The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-24
Sectionalism.

Ths people Of the southern States have
their local legislatures and their separate
State governments, and therefore do no
feel As they otherwise would the absenc'
OF the fostering, protecting, and encour
aging hand Of the Federal Government
They arc 30 well pleased TO be free from
the wrongs that were pcrpetrated upor
them during the dark days Of Grantism
that they are not much disposed TO com
plain Of being prescribed people, though
they certainly are such so far as the Gov
eminent Offices are concerned. The vol
said that the lamb was muddying the wa
ter. and when told that the water ran the
other way made short work Of the pool
lamb. The North charges the South with
sectionalism, and when told that all tho
prescription comes from the contrary dr.
rection, flies into q fury. Fortunately, the
southern people cannot be devoured bodi'
". though their substance is eaten out by
tax-gathercrs.
The South has had no hand In the con-
troi Of the Executive and Judicial depart
menfs OF the National Government for more
than twenty years. Think OF that. She has
been allowed TO elect her Senator's and
Representatives in Congress, and these
have been permitted TO hold their seats
that is. since military rule was abolished
and since reconstruction measures have
ceased TO be resorted TO for the purpose Of
perpciuating the power OF the Republican
party: but her sons have had little or
nothing &c do with the business OF carry
ing on the Government. The departments
pamcd have both consisted all these years
OF noriherners. The exceptions have been
too few TO be worthy of mention.
When you come TO think Of it, II Is sur
prising that so little complaint has come
from the South because OF the i'll treatment
we have referred TO. For twenty years
fhe Democrats, the best friends the South
has Ia the North, have not dared to nomi-
nate southern man for President or Vice
President OF the United States. For
twenty years before December last no
southern MN had been nominated for
Speaker OF the House Of Representatives;
and when the nomination and election OF
Mr.. CARLISLE to that high office had been
accomplished, even such journals as The |
New York Tribune announced the fact in |
these words: 1.-The South again in the |
saddle" Only one high Office had been |
given 10 southron; and yet the cry |
was raised that the South was trying to
rule the whole country, although Mr..
CARLISLE had been true to the Union
throughout the war between the States,
md chose to qualify as Speaker by taking
be iron-clad oath.
Why was that cry raiseds Because the
North prescribed the South-not because
he South prescribed the North. Because
he North was solid-not because the South
vas solid. Because the Republicans hoped
hus 10 keep the larger section solid, not
'ecause they feared that any harm to the
ouutry could result from the solidity OF
be smaller section. |!
The South is solid against wrong and in
lsiice; solid as measure of scli-defence;
old because she Is not allowed the privi- ]
&c OF equality with the North. The !
'orth is solid against the South; not
gainst any dreaded wrong; not against Y
ny possible outrage; not because she de-
res mere equality with the South, but be-
iuse she wishes to continue to rule the c
hole country as she has done for almost q
eneration, and as she is bent upon doing =
long rs she can do it by the aid OF the y
cody shirt. Sectional passions are ap- 4
,sled TO as means Of uniting the strong y
section against the weaker. 1t follows
Iat II is the North, the stronger, and not
ie South, the weaker, section that hopes
profit by its own solidty.
Ia the following paragraph the Staunton
indicator shows up the Republican clamor
sainst the South:
"Not a single member OF The presiden- 4
al Cabinet comes from outside the north =
rn States. Out Of the thirty-seven minis .,
'rs OF the United States to foreign ma
ons, only one is even credited to q
outhern State. and what State he went L
rom the register does not show. Go and q
BOX at the official rolls, including the APP z
ointees credited to southern States that
hey never saw, and see whether the Re-
ublican party is sectional or national"
These facts tell the true story. They cam
OF be denied. In view of them. how can
ny northern journal be guilty of the
ross injustice OF charging the people of
he South with sectionalism?