The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-03
Rivers and Harbors.

The organs Of GRANT and HAYES charge
upon the Democrats OF the South that they |
are grossly inconsistent because they do not
stand upon the ancient ways, and are not
controlled by the teachings Of their fathers,
in the matter OF Government aid to works
OF internal improvement, and in opening,
deepening, repairing, and otherwise improy-
ing the rivers and harbors OF their section.
The same papers charge them with adhering
to the old doctrines Of southern statesmen
concerning the right OF secession, slavery,
&c. Both charges are untrue. Besides,
there Is no more inconsistency in agret-
ing TO abide by the doctrines which
have been established by the war in
the one case than in the other. Ii
the southern people ought to and do accept
rs established the theory that the Federal
Government has the right to compel the
States to remain in the Union, they must
accept it with all its consequences. One OF
these is that the Government, which has the
right to compel the services OF the citizens
OF the several States in time Of war-which
has the right to confiscate property, levy
taxes upon individuals, and do everything
else that an unlimited despotism can do
must surely have the right and the pow
or to construct works OF internal inn
proyemcnt through the several States,
and also to open and improve natural cham
ncls OF commerce. 1t would be manifest
folly for the South to refuse to receive her
share OF the appropriations which the Fed
p
ment OF rivers and harbors, on the ground
that that Government has not the power so
to use the money collected from the people,
whilst she is annually forced to pay millions
OF dollars into the public treasury. She
would be idiotic to refuse to receive the
benefits OF the doctrine that this
is nation, whilst she is compelled
to bear al! the burdens which the
establishment OF that doctrine has brought
upon her, in common with all the other Sec
tons OF the Union. We would esteem that
southern representative who should get up
. in Congress and proclaim his adherence to
the theory that every State has the right TO
sccede at will from the Union, not one whit
more a traitor to the true interests OF his
section than the southern representatives, VINO
should deny the truth OF that theory but vote
against all appropriations intended for the
benefit OF his own constituents on the
ground which before the war was taken by
most OF the southern representatives that
the Federal Government has 10 power thus
to contribute to the material interests OF the
people whom it nevertheless has the right
to tax, to conscript into the army, and to
harass by its marshals, collectors spies, i'll
formers, and tools OF all sorts.
The New England States pay no taxes to
the Federal Government worth speaking OF.
They all, however, fully believe that the
Federal Government is omnipotcnt, and has
the right OF course to give them rs much mo-
ney Us they can get out OF it to improve thcir
rivers and harbor$, or for any other purpose.
Their representatives will vote to receive
every dollar that they can get, knowing full
well that the money comes out OF the pockets
OF other people. What inscnsatc folly
would it not be in Virginia representative
to refuse to vote to his own State and sec
ton money belonging to the Federal Gov
crnment, when he knows that whatever
may be his theories northern Congressman
will give to their section every dollar which
they can possibly draw from the Treasury.
Those northern Congressman are very viii
ling that the southern Congressman should
believe in these Sclf-denying theories.
The result is so many more millions OF dol
lars for New gland-money, too, that
comes out OF the pockets OF the southern
people.
Thus it appears that the Inconsistency
charged upon the southern Democrats is no
Inconsistency at all, but simply wise recoS-
milton Of the altered condition OF the country
and an indication that when they accepted
the results of the war so far us these deprive
them OF any rights which they had in ante
bellum times, they also determined to ac-
cept the benefits which ought to flow from
the change in the relative powers OF the
Federal and State governments.