Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-10-08
Negro Conventions.

The Lynchburg Republican very plainly and
pointedy exhibits the folly Of reconstruction on
the plan of the late Rump Congress, in the fol-
lowing article on that subject:
THE only argument we have ever seen adj
vanced in favor of voting for negro Conventions
in the Southern States is this: that if our peo-
pie do not vote for such Conventions they will
not get back into the Union, and Congress will
proceed at once to impose greater burdens upon
US than we now endure. The design of this ar
gument is to appeal to the fears ambition and
selhshnesS OF the masses, and compel them to
vote to negroize their section OF the Union
These specious pretences may deceive for a
time little wanton boys that swim on bladders
in sea of glory, but they are far beyond the
depth and unworthy the sense and sanction OF
wise and patriotic men. To adopt State Con-
stltutlon imposing universal negro suffrage upon
our people will be frost, a killing frost, ,
that will nip the root of our social and political
systems, and make us fall as Lucifer fell, never
to hope again!
l. What are the facts in the case? The FIRST
fact is that we are not out Of the Union at all !!
For four years the people of the South fought
to get out, and to maintain the right OF Seces,
sion, while the people of the North asserted
precisely the contrary, and successfully MAIN
tanned it. They declared that the Southern
States were not out of the Union, and could not
fight out or get out We are therefore,. GER
tainly in the Union, and every citizen is clearly
entitled to all the rights of citizenship under
the constitution until he is convicted OF treason,
rebellion or other crime under the laws OF the
land. But revolutionary and tyrannlcal Con-
gress, influenced by base partizan purposes,
have resolved to ignore all these clearly defined
principles and rights, and not only to leglslate
us out of the Union, but to impose upon us the
most grinding exactions and usurpations! VIII
it not, therefore, be the extreme of folly and
timidty for our people to do more than sub
nit to this despotic rule? Can we, without
dishonor and ruin, vote to impose upon our
selves negro suffrage and negro equality, and
transform our State governments into the most
grinding despotisms at the bidding Ct a corrupt
and lawless Congress? M
q The second fact to be considered in refu-
taton of this view Of reconstruction is this =
Can Congress impose upon the people OF the
than it has already inflicted ''outside the con-
stitution?" We assert that it can do no such
thing. Congress has already converted ten
States into Territories and placed them under
absolute military despotism. Neither our lives,
liberty or property are any longer free from vlo-
laton or abuse, but completely at the mercy OF
our military commanders. A large portion OF
our best citizens are disfranchiscd, and all the
white population of these States are made sub.
| joct to the domination of different race and
color. 1t is absurd to suppose that Congress
can impose upon US more odious or detestable
system of despotism than this Military rule
and Congressional rule are infinitely preferable
to negro rule Congress had better confscate
| our property than for our former slaves to dc
it under State supremacy. I I'm fact, property
| will be worthless when the negroes take pos
session of our State and local governments, and
the protection of the military is withdrawn from
| us.
1t is manifest therefore, from this reasoning
that for the people of the South to seek to get
back into the Union under negro governments
is far greater folly than for them to remain
| where they ere, under the protection of white
| military officers,