

President GRANT, with his narrow-gauge
vulgar philosophy, views the troubles of the
southern States as altogether growing out Of
the cguelties of the whites towards the
blacks. He recommends the sending Of 8
committee down to Louisiana to ascertain
"citizens for political purposes were real or
"the reports thereof were manufactured for
"the OCCASION"
The sending committees down to the
States to see how they are getting along re-
sembles those terrible commissions sent out
by the French Assembly to the depart
ments-sen out to accuse and to punish
rather than promote the ends OF justice.
While the ruthless Republican party had
all the power and fel: so strong that they did
moi fear the loss of power, the committee
men were like the commissioners Of the
French Assembly. They were mere partsans
determined TO make reports that would
strengthen republicanism and lead to further
punishments of the poor southern people
because they would not turn Republicans.
We are glad now to see a statement that
may be The committees sent to see things in
the South will be moved by somewhat mo-
dified motives. 1t is said if one is sent by
the House of Representatives Mr.. BLAINE
Will select gentlemen who are reelected to
the next Congress, and who will feel some
responsibility with regard TO the future
peace Of the country and the fair admins
tration of the Government.
This would be excellent. Mr.. BLAINE has
some hope of the heaven Of politics.. e.,
promotion in the near future-and be is not
willing to sacrifice bis prosl ects 10 the sor-
did and brutal god Of Republcanism. APP
pointed by him a committee will hardly 60
down to the Gulf to put a few questions to
negroes, and carpet-bageers, and scalawags,
and return to Washington with recommen.
dations intended to defeat justice and in
crease the woes of the South. If this send
ing Of committees is to be continued we do
trust some of those that are to be made
will have some scmblance of honesty, that
the world may have something like truth
from official quarters concerning the South.
1t is time.
The South has been treated more like Pc
nal colony than part Of arepublic. If Con-
gress cannot improve its administration Of
southern affairs it would better put it up at
auction TO the lowest bidder, as penitenta.
res are sometimes, to be worked and gov.
erned by contract. 1t would be an improve
ment Of affairs. We would as soon see some
oae else as General GRANT the superintend-
ent Of the southern penitentiary. BLEED HAIR
MAN would be an angel Of mercy compared
to him.
But we hope for better things. A patent
break will soon be put upon the wheels OF
Government to impede its downward way
to ayernus; and in two years we shall have
new heaven and new earth of politics.
The Government itself will be rescued from
the downward course, and only the kepub-
lican party will reach the terminus to which
they have been so rapidly carrying the whole
country. We conjecture that General GRANT
will jump of the train and disable himself
for life; but will in this way escape the fires
Of the terminus. He has done that which
should save him from the fates Of the worst
publcans. His gallant protection of LEE
and his comrades would save him if any
southern man had TO pass Judgment upon
u, a.