The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-12-07
.she New Leaders Of the Nor
ypg People.

- ~. Y
..she New Leaders Of the Nors
!" - People
There Is just At this sir.s ~. Worth
siderable amount Of bes,.'ns AZ 'a' ron,,e.
about the elecssop "a .olo'.u .rS Al
man '.om 40 Legislature Of Massachn-
nos'oh - have heard that the clever
se''s. skns are rather enthusiastic admi-
SCOT the old Virginia aristocracy, and,
q we have been informed by a citizen Of
that town. are disposed even now to
HOMIE gentleman of the old school from
mi, latitude who happens to visit them.
We suspect that this negro, having learned
some southern airs by residence here, or
having had parents who were born and
bred In some of our "flrst families" has
used his manners to good advantage and
captiyated his constituents in the Athens
of America by that order Of social refine
ment for which they are known to have
such admiration. OF course, In such a
view of the case, the southern people will
find SO much that Is fattering to them
selves that they can hardly be out of
humor at the excess to which the Ameri-
can Athenians have carried their love Of the
beautiful. We raised the colored man and
educated him; We taught him his politics
and led him to cultivate those social and
moral qualities which are now attracting
the admiration Of mankind in general and
of Boston in particular. We are proud Of
him. He Is our protegS. His elevation to
places Of trust and honor is gratifying to
US.
It has often been the boast of Virginia
that she Is the smother of States and OF
statesmen" For years she has seen her
young men, who went forth to the South
and West, rising into fame, and in many
cases coming back through her borders to
take their seats in Congress, or in other
high places-sometimes in the presidential
chair-at Washington. She has felt that
in this way, as well as by the political
wisdom and high character of her own re-
representatives., she ruled the councils of
the nation. And now, at the North as
well as at the South, she sees her sons
climbing to eminence. She beholds the
black men who went forth from her bosom
become the popular idols Of the most in
telligent communities Of the land, the
leaders of aristocracy, the teachers OF
manners, the oracles Of political wisdom,
lifted up in those busy and populous cities
where thousands upon thousands of aspi-
rants crowd every path to preferment.
That the colored man never rose to pre-
cisely such places here is very true. But
that we were not wanting in courtesy to
him is likewise true. Indeed we have
sometimes feared that he might in those
parts Of the country where he is the "com-
ing man." be raised too rapidly to the place
which he seems destined to occupy. We
have felt some alarm lest our neighbors,
charmed too much at first, might shower
honors upon him too fast, and by-and-by
recede to the other extreme.
We would therefore intimate to them,
very modestly, that while We have not be-
slowed Just the same sort of distinction up
on the negro which they are now giving to
him so freely, We have treated him habitu-
ally with courtesy and consideration
which was perhaps more regular in its man.
ifestations and better adapted to his condi-
tion than the rapid system Of promotion
upon which they are now raising him.
The method of exhibiting all due regard
for this class of our fellow-citizens is a mat
ter Of taste, and it may in some cases be
influenced by political designs or the
wants Of society. We cannot quite yield
the palm Of superior devotion to these peo-
pie to their new allies. Nor can we per-
suade ourselves that the cold and crisp
manners of our northern friends, however
much goodness Of heart may be UNDER
meath, are quite so congenial to the soft
sons of Ham as the S,paUiter of our south
ern cline. We have noticed, with pain,
that the common intercourse between the
citizens Of the Northern United States and
their Irish servants has few or none of
those charms which prevail between the
superior and servile race in this part of the
country, and from this disagreeable obser-
walton have derived the fear that all this
show Of regard for the colored man has
not that solid foundation which will make
it permanent and abiding. We will, how
ever, hope for the best, and trust that our
quondam servants will, by their qualities,
natural and acquired, prove. themselves to
be the needed element Of northern civiliza-
tion and maintain their present prestige in
all its glory and power.
Ia Eorto Government