The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-03-23
commission for Louisiana

Commission for Louisiana.
AZ last what we have apprehended tor
some DAYS has come to pass-a commission
IA he Kent TO Louisiana. A lame and innpo-
sentconclusion indeed indicative OF q state
Of INDIGESTION and wavering in the presl-
dcnsia, mind, whitehall had hoped was clear
and indexible. Never was more useless
and absurd step taken by President or by
any ruler in any land. So supererogstory
Is It that reasonable men are driven to IN
auire what motive can there be for such q
measured All possible information con-
corning Louisiana is already IN Masn'ns-
ton--commission after commission has pech
sent TO that State, and volume upon volume
o; testimony given under oath cohated oy
Tho commissions has been published, ana
these have such. authority ana sahc'''S
as IL, is, possible to- attach 20 tsach es,,
dencc. and certainly it has as niue"
no w;l, likely belong to the informatioh
chat NAV be gathered by Mt. HATES 5
commission. The evidence already IN WASH
;,cton is AZ complete as it is possible Tor
evidence to be. 1t combines all tue truth
&C to the condition of things in Louisiana
with all the lies eliminating in the starting
revelations OF the queen OF southern h!pf'o
RadicaIism, Mrs. PISKsToS, the protf9e OF
the Hon. JONI SHERMAN, now member OF
Mr.. ukYEs's Cabinet. The truth, there
fore. and the lies that were emptled upon
the commissions to the exhaustion OF the
vast Louisiana reservoirs OF preVarlcafion,
are under the nose OF the President, and IL
Is indeed supererogatory to send another
body to lug back to Washington only re-
hash of the same testimony.
For this, then, the commission IS apsuro'
and can only be regarded as step to pre-
cede, possibly 10 cover up, the next act IN
the new performance, with change OF scene
and decorations II the step be thus unne-
cessarv for the reasons stated, it is more
unreasonable for another, and that Is that
President HAYES has the chart OF bis all-
thority at his elbow. The Constitution tells
him plainly his duty, and by implication his
public professions and promises concede
that the Radical policy toward the southern
States has been wrong, and has proved
failure. His tcntacular movement upon
Louisiana indicates doubt as to the truth
OF his own public declarations and as to the
propriety OF his own promises.
In any view to be taken OF 1t fairly ana
honestly, this commission is censurable. IL
is most unfortunate, since 1t drives away
the sunshine which had spread over the po-
li,icaI heavens. and brings on the dark
clouds that obscure the prospect and Nil
the public mind with renewed apprehcn-
sion. This is very bad. 1t is left for us all
again 10 feel that we are in the hands OF
Il pqrtu, and to await with what patience
we NAV for future developments.
Attributins to the President dispositions
more or less kind, we arc prompted with
sincere regret to fear that he has not the
tirmness needed to play the grand role
which he certainly carved out for himself.
Cancellation could not be carried out, after
the terrible period we have gone through,
with suddenness; but it has hardly pro-
crossed at all. The wave OF tyranny over
the southern States has not receded much,
ii at all; and the liberal appointments have
not been decided. DOUGLASS, the African,
has taken firm position, with an income OF
probably ten thousand dollars, and supe-
riority over Caucasians, though this is not
Africa. No well-known and popular south
erner save KEY has q clear and settled po-
sition. In Virginia, General JOE JOHN
sroN has not been appointed to any
position, and will lie be? AlARTE is not
out Of the woods, nor is PORTS, nor is any
body OF like stamp. Now, we make no
complaint. We never expected the Repub-
lican President to put Democrats or Con-
servativcs into Office; but President HAYES
intmated that he meant to put in southern
leaders to administer public matters amongst
southern people as proof OF his concilatory
disposition, and further proof Of his de-
yotion to the principle OF self-government.
Honorable motives, but more to be honored
by practical illustration than by sentimental
phrases. Z.
We would not say word to wrong or
misrepresent the President. We desire to
say nothing that is incorrect or unfair OF
him, and shall most promptly recognize
every creditablc act that lie may do. But
we must, with equal frankness. censurc
what we think wrong in his Adminstra.
ton. This commission to Louisiana is q
fearful departure from his ayowed policy,
and suggests ideas of his own nature that
are not comfortable. We trust that the
opening scene Of the Louisiana drama may
have satisfactory conclusion but we con-
fess we like it not.
$3.50, =. = -a... .ats