The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-12-13
Peace or Anarchy?

r,e remarks OF Senator EDMUSDs on.
Monday upon the prospect Of peacefui
settlement Of the presidential question: are
likely to attract attention. Hc was en-
nba.ic in saving that he believed there was
M danger of .any civil CONFUSION by
force.o He thought that ii the two houses
OF Congress could not agree In regard TO
the presidential election cit did not follow
that the wise men and patriotic men would
..think that they must fall back upon their
"muskets." He remarked, further, that he
did not think the good sense Of the nation,
with its love for law, would allow any dis
pute as to which OF the two men voted for
last November should appoint postmasters,,
&C. in other words, be President OF the,
United States.
Mr.. EDAUNDs is. amongst the ablest men
in the Senate, and, considering his high po-
sition and his legal vocation, we ought to
regard him as sincere, and as knowing
what he is talking about when he speaks OF
so critical matter as this presidential diff
Guilty. All the acts OF the Federal Admin
istration. and the bitter and solid PARTISAN
ship OF the Republican party, are calculated
to excite anxiety in the public mind; and
Mr.. EDMUNDs it not griltless OF taking part
in the labor OF furnishing the material for
exciting anxiety and increasing the appre-
hension ut the South that further oppression
and persecution are in store for the South,
and we may say the North too, since
<hn
upon the North through the presidential
election and the measures Of national policy.
Some pretext for agitation and oppression
is OF the essence Of RadicaliSm. Under 1t
have been perpctrated all the usurpatlons
of the Federal Executive. Negroes were
admitted to the body polite as voters for
the purpose OF rrolonging the rule OF the
Radical party. 1t is assumed that every
negro who votes not for the Radicals is g in
Inundated" GRANT said in his annual mes
s1ge that the proof that the negro is free is
his voting the Radical ticket; and it is
equally proof that he is still slave il he
voted for the Democratic ticket. We rather
think that congressman and senator's who
institute inquiries relating to the rights and
to the treatment OF negroes are not widely
different in opinion from President GRANT
Such Inquiries look to interference by the
Federal Government to hold fast the negro
to Radicalism and to distress the South.
Certainly we are warranted in saying that
il Senator EDMUNDs thinks there will be nc
"ciyil CONFUSION he is not eXertinS HIM
sci; to allay irritation, or to check the pas
sions which telM towards turbulence.
We fear that Senator EDMUNDs is not un
like GRANT, who presumes more upon tho
forbearance of the people and their dlsin
cination for another "rebeilion !" CHATS
GRANTS word) than upon his fairness ano
equitable administration for the preserVa
ton of peace. This is the way GRANT puts
it, and we much suspect that Senator Ed
MuSDs does not differ from hir, much
The Senator suggested that il trouble
came it would be forced by men who cared
more for what they could make by war than
for the peace OF their country. In this re-
mark is concealed the true idea OF republi
canism. 1t casts upon any probable resist
ance, in advance, the stigma Of sordidness.
when the whole country is looking with
hone to business interests as the sures'
means OF checking usurpation and tyranny
and forcing the Government to re-
spect the Constitution and the usages
of the land, and thus to recstab
lish peace and contentment. This i
indeed powerful anti-war party-one that
must have immense influence with Congress-
Senator EDNUNDs speaks more like parti.
san than statesman when he speaks Of any
body of men fayoring war rs doing so FOL
what they can make by it. There is no such
body Of men. There can be no - civil con.
yulsion or violence" unless produced by
usurpations OF the Federal Executive. And
should so dire calamity be brought upon
the land it will not be brought on by the
expectation of making money by the devas-
tation Of war, but will be waged against
the destroyers of the public welfare and the
public liberty.
Nedo not mean to inculcate the idea that
there will be war;. That is not at all likely.
But if it comes it will not be brought on as
Senator EpMUNDS says it will. GRANT, how
ever, seems to fear it somewhat, since he
undertakes to damn it in advance as "re-
bellion."
Still we look upon the remark OF so stout
a partisan as Senator EDMUNDs upon the
prospect OF terminating the presidential
question peaceably as important. 1t will
have suficiency OF moral force to give it
value, and to justify some hope that Senator
EDMUNDs and others like him--students OF
law and lovers Of peace-may. be ready to
enter into some fair compromise for the
preservation Of what by education and SEN
timent they must regard as Invaluable.