Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-08-06
On SPECTATOR AND GENERAL ADVERTISER. -
Negro Suffrage and Representatives.
The Lynchburg Republican thus speeulates
n.,e., 4ha ofoot Of ,,orc, CO nd ,onrn ron,

"a
The Lynchburg Republican thus speeulates
upon the effect of negro suffrage and negrorep-
resentatives: ~
"When the ten Southern States are swept,
as they certainly will be, by negro majorities in
nearly every Congressional district, they will
knock at the doors of Congress with loyal
black representatives in many cases. Can Con-
gress exclude them on any pretext? Are they
eligible, how long will it be before they demand
that privilege also, and enforce it at the hands
of the negro party? Indeed, while we know
that the negroes have not been made eligible so
far by any legislative enactment, who dare say
that if one be elected, he will not be permitted
to take his seat? The Radical party has COM
mitted some of the grossest inconsistencies that
ever marked the career of any political organ
ization, and has shown an entire disregard for
it's good faith and honor. But it dare not re-
sist the claims of the negroes to be admitted to
any Office to which they may be raised. we
saw that only few days since the Radicals OF
South Carolina demanded that negro should
run for Vice-President on the next Republican
Presidential ticket. And while this great con-
cession may not be granted SO soon it is clear
that no feint of opposition can be made to the
admission of negro Congressman, elected from
the reconstructed States
"And Just so soon as these gentlemen from
Africa advance to the seats once occupied by
Webster and Randolph, and Calhoun and Clay,
and the long file of scholars and statesmen,
whose voices have rung through those frescoed
halls, the glory will have departed from the
party which brought them there, to the shame
and confusion of the American people. The
ambition of political distinction, the greed of
office, the love of party power, may. have be-
trayed the great Northern masses into many
excuses in favor of this race. Indeed, it were
but justice to say that many susceptible natures
were deeply moved by the supposed horrors OF
African slavery, and have run into those ex-
tremes of sympathy and Partially which we
naturally indulge towards the victims oftancled
wrongs. But the prejudices of race and color
are the deepest and most ineradicable OF those
that divide mankind When men grow angry,
there is no insulting epithet that sooner leaps
| to their lips than the reminder Of belonging to
an inferior or dishonored race. And just so
soon as the citizens of America, whose fathers
discovered it, conquered it, peopled and clvIllz-
| ed it, and made its name great and honored IN
every corner of the earth-just as soon as these
white citizens, proud and self-complacent as
| they are, see race just relieved from bondage
| made equal to them, and set to legislate over
them, there will come quick cry OF disdaln
| and indignation, and the authors Of their deg
|
count. ~ ssg @s
'sThis will be but the beginning of the end.
| When the reaction comes, and the Radical par
| ty is hurled from power. there is no foretelhng
the extent to which the people will go in the
other direction. The negroes will certainly be
rendered incapable of holding Office, and may
possibly be deprived of the right of suffrage
| We have no idea that any effort will ever be
made, in the face of the world s opposition, to
resolve them into state Of bondage. But We
feel well assured that on the mere question Of
losing the civil and political privileges to which
they have been elevated by recent legislation,
the negroes will strongly resist and fight, and
will thus precipitate that great war of races to
which we have looked forward, with fearful
| forebodings, ever since the termination OF the
recent struggle.
"What will be the issue of such collision, nc
one can doubt for a moment. While we depre-
cate earnestly its dreadful scenes, we believe
that the white race would come out of them
not only triumphant but almost unhurt, while
the inferior race would be swept away like the
dead leaves of November The work would be
sharp and decisive. The genius of the Caucas
tan blood would assert itself with terrible EN-
phasis, and no subject race would ever thereaf
ter attempt to cope with that dominant and
ever victorious people.
''These seem to be the experiences upor
which we are about to enter. They are full o.
tragedy and suffering and danger, and are well
calculated to make us apprehensive We have
the consolation of believing that we are in M
wise responsible for the present crisis, nor any
impending evils with which the country ma!
be visited. Our duty in the premises is to b.
collected and well prepared for any ordeal ant
emergency, so that when the storm breaks i
will find US under shelter, and provided agains
its sorest perils and Yisitations.o