The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-24

which is the amount stated to have been lost
bv denositors In national banks. This let
ter is like woman's letter-the postscript
Is the longest part OF it. c-sa
~ [For the Disparch.l
Plain Words 10 ViretniRns.
The social, civil, and political status OF
Virginia society presents o picture, pears
an osnect bumifating and distressing to
every rirbt-thinkfng mind, filing it with
Teari,,I misgiyings and horrid forebodinss
os regards the independence and freedom
~ the States, The heart of the Virsinian
natriot who stood firm, hopeful, and un-
dannted midst the clash OF arms and
streams of blood on hundred fields OF
havoc now sinks within him. and, like the
wounded bird, it gives itself over to the
cold embrace OF despair-w worse than death.
And he regrets that he had not, in the dark
hour Of his cnuntry's peril, wrapped the
pure white flag OF the southern cross
about him AID laid him down and
died, rather than to behold his coun-
trymen blindly and madly forsake that
eternal rock-the great cornerstone OF
freedom-laid deep and broad by the fathers
OF rs. Virginians are fast forgetting their
past freedom and independence, and seem
willing to throw themselves and their lib
crty at the feet OF q power which has already
crushed them, and ask faVors OF that hand
which has snatched them from the high
pinnacle OF true independence andfreedom.
From kings they are willing to become SUBJ
iects: from lords and masters slaves. Beaten
down and, crushed, the people of Virginia
are fast forgetting what true liberty is.
Weak, feverish, and disconnected with the
hard struggle for sustcnance, they are
like the drowning man-they catch at every
straw that floats by, no matter their struggle
to do so sinks them deeper and more hopeless
beneath the waters of despair. They are catch
ing at Government straws; or, still worse,
at Government paper, which is more fragile
still, and less able to bear their pondrous
weight. This paper, so green, must ana
will sink it's thousands and tens OF thou
sands in the deep ocean OF utter despair.
It is thus that Virginians are lending will
ling hands in the establishment OF power
which will inevitably strip them OF their
boosted independence. In their folly and
blindness they cry: Give US rich Govern
ment: place in its hand the purse and the
sword. Tn their mad infatuation they are
building and establishing most powerful
and gigantic Government Oh the ruins OF a
once free and independent confcderacy OF
States. They altogether forget that the
States should be masters. the Federal Gov
ernment their slave; they the monarch,
it the subject; they the creator, it
the creature, altogether dependent upon
them for its life, motion, and be-
ing. In shame we find the people
of Virginia forsaking all that is grand, beau
tiful, and sublime in their history OF the
past, falling down and worshippins gold
en-what? Nay, paper god, the work OF
their fingers, so beautifully green. This
green toy OF a perverted and disordercd
brain they prize more than independence,
freedom, and liberty itself. Bartering every
thing that their fathers held most sacred
for backs OF green, that their taxes may be
paid. NY countrymer, you are like chll-
dren piping in the market. Wisdom will
not hearken to your dulcet notes, pipe you
never so swectly. Thank God, it will not;
for the men who control and administer the
Federal Government have no sympathy or
love for the people OF Virginia. Beware,
yirgiuians, how you place yourselves
in their power. Virginians, you are deep
green, not only your backs, but the soles of
YOUR feet and the crowns OF your heads.
Think! Selling your manhood and indie
Dendence to the Federal power for its green
paper trash. simply that your taxes may be
paid. My God is it thus that you esteem
liberty and independence? So it appears !;
for why does the welkin ring with your
loud shouts as you are marching on to
Washington in quest OF greenhacks? Let
me kindly say, Return, return. o! why Will
YOU die? Why sell your liberty so cheap,
"Greenbacks 1t is worth far more than
all Federal wealth and power; it cost the
heart-blood Of your fathers Borrow OF the
Federal Government and you are its slave,
bound hand and foot; for what thing so well
calculated to tempt men to barter their lib
erty as debt? And what thing so potent TO
mirror their degradation and shame, rs he
stands befole an angry and grasplng credit
or, whom they are aware they can never sat-
isfy; whom they know possesses the power
TO strike down every prop, snatch away
all the means they have for the support OF
their families, and set them atloat on the
boundIess sea OF life. l repeat, what Is
better calculated to make man feel and
know that he is slave than that OF Gre
ditor shaking his bonds in his face, while
he knows 10 pay those bonds would bcsgar
bis family? do from my inmost soul pity
that man who is so lost to honor and man
hood stands ready to barter his inGepend-
matter how green it may be; for am aware
that he is a sold man and slaye-he and Ills
children's children. from generation to gen.
Grafton, till time shall grow old ana die.
NV countrymen, the States shonid DC
strong, the Government weak; the
States rich, the Government poor;
the Government should beg the States lf
there be any begging at ally, and not the
States the Government: the States should
supply the Goyernment-thelr creature,
their pet--from their great storehouses OF
internal wealth, and not the Government
the States from its Treasury at Washington.
Ii otherwise. and the Federal Government
be to-day master, lord, and king, then the
States of this land and country are nothing
more or less than subiugated provinces to
an all-powerful, consolidated, irresponsible
Government, which will have extinguished
the liberties Of the people and the rights OF
the States. May our God arm the people OF
Virginia, and not only Virginia, but the
people OF the South, with bold courage ana
true independence, that they may roll up
their sleeves, bear their arms like men VINO
know and feel their strength and MAN.
hood, and draw forth not only their
necessities but their luNuries OF lie
from the unbounded storehouses OF
wanton richness and untold wealth, sur
passing those OF any other nation, tongue,
or people. Southrons, look and oehoid
your fair country, stretching from the ONO
and Potomac TO the Rio Grande, richly
Astounding in every cline mineral and every
product. This fair land is yours. Then
cheer up and let your hearts DE giaddeneo.
Bless God, who in boundless love mas given