Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-05-07
Colored People in our Midst.

we eAtfdcC the IOlioWluS Iioii oil Cuitorldi VI
the Richmond Enquirer. 1t says that, in our
addresses to the new class of voters, there is
one thing which we must remember: We can
not bid against such as Hunnicutt, and the
Radicals, for the favor of the idle and worthless
and foolish among the colored people, Hun
nicutt was opposed to letting negroes have
churches, and the Radicals will not let them
vote where they live; but they will promise not
only votes, but anything and everything doao1
here. Whatever we may concede, they will of.
fer more and will not stop short in their bids,
of the most improper and impossible promises,
including social equalities and intimacies-
They can promise anything, for they will feel
none of the inconvenience
It is plain we cannot enter the political mar
ket to bid for this class Of negroes. They are
Hunnicutt' lawful prey; and he has filled their
heads and hearts with all manner of mischief.
We can only expect the sensible and reasonable
of the colored people, to understand the objects
and the arts of the persons who would misead
them, and to see that their true interest lies in
maintaining practicable and amicabe relations
with the white community 1t is to these,
therefore, we ought to address ourselves The
madness of the others will have to run its length.
They are determined to be the enemies of the
whites, and they must take their own course.
What the consequence will be to themselves, it
needs no prophet to tell.
We need be under no uneasiness on account
OF those who are thus following Hunnicutt.-
Their number is SO small, compared with the
whites that the latter, if only reasonably united
will outvote them three to one But we wish
specially to urge two points: First, that the
whites must be united, and must remember that
therein lies their security And second That
we engage in no wild chase after the favor of
those among the negroes who do not attend to
be friendly to us, and who are letting our enc
mics and theirs lead them to their ruin. We
have lowered ourselves in some cases. in press
ing our kindness upon these. They are not to
be conciliated, and we are full able to defy
them-let them take their course, and let us
recognize them in the character of enemies,
which they choose to assume. The other por-
ton of the colored people. however, should be
encouraged, and recognized as friends, cooper
ating with US in promoting the common har-
mony and the common good
How TO CARRY VIRGINIA FOR THE RADI-
cALs.-Ever since the passage Of the recon-
struction acts, the Radicals have been in much
tribulation on account of the prospect that Vir-
ginia would vote against that party The
Washington Chronicle publishes the following
letter from Judge Underwood to the Union
Congressional Committee of that city
81 am very decidedly of the opinion that with
a little material aid from your committee to
send out organizers and information, we can
republicanize this State under the new recon-
struction law; but that without such aid we are
lost, and will be subjected to the horrors of
rebel rule. :"
The same paper publishes the following
from another Virginian:'
Remember that a large proportion of the
out assistance from the Republicans North and
West we shall probably be defeated. You are
aware that the most of US have lost everything,
and are unable to render the assistance we
would wish under the circumstances
The Richmond Times says: 1--WE must Or
ganize and hurl our whole strength against the
malignant, incendiary, agrarian, black and Rad
cal organization which is menacing our lives
and property. We must defeat and utterly
rout it at the polls, and when the freedmen
have learned that the white is still the domi-
nant race in Virginia we shall have restora-
ton of those kindly relations which few de-
graded whites have disturbed,
We must speedily teach the blacks of this
State that it is not safe for them to meet in
nightly conclave to conspire, plot against and
abuse those to whom they wear faces of kind
ness and good will. There must be an end to
the open and foul-mouthed billngsgate which
those in our employment collect by thousands
to hear heaped upon the white men of Virginia.
This state of things is without precedent: and
must lead to the most terrible results if it con-
tinues much longer"
In reference to Thad. Stevens letter respect
ing the promises of Wilson, the Virginia Free
Press says:
sHe suggests "a mild confscation to pay those
who have been robbed by disloya men," These
are his wishes Doubtless he wishes to get a
Southern plantation in payment for his Furance.
That is the gist Of his utterances. All we have
to say is this: If the Devil has not in prepare.
ton a red-hot furnace for this mischievous agi
tator then there is no use for hell-an un-
quenchable fire to torment ordinary sinners.
The cool impudence with which Stevens ut
tiers his dictum to give away other people lands
is only equalled by that of Old Satan when he
took the Savior to high mountain and offered
him boundless acres which did not belong to
him."
Inquiries.
A respectable and influential citizen of this
county, requests us to ask the following ques
ton pro bono publico.: