The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-17
ashland, Va, February 16, 1876.


from the Petersburg Appeal, 15th.l
We desire to lie enumerated among those
practical politicians of the later era who,
without disparaglng the just claims and dig.
nity of the Federal Constitution, are not
favorable TO straiped constructions which lie
in the path of reasonable development and
an equal improvement Of the sections.
There may have been period In the history
of this country when 1t became doctTandsrcs
like Mr.. Tucker, whose views as to the
powers and limitations of the organic code
were derived from the lectureroom instead
of the forum OF political service, to contend
that the Constitution contained no provision
for the Federal patronage OF great works Of
public benefit and improvement. But that
time was before the deiuge which has re-
Gently swept over all the ancient landmarks,
and which left it's impression SO deeply on
all our ideas, institutions, and methods Of
construction.
Nothing seems to us more illogical and abb
surd than for a man to sit in legislative
body which contains u dozen negro men,
bers, the while he yet lifts strGent voice
for the sacred virtue Of the Constitution, aRd
censtrues 1t contrary to the interests, the
wishes. and the destinies of his own constitu.
ents. II the Constitution has India-rubber
enough In 1t to admit lot of negro chattels
to the floor and privileges Of the Senate and
House of Representatives OF the American
Congress, we see no sense in insisting that it
is of too cast-iran character to admit of 40.
propfiations confessedIy for the promotion
or the public interest and the benefit of oil
the people of the republic. We see no
practical purpose and no sensible consist
ency in accepting all the evil and all the
injury that have come upon the country
through the party Of war power and
of violent usurpation, and yet refusing,
from quaims and scruples that belong to dll.
ferent circumstances and an earlier era, to
partake of benefits and blessings that the
Government can extend us. Besides, If the
strict consti,utionsts are to be allowed to
claim that their view Of the Constitution, Its
powers and provisions, is the right one,
what logic is 10 prohibit It's application to
the doctrine of secession, and even Dullitica.
ton? Have we not all agreed that these
remedies against Federal aggression should
be declared as henceforth and forever lille.
gal, unconstitutional, revolutionary, and
violent? We had thought that the "right
of secession" was as dead as the I" rights OF
slavery In the territories" And so we believe
it Is; and yet If the cries OF constitutional
impotence, reserved rights Of the States,
powers not conceded 10y the States, and
such like, are to be raised on every trivial
occasion, and if the habit of bair.splitting
interpretations of the Code once so honored,
and lately so flexible, shall argue us out OF
all participation in the Governments favors,
the people will certainly suspecta REACTION.
ary tendency to the theories Of States rights
which were once held to imply and involve
the constitutional privilege OF secession. We
believe that the Constitution should be re-
stored to its pristine respect and authority
when the constitutional party of the country
succeeds to power, and the ravages of the
war 90 personal rights and States rights
shall be gradually efsced. The Constitu-
ton never can he made exactly what 1t was,
for the shree poSt-bell,m amendments will
stand, of course. But what is the use OF
butiipg out ones brains against mere theo.
ries aud distractions, when the preced-nts
Of q liberal construction are so numerous
and so potent, aud when all the benefits OF
that new and tree reading of the text have
been monopol'z. ID by single section!
Felow-citiZcuS, what folly Is it for US to
be too virtuous 10 take or ask an appropria'
ton, when we see the Government over.
throw S ates. expel Legislatures, appoint
Governors, detail senators, and eXpeDd mil.
lions on faVorites, on subsidies, and on
rings! We believe the South is entitled 10
& iuIl ard free share In the material bene-
fits that Tow from the large and copious foun.
tain OF the Federal Government. We ex-
Rect to favor the Southern Pacific railroad
just as soon as q scheme is submitted which
will be southern in something more than a
deceptive naue, and which shall in
clude among its managers some men
OF better southern standing than Sec
retary Stsnton's late assistant. Meau.
while, we do earnestly protest against the
mischief which the so-called "strict con-
st,uc,lonis,s" in The Democratic ranks are
doing the cause of the party. They may be
gentlemen of talent and virtue, aud abilities
OF the highest order, but they are standing
in the way Of progress, and fencing their
own people away from table at which all
the rest OF the Union has sat and Jared freely
Tsare 's q tine, says the good Book, for pl
thirss; but the present is not the time, in
our nGmble Judgment. for tantastical objec
ton 70 every scheme and every theory which
promises 10 lift the South by Federal aid
from the dust and prostl alton in which the
war left Der neop!e.