The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-19
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FRID Az ], 1. !. JANUARg rs, 1877.

rRID Ar ..., I. JANUARY is, 1871.
Most important News. E}as,
We do not oysfrase the importance Oh the
news from washington announced ~ TINS
( naper Yesterday morning when we declare arc
! That It ID more important than any other.
that has come from Washington city since Lt,
the war. It IS tantamount to the deltyerance
sos the republic from usurpatfon and force,
and The assertion that opinion and law must
govern the land. In this period OF rioto 10 %
) vulgar, and impudent usurpation It comes t'
HE a manifestation whose benehcent ma
]. f,are NAV be attributed to that divine guar.
8ianshin which cares Tor the nations.
what does 1t do?
FIRST and best OF all, it closes the door TO
that hectoring tyranny which seems 70 DC
the delight OF the Federal Executive sna.i
, we NOT hope that it ia thus ended fresi-
dant GRANT is informed that his services are
M. wanted: and at the ceremony OF count
ing the electoral vote and deciding who u
President he is not invited to be present
and furthermore, that the question is to be
settled without his aid, and to his utter ex-
clusion.
3 secondly, the adoption ofthe compromise
OF settling points in dispute between the
two houses, OF Congress by tribunal emf
nent for legal learning, experience, and
public fame, assures the people that law and
civil authority are yet supreme, and that the
public liberties are not left to the discretion
and the mercy OF usurpation and military
force, Such an assurance at such time L.
dehverance to the people that has the cha
racteristics OF benignity and goodness that
look divine.
We feel far more satisfaction than we have
felt since the hypocritical orders OF the
usurper concerning the "count" were
issued to General AUGUR. At that instant
we foretold what followed: The counting
for HAYES OF the three southern States by
fraud, backed by the force placed for the
purpose Of such backing, by the Federal
Executive. II seemed that this process was
to be followed into the very halls OF Con-
yress, and until now there has been no APP
ton would escape so great an outrage upon
republican freedom and the Constitution.
: The first impulse Of the Radical party was
to usurp the counting Of the presidential
vote through the president pro tenn. OF the
Senate. It was found difficult to carry
that form Of conspiracy through. Then
it was clearly determined that disa-
greement between the Senate and
House being inevitable, the right
OF the House to elect President in view OF
the failure to elect because OF this disagree
ment should be firmly denied. And should
the House elect under that condition OF
things, undoubtedly President GRANT
would by force have prevented the inaugu-
ration Of the man so elected; and there
upon he would have put the president pro
tempore into the presidential chair, there to
remain until new election could be had.
This he has proclaimed himself; and this
much we are bound to conclude he would
have done, and how much more or worse
we could not foretell, and whatever it
might be may God forefend US from it.
Now, il the people OF the United States,
wearied with the abuses and tyrannies Of
sixteen years, had come to the determine
ton that they would wrest their Govern.
ment forcibly from the hands of usurpation
and fraud, and all manner OF corruption, it
might be better to permit things to go on.
to allow the representatives Of the people to
perform their entire duty, and to announce
to the nation the Chief Magistrate-elect, and
to bring proceedings to the exact point
where the collision between the people and
the usurper should take place. But
are the people ready for this? We believe
not. Yet are not ourselves ready to talk
about war, and about what leaders may take
the field in the event Of war and all that. It;
is not wise to enter npon speculation about
80 serious matter. 1t is too solemn for idle
conjecture-too terrible not to be avoided.
Still there are worse things in the body po-
lite than war. Happily, both usurpation
and war may, and, God be thanked, there is
every reason to believe, will be avoided.
:. The peril has been the gravest-far grayer
than people generally seemed to be aware
Of; and this it is which makes us hail the
compromise with sincere Joy. We do not
doubt that it will be adopted by Congress.
It cannot be rejected by either house. The
party that defeats it will be placed to the
greatest possible disadvantage before the
world. &% - ~"
The exact provisions Of the compromise
will be known soon. We are content with
it as it is understood upon very reliable au-
thorities. The shades OF difference appear
ing in different versions are not at all mate
rial, ihe compromise-based on Constitu-
ton and law and civil usage-leaves the re-
suit as to ,oto ,oisl be proclaimed President
in doubt, and for this chiefly it was adopt
ed. No plan that would certainly elect TIL
DEN or HAYES could have been adopted.
The compromise being entirely consistent
with our republican Notwithstanding
ing the supremacy of opinion over force
must command the confidence and respect
OF the nation. Therefore, whether the
judgments Of the advisory body lead
to the declared election Of TILDEN
or HAYES, the end will command
the general acquiescence Of the. nation.
Happy indeed should we all be in either
event to have escaped altogether the inter
yention OF force and violence. What "a COM
parison does peaceful solution after this
manner bear TO the ceremony of the inaugu