The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-12-13
SPEECH OF MR.. HUNTER.

SPEECH OF MR.. HUNTER.
Immediately the vote adjourning the Con-
yention was announced, loud calls were made
for HUNTER which were continued with
such earnestness and energy that the Hon. II
M. T. HUNTER was compelled to respond: he
essayed to escape with word of acknowledg'
ment for the compliment paid him, but TIL:
would not suffice, and he proceeded to address
the large audience present as follows
Fellow citizenship the brief remarks am
about to address to you will at least have
the merit of disnterestedn and impartiahty
as far as any man can lay claim to either.
I have no other interests in what is done by
this Convention than to try and obtain the
best government for the State to which be:
long. l have no other sentiments than to aio
my State in her distress, and q desire to pre-.
serve her honor and promote her welfare.
have no political aspirations; my public
career is ended; nor do / 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, and
can turn to the more congenial pursuits Of
domestic life I hardly know how to give
even counsel on the vexed questions which
now agitate the country. The aspect of affair:
is such that the ablest minds find it impOssi
BILE to reason calmly and conclusively but
the storm is uponfus, and whether the reasons
which induced our former action, and which
led 10 these results, were right or wrong, salts.
factory or otherwise, it is now too late to
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 of the people OF the North
gives US reason TO hope that the cup Of uni.
versal negro suffrage will pass from us. The
reconstruction acts of Congress give us the al
tentative of a military government or the do
minion and supreme control of the slave race
As between the two, fellow-ci items, we can
No FL u hoe q phnOSp
government. Applause.
The President Of the United States Sympa-
tliZes with us as far as the restoration OF QUIZ
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 abhor-
rent to every feeling of humanity.
We know from experience, In Hayti, Where
not only were the productions of the country
wasted and the country desolated, the white
men impoverished and insulted, but that the
negroes made war upon them and endeavored
to force them from the island. They were not
only not allowed either liberty or privileges,
but no white man was permitted TO hoId real
estate. We know the want OF zeal, OF all the
moral elements and of reason, which cursed
that spot when the Government fell into the
hands of those whom nature never intended
should WELD it. The negroes were forced to
fact, the culture of the productive crops of the
countrywide and sugar-were neglected, and
only a small amount of coffee was raised,
which could be gathered fHbm the trees With
out 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 row in Congress
expect to control this race, new to the exer
else of power, believe they will find them
selves wofully deceived. Applause If the
attempt now being made to place them in 4
position for which Nature has never designed
them, and to throw into their hands the ba-
lance of power in these ten southern States,
should succeed, is it presnmable that they will
be submissive to those who placed them there,
or that they will subserve the interests of any
party? What the result will be need not
now attempt to predict
7 have no preiudices toward the colored
race. was raised among them, and have no
other feeling towards them but kindness I
know their natures; and, knowing them as
do, cannot be content to raise them to tn g
supreme con troll of the southern States Of this
Union. To give the colored race the supreme
control in Virginia, where the whites are SUI
perior in number, wealth, and intelligence, is
opposed TO all sense OF Justice-it is sin
against nature. Applause. Had that never
been attempted, the reconstruction of these
States would now have been completed. But
a persistence in thefpresent course of policy,
pursued by the party in power, will eYentu-
ally return our cultivated fields into wilder
ness, our most fertile districts into deserts.
and, IT successful, sweep this Government
from the face of the earth.
As1 SAID before, have no prejudice against
the negro race, to whom I wish all prosperity
and happiness, but TO whom I 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 of my fellow
citizens, but for their own sake. If things
were allowed to take their original and proper
course, if the white race was allowed to 60
vern the country, who can doubt but that the
people of the South would adopt towards this
inferior race the language of generosity and
justice No one acquainted with the nature
of the southern people would doubt it for a
moment I believe, TOO, that by placing the
negro in his proper place his condition would
be much more rapidly improved than by ele-
waiting him to n position for which he is not
fitted, and which must generate in his mind
feelings of bitterness and hatred. Is 1t posi-
BILE for the white race either to avoid Il feel
ing Of hostility towards them when kept down
by minority inferior in knowledge, expert
ence, and all the qualifications for govern
ment2 Is it not manifest that hostile parties
must arise and bitter strifes be engendered if
this policy is carried out
It is for this reason, fellow citizens, that
have never despaired OF the destiny of my ma
tive State The return to reason of the party
in power must terminate these animosities
they must see the folly and madness OF such q
policy.
The people of this State have suffered, and
are still suffering; but in after years the stu
dent of history will revert to this period Of
and read with pride Of the forth
tude of his ancestors. [Applause.l Every
must have its trials and crosses; but
IN the course of events such things must occur;
md the people seem TO be purified by the pas
sage through the crucible. Did not England
bear her rebellion and her revolution? That
period, seemingly the darkest in her career to
hose who were the temporary sufferers, was
to others the dawn of personal liberty, and
aid broadi and deep the foundation OF ma
;ional prosperity. Did not France have her
errible revolution, and did there not grow
,ut of it the equality of all men before the
aw? Did there not spring from it a new i'm
,ulse and energy in the public affairs and
vas not the nation placed by 1t at the head Of
he European family? Who knows but that
rom the sad and anomalous state Of affairs
which now surround us may grow new era Of
new life to this beloved Common
wealth. But we must train ourselves to
labits of self reliance and self denial-to pa
ience-and encourage a hope Of new
rider of things. We must develope the riches
which lie buried in our hills; we must dig, and
low, and sow. We must develope the vast
with which nature has blessed US. |
LII that we require is to be true to ourselves,
0 exhibit noble and manly forttude-exhibit
ons fancy under trial, and develope our moral