Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1867-05-03
about 400, 600 moro whites than blacks Are

tue whites nave the ucctdeu advantage - IL
you say by your acts that you are unfriendly
to the whites, what will they be forced to Dc?
They must look elsewhere for labor. IF you
unite with the Radical party the sequel will
be an influx of white labor, which must, as
experience has proven, result in your expul-
sion. We must depend on each other for
happiness. We are all iii one family and
for Gods sake don't let US have family
quarrel We arc mutually dependent on
each other-the Whites for labor and you
for the means of subsistence. You don't
want to leave and we don't want you to leave
Here the speaker introduced the very appli-
cable fable of the Belly and the members"
ard drew the sad picture Of theresult Of like
action on the part Of any Of the constituent
parts of community.
Are there no ties-no affection-no love
for those by and among whom you have been
raised? If you have not, than | mistake the
colored man. He drew feeling picture of
the colored boy who was raised with him
and at whose bedside in the hour of death he
was present, and the cold nanny" who had
nurscd him in childhood and whose last wish
was to see, as she loved to call him, her
ssdear child" again, and expressed his utter
inability to forget them or to fail to cherish
their memories. tl
Tic then spoke Of the subject Of confsca-
ton and explained the Stevens bill, and
asked if they desired that (Some one re-
sponded :" yes, when another said +" he don't
belong to this community.") He showed
that they would be most injured by it and
that murder, theft, robbery, &C., would be
the result and said that the Internal regions
would be preferable to the horrors Of this
land in such an event. He then said that
the Reconstruction bill was claimed by the
Radicals as a fnality and that coniscation
was ignored and could not be obtained.
He again urged upon them not to ally
themselves with any party, Northern or
Southern, as body, but each to judge for
himself as white peoplesdo, and said, you are
not freemen if you are led, pulled, kicked or
dragged into any party, and don't let it be
said that you are like flock Of sheep and all
follow where the bell-wether leads. Don t
respect any man who says he is going like
the balance of them, but act from reason,
judgment, and each for yourself. I am an
xious to see you prosperous and happy, and
desire to impress upon you other duties
Your duty is the same that each man has
owed to himself since the Savior first taught
lessons Of wisdom to sinful world. Be hon
est with each other and the world. Establish a
reputation, which is better than gold or silver.
Be truthful. Let your word be as good as
your bond. I agree heartily with Senator
Wilson in regard to temperance. Don't
spend your money for liquor viii ;h steals your
senses while it wastes your earnings. Lay up
your means for the use Of yourself and family
in the future, when sickness and age overtake
you. Organize Savings Banks and deposit
and you will find it will gather like roll
ing SNOWFALL. Support and cherish your
Churches, and your ministers, a very wor-
thy one of whom [ see present, who labor
for your temporal as well as your spiritual
good Let each get a little homo for him
self fig and vine under which he may
recline and be free from the cares and annoy
ances Of the outer world. Nothing so pro-
tects man as the attractions and pleasures
Of home. Be true to your wives. Educate
your children Let the object be to make
the coming generation better than the pres
ent. Educate them in religion as well-the
heart as well as the mind.
Now my friends your destiny is in your
own hands. and no Northern or Southern
man can work it out for you-you must dc
it yourselves | have cndeavord frankly te
advise with you and as certain as you follow
that advice with industry and economy. leav-
ing polotics alone, you will better your con
dition and be prosperous and happy. Politl-
cal excitement will turn to bitter ashes. lie
it alone, and vote when you are called upo1
for honest men and you will be far happier
If you do not follow this advice your fate i;
sad one indeed and you will rush on but tt
misery and obstruction. Your path is bese
by snares and quicksands and you must be
warned. There are men who hope and ex
pect to mould you, on account Of your ig
norance, to suit their selfish purposes. BE
ware Of them and advise rather with those
whom you have long known as your friends
and work out your destiny for yourselves il
the land that God has placed you, uncontrol
ed by those who would lead you only as thei
selfish interests prompt.
The speaker then closed by reciting tn
beautiful allegory of Abou Ben Adam ant
returning his thanks for their marked atten
ton.
On motion of Dennis Harris, the thank
Of the colored people were rendered Genera
Echols for his able speech and kind advic
given them
The following colored men were then cal
led upon and responded:
Rev. Mr.. LAWSON, who very properly
said he was no politician and did not wish t.
engage in politices. A very good course
and severe rebuke to those ministers WIZ
preach politics an9 not Christ and him cru
cifcd.)
HENRY DAVENPORT, said he felt himsel
incompetent to return the thanks Of the col
ored people to Gen. Echols, that he was NJ
speaker but nevertheless would tender tn
kind thanks Of the colored people to Genera
Echols. He rejoiced that the time had com
when the whitepeople and colored people coul'
meet and counsel together on equal terms. =
God help US to live together as brethren! NJ.
brethren, my fellow citizens, my fellow-trav
ellers to the bar Of God greet YOU.
JAMES ScoTT. complimented Gen Echol