Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-12-24
Speech of R. M. T. Hunter, before the
Conservative Convention.

ventiou was announced, loud calls were made
for "Hunter," which were continued with
such earnestness and energy that the Hon.
X. NJ. 7. Hunter was compelled to respopd
lie essayed to escape with word of ack nOwl.
edgment for the compliment paid him, but
this would not suffice, aud he proceeded to
address the audience present as fOllows:
FettOtC- Ctti=ens :-In the brief remarks I
am about to address to you will at least have
the merit of disintcrcstedness and impartiali-
ty. as far as any man can lay claim to either
have no other interest in what is done in
this Convention than to try and obtain the
best government for the State to which be-
long. ] have no other sentiments than to
aid my State in her distress, and desire to
preserve her honor and promote her welfare
have no political aspirations my public
career is ended; nor do l mention it with
regret. Though my humble efforts may have
been at one time of some public service, the
opportunity has passed away from me, aud
can turn to the more con genial pursuits of
domestic life, l hardly know even how to
| give counsel on the vexed questions which
now agitate the country. The aspect of af-
fairs is such that the ablest minds find it i'm
| possible to reason calmly and conclusvely; !;
but the storm is upon US, and whether the
reasons which induced our former action and
wrong. satisfactory or otherwise, it is now too
late I" lament.
Now we have to consider what is the best
course for us to pursue to preserve the well
fare and the honor of our State.
The recent action ofthe people of the North
| gives us reason to hope that the cup Of univcr-
sal negro suffrage will pass from us. The re-
construction acts Of Congress give us the
alternative of military government or the
dominion and supreme control of the slave
race. As between the two, fellow citizens,
we cannot for moment hesitate to choose a
military government. [Applause.1
I The President of the United States SYM
pathzes with us as far as the restoration of
our constitutional rights is concerned.
The proposal made by the dominant party
in Congress to give the exclusive government
of these ten States to the negro race is too
! abhorrcnt to every feeling of humanity.
We know from experience, in I1ayti where
not only were the productions of the country
wasted and the country desolated, the white
impoverished aud insulted, but that the ne
grocs made war upon them and endeavorcd
to force them from the sland They were
not on y not allowed either liberty or privil-
eyes, but no white man was permitted TO hold
real estate. We know the want of zeal of
cursed that spot when the Government fell in.
to the hands of those whom nature never in
tended should WELD it. The negroes we're
forced to labor by law yet, notwithstand-
ing this fact, the culture of the productive
crops Of the countrywide and sugar-were
neglected. and only small amount of coffee
was raised. which could be gathered from the
trees without planting it, for at least short
time.
In Jamaica the same has been the result of
the attempt to elevate the black above the
white race.
If the radical majority now in Congress
expect to control this race. new to the exer-
else of power, | believe they will find them
selves wonderfully deceived. TApplause 7
If the attempt now heing made to place them
in position for which nature has never de-
signed them, and to throw into their hands
the balance of power in these ten Southern
States. should succeed, is it presumable that
they will be submissive to those who placed
them there. or that they will subserve the in.
terests of any party? What the result will
be need not now attempt Is predict.
have no prejudices toward the colored
race. was raised among them aud have no
other feeling towards them but kindness. l
know their natures; and, knowing them as
do, | cannot be content TO raise them TO the
supreme control of the Southern States of
this Union. To give the colored race the
supreme control in Virginia, where the whites
are superior in numbers, wealth, and intelli.
gence, is opposed to all sense Of justice - it
is sin against nature. lApplause.1 Had
that never been attempted, the reconstruc-
tion Of these States would now have been
completed. But a persistence in the present
course of policy, pursued by the party in
power, will eventually return our cultivated
fields into wilderness, our most fertile dis.
trc;s into deserts, and, if successful, sweep
this Government from the face of the earth.
As l said before, | have no prejudice
against the negro race, to whom ] wish all
prosperity aud happiness, but to whom am
unwilling to give control of this or any other
southern government-not only for the sake
of race and color, not only for the sake ofmy
fellow citizens but for their own sake. If
things were allowed to take their original aud
proper course, if the white race was allowed
to govern the country, who can doubt but
that the people of the south would adopt
towards this inferior race the language of
generosity ard Justice? No one acquainted
with the nature of the southern people would
doubt it for moment l believe, too, that
by placing the negro in his proper place his
condition would be much more rapidly im>
proved than by elevating him to position for
which he is not fitted, aud which must gen.
crate in his miEd feelings of bitterness and
hatred. Is it possible for the white race
either to avoid feeling of hostility towards
them when kept down by minority inferior in
knowledge, experience, and all the qualifca-
tions for government Is it not manifest
that hostile parties must arise and bitter
strifes be engeudered if this policy is carried
| out?
1t is for this reason. fellow: citizens, that
have never deSpaired of the destiny of my
native State. The return to reason of the
| party in power must terminate these animosi-