The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-09-06
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rha esouarnn,ent to be Seized.

. II
.C H---------.-----------------
The Government to be Seized.
4 A philosophical bachelor remarked once
that he had discovered the secret of always
having 4 fashionable white crayat or black
one, as the one OF the other might be need
ed: he bought one Of each description, and
the white one always grew black, and the
black one always grew white. So it is with
governments. The most despotic will
grow gradually into a free government;
and the freest will grow gradually
into despotism. The one form OF gov
eminent by almost imperccptible de-
grees is converted into the other. The
masses OF the, people OF course never
know, nor believe, nor perceive the
changes which are going on. Indeed, we
doubt not that the people Of the Roman re-
public were as indignant and as incredu-
lous when they were told by their states
men that their Government was drifting
into an absolute despotism as are the peo-
pIe of the northern section OF this Union
to-day, when they arc told that q like fate is
impending over their country. g A coun-
try that can't stand fair election Is not
worth preserving and is no free country"
saw these idiotic northerners, meaning there
by that free election is one conducted by
Federal soldiers OK by the tools OF the Fed
eral Government. ga free election " OF the
same sort made LOUIS NAPOLEON Emperor
OF France. "a free election " OF the same
sort was held by CROMWELL for members OF
the British Parliament when he wished TO
have at his command body OF subservlent
tools.
We told the Democrats OF the House OF
Representatives long ago that they would
better have remained in Washin gton all the
year than to have yielded to the Republic
cans OF the Senate on the question OF re-
pealing the law authorizing the Federal
Goyernment to interfere in the elections
held in the several States. That law is yet
to be the source OF woes unnumbercd to
this unhappy land. 1t is that law Which Is
to lead the Government directly into mill
tary despotism, or indirectly and after
time into new war-not war between
sections, but between different States in the
North. 10
The instructions of Attorney General
TAFT, which we published yesterday, il
carried out, will not only insure the election
OF HAYES, but will convert our Govern
ment into despotism-a grand CONSOLE
dated system ruled and controlled at and
from Washington. Mrs TAFT has, in effect,
not only ordered that HAYES shall be
elected, but he has provided the necessary
ways and means for carrying his order into
execution. Those persons who read his in-
structions between the lines can easily per-
ceive that such is not only the purpose OF
the Attorney-G eneral, but that il the people
OF the North quietly submit to these the
greatest outrages which have ever yet been
committed in this Union, the liberties OF the
country are in effect already gone. Its not
to be expected that the people Of the South
will try to help themselves. They are &C
customed to acts OF oppression, to I'M
constitutional legislation, and to waiving
any OF their rights which the officers OF the
Federal Government choose to tell them
they shall not exercise. 1t is for our north
Administration, il it is to be resisted at all.
But it is not going to be resisted at once.
Not only does despotism come upon coun-
try slowly, but the people are equally slow
in perceiving its approach. A war between
the northern States will not occur this year
nor next, we suppose. The people there
have not yet realized the fact that they have
lost their own liberties in depriying us Of
the South Of ours.
The people il told would hardly believe
what Mr.. TAFT's instructions to the deputy
marshals mean. They are not bordering
such subjects, not apprehensive CT govern
mental evils, and not prepared to estimate
the real import OF the language employed
BIZ Mr.. TAFT. Perhaps we may assist them
to a better idea OF its meaning by trans
lating it into the words which are implied
in the circumlocutory phraseology OF the
instructions in question. We beg the read
er to believe that we have not extended the
meaning OF any word, but have given Just
what we understand to be the purport OF
the Instructions. They mean this so far us
Virginia is concerned:
WASHINGTON, September +, 1876.
To the MarShalS of the United States
Courts in Virginia: ~.
In elections at which members OF the
House Of Representatives are chosen,
which, by law include also elections at which
the electors for President and Vice-Presi-
dent arc appointed, the United States Sc
cure voters against whatever in general
hinders or prevents them from free eXer
else of the elective franchise, extending
that care alike to the registration lists, the
act OF voting, and the personal freedom and
security Of the voters at all times, as well
against violence on account OF any vote
that he may intend to give as against con-
spiracy because Of that he may already
have given. The peace Of the United
States, therefore, which you are to
preserve, and whose violation You
are to suppress, protects among others
the rights specified in the last para
graph, and any person who by force. yio-
lates these rights, breaks that peace and
renders it your duty to arrest him, and to
suppress any riots incident or that threaten
the integrity Of the registration or election,
TO the end that the will OF the people in
such election may be ascertained and take
effect, and that offenders may be brought
before the courts for punishment.
Won VIII therefore he n,asant in Dnrson |