The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-03-13
: The petersburg Charter Vetoed.

The Petersburg Charter Vetoed.
Governor ksMrER has vetoed the nc"
charter of the town Of Petersburg. Wepuo
lish his veto message this morning IN the re-
port Of the legislative proceedings.
Governor KcMrER passes over the ques'
ton Of copstitutionality, and makes very
emphatic his objections to the charter Una.
i. invades tie republican principle that
tuot government derives its authority from
the consent of the governed, and that the
rnon,e are the source Of government, ana
that governmental sovereignty reposes IN
them. The charter, he contends, superseoes
the authority of the people by transferring
the MOWERS of the officers they elect to CON-
roissioners "deriyipg their authority solely
from the bill ITSELF" and gives to those COM
missioncrs the appointment Of other officers
formerly elected by the people. In short,
that those commissioners care the admins.
tration Of the city government which he
contends would be altogether superseding
the people and their authority, in violation oil
the republican principles which he con-
siders sacred.
To this ground of objection he deYotcs 4
considerable part of his message. lie next
objects to the charter on the ground Of ex-
pediency, alleging that the condition OF the
readmission OF Virginia into the Union was
her solemn and sworn recognition of the
political equality before the law Of all men,
irrespective Of race. color, or previous con.
diton"; and assuming that the "proposed
measure, if enacted, could not fail to SUBJ
ject us to disastrous misconstruction at home
and abroad" The message diScourses with
much earnestness and energy upon this point
OF expediency and the duty OF Virginia III
her new social condition.
The Governor also believes that the char.
ter, II it bad been allowed to go into opera
ton, would have produced most deplora-
BILE state Of affairs In the town of Petersburg
itself.
In concluding, the Governor expresses g
firm determination to maintain his princi-
piles, whatever may be the result to himself
He expects more opposition from his own
friends than they will be likely to give him.
The people Of Virginia never did and never
will desert faithful lublic servant who
performs what they can plainly perceive he
holds to be his duty. We are confident that
the Conservatives generally will decline to
censure the Governor for his adherence to
what he believes to be the true principles of
republican government.
The persistent silence of the Dispatch on
the subject of this charter has, we know,
suggested inquiry. That silence was caused
by an extreme Discrimination to oppose our
friends in Petersburg, who are laboring
under great trials and troubles, and who
thought they bad found their way out of
them. So we preferred silence to raising
the voice of opposition to what they had evil
IDENTITY become greatly attached to. We
thought the charter asked for could not be
well granted according to the Constitution |
and the principles Of republicanism, upon |
which our Government is founded, and We |
thought that Petersburg, and all Of US, would |
better bear our su1erings than do what
might prove to be dangerous instructions"
that might return to plague US. We felt
embarrassed by the question, and preferred
to leave its solution to the Legislature and |
the Executive.
That many southern communities are sut- !
fering evils from the new element intro
duced into the constituent body Of the State
Governments, which will ultimately require
\ remedy outside Of constitutions, We have !
not doubt. But situated as we are at pres
emf, we are helpless. We are under obliga-
tons imposed rather than assumed, and
there is no question about the advantage of
observing them, over disregarding them in
however partial manner.
We know that the Federal Government |
the local government Of the Dis
trlct OF Columbia In order to check the ruin. |
Gus tendency of the niSrule of the negroes. |
But the power Of Congress in the premises
was unquestionatle and uuquestioned, We
know that the whites of South Carolina, who
possess lie property of the State, are so OPP
pressed that they have begged congress 70
give them relief by establishing military
government over their ill-mted State. ana
our friends of Petersburg merit the general
sympathy of their race in their distressed
condition. But events have been untoward.
1t is not IN the power of the suffering to re-
Iieye themselves. And it Is better that they
continue to confne themselves to their con-
.titutiopal remedies and continue to respect
their obligations under the new order of
things than that they should establish exam.
pies of irregularity and want of fealty which
may be used to their disadvantage.
Congress had power to relieve the District
and the Capital Of the nation from the
abominable rule of barbarism. We have
not the power in Virginia TO give relief in
the same manner, even where the necessity
for it exists.
That revolution which will bring redress
will al! the sooner come il we adhere to our
obligations and respect the organic law.
which, however imperfect, is, after all, the
only safe reliance for the preservation of
order, and for hope In the future.
Civil-Rights Bill.