The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-27
fror tl,n n,.natcinI
secOnd Response to Governor Hayes
Peaceful 0vertnres to the South.

IS
gec0nd Response to Governor EEaycs'S
Peaceful 0vertnres TO tho South.
The indefinite duration OF q republican
form Of government, and the safety OF It's
institutions must rest upon the ultimate tri-
umph OF the honor, purity, and Justice OF
its citizens. The robber reyels at large with
his ill-gotten gains; but the fear OF his crime
is ever before him, whilst the feet OF Right,
the avenger, press close and press closer be-
hind him. Even the temporary enjoyment
OF his crime is decreased by that econ
science which "makes towards OF us all"
Casting away the story OF the misappro-
priation Of the soldiers money, as well as
al! others that are preiudicial to the reputa-
ton OF Governor Hayes, and admitting what
his friends claim as to his character 20
the time of his candidacy for the
| presidency-viz., that his heart is kind,
his impulses generous, and his &C
lions honorable; excusing the ignorance
displayed Of the social and political condl-
ton OF one third Of the territory and peo-
pie over Ghom it is proposed he should
rule when he said, as the truth OF his defeat
by the people reached him, have no per
sonal regrets; my whole heart goes out to
the poor colored people of the South;
what will become OF them now ?"-let oil
that go; but what Of the man noWI Wnat
of the man who can lend himself to the
plans Of Wells, OF Chandler, OF Sherman,
| (who, it is confidently said, is to be Cabinet
oficer), and their o-conspirators-a usurper
in the seat Of Washington?
Is the QuaIm Of conscience allieviated by
the fact that the ssfour villains" OF the
Louisiana Returning Board are identlcally
the same individuals and compose the very
same body which his associate on the ticket,
Mr.. Wheeler. pronounced an Illegal and I'M
constitutional organization in 1874? Can
he turn for support to the opinion OF his
principal legal adviser, Mr.. Eyarts, to for
| tify his claims when he reflects that two
years ago, upon the very question at issue
. now, that gentleman signed call for pub
lie meeting in New York city to protest
against these frauds in Louisiana, attended
that meeting, and denounced with all the
powers OF his rhetoric the Radical rulers
and Radical boards in that unhappy State,
which he now defends as morally spotless
Is there solacemcnt in the thought that
Edmunds and Hoar, OF has Electoral Com
mission, in advocating the law for its estab.
| lishment, specifically stated that the body OF
arbitrators thus constituted would not only
| be clothed with full power to 20 behind the
returns from the doubtful States, but it was
/ their duty to do so; and that Morton anc
Garfield voted against the electoral bill be.
cause that very power was bestowed, ano
yet once inside, as members of the Commits
sion. this precious quartette, in perfect ac'
cord, vote no such power exists?
Is he better reconciled to his unenvtablt
position because the plant Bradley-alas
a Justice Of the Supreme Court-votcs II
one way in the Florida case, and upor
identical questions in the Louisiana case In
another?
Does he find recompensation when he re
fleets upon the moral and personal charac
tiers of his returning boardS3
Can he draw satisfaction, and is his self
qualification greater, from the sting and stig
ma that he is 4 minority candidate, having
received some 100000 popular votes les:
than his opponent-nay 100000 less white
votes-in voting population Of 100000
Don't we know that il aIpet-bagisn
and negro suffrage still controlled the ma
jority OF the southern States, that hi:
"peaceful overtures " would be to them
and not to u.s.? Has not the salvation o
our people in the southern States been TIT
result of their own laborS-the work o.
their own hands-and their victory over thu
hostile national legislation Of the men who
made Hayes duo to their own unassisted
efforts >
No, ten thousand times no! No coQuet
ting for the favors OF Il usurper. No &C
cessiens to the ranks OF the few traitors u
our camp, who, by this recent Equalization
of fraud, gain only few years more lease
OF life; ut the end Of which they will fine
such consolation as is supposed came to {
king of Thebes, who "killed his father
married his mother, ran mad, and tore OIL
his own eyes" No upholding the fraut
practiced upon the American people by thu
partisan majority Of the " fiftecn-i ackass-
power vote-counting machine"
The duty of true Virginians in this houl
is to be firm in the faith OF their fathers ant
in the final triumph of right; obedient t.
law, Federal and State, and 30 10 act, so tt
live, that, whilst they look forward to tn.
future with hope, they may be able to lool
backward upon the past without shame
and in years yet to come their children ant
their children's children in their menora
6iIia things to be remembered) may be able
to refer to this action Of their forefathers a
the dearest and most precious legacy be
uueathed to them. Bis. l..