Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-23
TUESDAY. APRIL %. 1889
A Favorable Indication.


Tbere "a material for q compromise between
the negrophiIis.s Of the North aud the white peo-
pie of the South to be found In the tenth article
Of the Federal Constitution. Tho powers not
delegated 10 the United Ssaies by the Constitu-
tion nor prohibited by IL 70 the States are re-
served TO the States respectively. or to The peo-
ple.n The Constitution in thus forbidding the
Federal Government 70 legislste concerning
matters not put under its control. does In effect
forewarn the people North and South not TO
interfere with the workings OF the several state
governments. nor 10 agitate for the assumption
by the pa ional Government OF the functions OF
the state governments.
The passiCns and pretudices born OF an inter-
necine war bliaded the eyes OF the northern peo
pie 70 the limitations i'm posed upon the power OF
the Federal Government and caused men who
hated the 'rebels 10 take up false notions as
10 the duty OF thss Govern ment In dealing with
the new questions which had grown out OF that
war. Our northern brethren, too many OF them,
came % the conclusion that the southern states
had no rights WHICH the United states we're
bound 10 respect whatsoever their hosted AMI
nosites inclined tbem to do that they thought
they had the right 70 DO. with tie assistance OF
the immense governmental fabric which the war
placed for 30 many years usdcr their control.
The reconstruction acts had no warrant In the
Constitution-none whatever. New York ana
Massachusetts had no more right 10 pass law
excluding Virginia from representation In Con-
eress than South Carolina and Virginia had 10
pass a Law excluding Massachusetts, from repre-
sentation IN Congress- The reconstruction mea-
sures we're outside OF the Constitution Inc
military districts Established in the South. with
military governors who at will made and I'M
made State officers OF every grade and con-
vened and prororsed State legislatures
were based upon injustice, wrong. war
preiudices and ths necessities OF the he-
publican party rather than the neces-
sites Of the Federal Government IL Mr..
LINCOLN was right in bis theory OF govornment
Virginia was mover for one day outside OF me
Union. There Was never a moment when enc
was not entitled 70 representation In Congress-
The greatest OF the blunders committed by the
Confederate leaders was no surrender oil their
seats IN Congress by the Senators and Represen-
tativos from the South. II, the Republicans con-
tended, the secession ordinances we're null and
void, the seeded States never lost their right 70
vote and speak In Congress.
But rover is a monarch that can DO no wrong.
In the case before US 1t has perpetrated wrongs
innumerable, and made II impossible for the
States or the people 20 return over tho rough
road which he'd them away from the ways trod by
the fathers Of the republic The unconsdtu-
tional legislation was carried Into effect by the
strong arm Of power. and our institutions have
crystsllized into new forms
But was not all this an educating process7
Have not tho northern people begun TO learn
that they were not altogether In the right nor the
southern people altogether in the wrong in the
contest that lasted from 1861 till the day when
tho lstest article Of amendments was added TO
the Federal Constitution, and the work OF the
fathers was done over by unsKilled hands :
We have said again and again that We saw
signs Of improvement In northern public
opinion. Our assertion Il enforced by a striking
psrsgrsh which appeared in the last issue OF
"Ths Capital" published in Washington city.
We quote as follows:
MANY things point 70 a revision Of opinion
upon the question of negro suffrage. Nor
the signs innical 70 The negro. coming exclu-
slvely from the Democratic white men OF the
country. nor from exclusively southern sectionA
IL is evident that hundreds of thousands OF Re-
publicens IN the North have begun ~ doubt the
wisdom OF the radical doctrines that prevailed
when the fifteenth amendment was adopted,
and Is altogether doubtful that such an amend
ment II proposed now would receive the assent
OF a majority OF even the northern States Nay,
more IL is probable II n proposition could now
be presented TO the states for the abrOgatt0n OF
that amendment that II might be carried by
constitutional majority"
Let us not despair. But above all, let us not
cease 10 endesvor ~ enlightsn our northern fell
Iow-ciuzens We do not use the word "eniight-
en- In an offensive sense. but 10 mean that We
must lay before them facts which IL is perhaps
not their duty 70 sock for themselves