Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-09-28
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE AND VIRGINIA ADVERTISER.

upon the colored people for representation
unless they are allowed to vote. we do not
desire to estimate the colored people, now, IN
the basis OF representation and 1t the odlous
and oppressive clause of the proposed amend
ment, which DISTINGUISHES the Southern white
men, who were Confederates, was stricken out,
[ believe the Southern people would not care a
fg for the residue |, for one, would readily
agree never to have another, Southern repre-
sentative in either House OF Congress, II the
niajority would bind itself Dot to tax Us. What
but some sinister and vlndlctlve motive can
induce people who have the power to restore
peace to continue to prosecute ana opprS SIS the
South, by suhjecirg them to all the bnrthcns
and YET denying them the benefits OF the Union,
AID In addition propose to put upon them
new Constitution, expressly for the purpose OF
still farther oppressiug them without permit
ting them 10 take any part in making that con
stitution? Can there be found outside OF AfrI-
ca and Russia, government more de>pntlc
rhan this will be il such Constitution is made?
And yet, for refusing to join In this crusade
against his own cOuntrymcn, and dshonor HIM
self b. violation of bis oath, and all the prln~
cpics OF Republican Government, the frcal-
dent is denounced with virulence and vulgar
ity never witnessed BEFORE and his life assalled
By assassins! Where will this negropholism,
pretended love Of Union anl Liberty, enforced
by tyranny, end? Does it exhaust itself upon
the American negro, or embrace the inhabl-
tants OF Congo, or Latooka, or the doiu
Coast. as soon as they NAV arrive in
This county, and the American Indian a 50 :?
il not, why arc they excluded and especially
the red uan? He was the original owner OF
he entire Ilud viii he be classcd with the
Southern whites, and denied the rights OF sui,
frage and representation, while they are accord
ed (by the amendnlent) to every negro III the
land, even the vilcst, the thief, the burglar,
the ncendiary and assassin? A negro may
command the army, but the noble and rcnown-
ed Lee shall not command IA company n ne
or, NAV sit in the people, House-the white
man shall Of RepresentatlveS-ln Congress but
Hunter, Hampton aud Rivcs-Conrad, Cohb
and Curry Shall not! \ negro may be Chief
Justice Of the United States, but the learned
and eminent Campbell shall not sit in Il Dis
tricL Court Was ever ma!ace 50 btind!-
Why are these wrohgs TO the whole country,
North as well As South, to be perpetrated. 10
punish Southern men tor defending their homes
and fce-stcS, their wives aud children, their
aged parents, and the land that gave tHem
brth in obedience TO the Laws OF God as we'll
as OF the land which they We're bound to obey
wis LUIS clLIlc l. nc CoHChNI Va W ii'S 10 wv
intent. Our gallant soldiers believed they
were right ard performing their duIy, and IN
the >ieht OF God are guiltnesS. Can poor,
| riIess men now maxi them criminals. But,
| il criminals hey can be punished only by the
law then existing and not BY any eX post tacto
law aifixing Il new punishment 10 the offence,
| as the proposed amendment does. Will Grant
| and Sherman, ana tle gallant men whom they
! led permit themselves to be made the lnstru
menls of such base trcachcry, and abuse OF
power? They received our gallant soldiers
as prisoners Of war and any violation OF their
rights, by cx pot tacio laws Or otherwise,
will disgrace the captors, il they can prevent
II and DO not; aud the men who conquered the
South, can conquer the radicals, if they will, by
supporting Johnson at the polls. What would
those gallant Generals have said II the fortune
of war had thrown them into the hands OF our
noble leaders, and, with their conplvancc, our
| Congress had ba>ey and treachcrously wrought
| new puniShmcnts for them? The good and
brave only are generous. The Emperor Clau
dus said "What else brought ruin to the
AtneuanS and LacedcmoulanS, In spite OF
their success In war, cXcept that they treated
the conquered as Aliens? But our founder,
Rnmulus was so wise that in one day he turned
enemies into citizens" The Athcnians aud
Laceielnoniaas were mad and thus fell. The
radicals ard Canibals are mad and they will fall.
''Whotn the Gods mean to destroy they first
make mad, and johnson las been raised up
to destroy them, and save the count'y-aEd
with him all Conservatives must work.
Most respectfully, your friend and servant, #
.DIcs TTONS