The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-07-20
Ratribution.

1890, - - $1,000 ~ - <os ~ w.
Retribution.
Against the protest Of the people OF the
southern States che Republican party cone
ferred upon the negro the right of suffrage.
The thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth
articles Of amendment to the Federal Con-
stitution were all injected by force into that
instrument for the purpose Of humiliating
the whites Of the South and securing the
votes of the blacks. Under the Constitu--
tion only three-fifths OF the negroes could
be included in the basis OF representation
in Congress so long Us they remained slaves.
Now they are all free and are oil included
in that basis, and all represented in the
lower house OF Congress. Putting down
the whole number Of them ut four millions,
two-fifths Of them would be sixteen hum
dred thousand, and this number would give
to the South some twelve additional MEM
bers OF the House OF Representatives.
The partition Of Virginia into two States
was another outrage upon the southern peo-
pie. 1t was done for no good purpose
whatever, and was rather piece Of mean
spite than measure Of craftsmanship. It
was plain, unmistakable violation Of the
Federal Constitution. 1t was an act OF war
which might have been justified in any
country not professedly governed by writ
ten Constitution, >but wholly ineXcusable
and unjustifable il. this country. But
never mind these defects. The thing is an
accomplished fact, and cannot be undone.
West Virginia has two electoralVotes which
were given to her because Of her two Fed.
eral Senators; and these added to the twelve
which the Republicans have given to us Of
the South because our negroes are no longer
slaves, make fourteen votes added to the
strength OF the South in the electoral col
lege.
EDMUND PEsDLEycN, in his letter to us
which we published last week, says that
Presidents arc not elected by small MAORI
ties. One or the other candidate will go in
this year, he thinks, with sweeping ma
jority. There is no such rule. A single
State has in the past turned the scale, and
will no doubt do so again hereafter. In the
present case, 1t is more likely than other
wise that the vote Of New York will elect
whichever candidate it is given for. Be
cause there arc some $50 votes which are
almost, absolutely certain for each OF the
two candidates for President. AT any rate,
there is a possibility that the fourteen elec-
toral votes which the Republicans manufac-
tured unconstitutionally for the humiliation
OF the South may place upon her head
crown OF rejoicing. The favorite estimate
OF the Democrats is as follows:
Whole electoral vote 36g
Necessary to a choice: 1oo
Giving the Democrats 131 in the South ;
the so of New York, New Jersey, and Con,
necticut; and from California, and TlLDEN
will be elected by only two more votes than
are necessary to a choice. II this should be
the result OF the presidential election, 1t Is
easy to sec that the unconstitutional acts o,
Republican Congress will have returned
to plague the inventors. The poisoned
chalice will. indeed have been commended
to the lips Of the malignants who prepared
the poison. The vote OF the negroes,
though cast for HAYES, will have elected
TrLDEN. Could any punishment be moro
appropriate, or did ever party more richly
deserve such an example Of retributiye JUS
ticc?
Perhaps our northern brethren may find
some food for reflection in this article. Ii
the South has gained so much political
power by the emancipation Of the negroes,
is it likely that her people will ever agree to
surrender it? Will they be willing to dllolc
the North to remand the negroes to slavery,
were such thing possible? 1t is not possible,
we know, and SO does every sensible north
ern man, and yet how many negroes there
are who still fear such fate, and whom ly-
ing agitators induce to vote for Republican
candidates by telling them just such false
hoods? Even Senator Morton is not above
indulgiug in remarks concerning the pur-
poses and desires of the southern people,
which entitle him to take rank among the
slanderers of the South and the deceivers OF
the negroes. No. The South will not allow
the reconstruction measures to be dis
turbed Let northern orators OF both par
tics take notice thereof, and govern them
selves accordingly.