The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-16

Counsel of an Old Time Virginia States
mafl-Hon. Il. II. T. Hunter oil the Crisis
His Hopes Of the Future of the Old Do
minion.
In the Virginia Conservative Convention, on
Thursday, Hon. r. NJ T. Hunter being called upon
to give his views as to the proper policy of the
Southern people at the present juncture, made an
address full of practical good sense. He COM
plenced by saying that his own public career was
closed forever, and that his counsel would be SIM
ply the suggestions of private citizen.
Referring to the future he said he was at loss
as to what was before us. If he were to take the
recent elections as test OF the feeling OF the
North, he could hope that the cup OF universal
negro suffrage woul pass from us but if he must
take the Reconstruction act as tho ultimate and
final decree Of the Congress which must rule us at
least for the next two years, then he had only to
choose between military government or the contTol
of the coored race. Between these alternatives he
had no hesitation in saying that he preferred the
military control Under military government he
was contr lied by men Of his own race; educated
men who acted under the responsibilities OF their
commission and in some degree under the control
Of President who we know TO be disposed to do
us Justice and accord to u.s. as far as he could our
constitutional rights. If We were to be placed
under the control OF the black race in the country
between the Potomac and the Rio Grande, IL was
perience of Hayti and Jamaica before us. There
was 70 doubt but that il would result IN the for-
nation of q black mans party, which would persc-
cute the white man in all possible moues' , LII
Hayti they were suddenly om9nclpated as IN thiS
country, and without advertlng to the scenes OF
atrocity which occurred wher they had the control
of public afairs it is enough to say that the result
was to destroy all the elem nts OF material pros
perity and moral progress. In Jamaica we nave
the same history as far as was compatlDie WIN the
e IL, ,r,I,s came
hostility to the white man, the samo decldence IN
agricultural production.
Could any one doubt but that we should see
similar results in the Southern States II the whole
country between tho Potomac and the RIO Grande
should be submitted to the rule OF the colored
race? The Radical party seemed to think that
they would thus secure the support of the whole
Southern country so long as the black man should
rule. They would find themselves mistaken IN
this after the first election. The blacks would
we know, from the history of party warfare, that
all parties would bid for them They would act
for the benefit of themselves, and not for this or
that party OF the whites, and can there De con-
ceyed ANYTHING more demoraliZlng than party
constituting, in the language Of orc of the resolu-
tions, onethird of the Senate, and fourth OF the
House of Representatives, who would thus hold the
balance of power between the two parties OF the
white race, and act only for their own good. AS
Free Lancers in the field, they would determine all
disputed questions in reference only to their own
interests. He said this in no feeling of hostility
TO the colorcd race, but in accordance only With
the history of the past. On the contrary,
he felt kindly towards tho colored race, but
thought their welfare was to be promoted
in mode which was contrary, perhaps to their
own view. But there were dangers ahead OF them
in their present course to which they had not ad-
verted, and which had been carefully concealed
from them. Suppose they could assume the con-
troll Of the Southern States for the present, how
long would it last? Would tho white race in the
North long endure q state of things in which tho
blacks though minority, would control, by hold
ing the balance OF power in all contested pohtcal
questions Would they consent to see the mate
rial resources and productions OF the South wasted
and perhaps destroyed which used TO yield them
SO large harvest of wealth? Would they contrib
ute to the result which was TO restore the cuIti-
waited field to the wilderness aDsl Jungle and leave
the wild beasts and the alligator to reign supreme
over those plains and bottoms which heretofore
had been the seats of refined civilization and Of
production whose profits extended North Gs well
as South? World they stand by contentedly and
see tho moral, material and social clemeats oil
strength and happiness wasted aud almost de,
stroyel to maintain tho supremacy OF the colorcd
race which would seem to be the present policy.
Every consideration of self-respect and nat onal
interest would forbid IT, Tho extreme Western
limit OF agricultural settlement East Of the Rocky
NJ luntains has already been attained. 1t cannot
be long before the tide Of agricultural lmmlgra-
ton niCSv SCUH Lcll(l OOUtLWdlIs LILO CuloiCu
race will not be allowed 10 hold these immense re-
sources in abeyance. This county belongs to the
white man, and they will claim its control 10
subject the white race i'll Virginia to tho govern
ment Of tho black race, when 1T ls superior III
numbers wealth and intelligence, would be to
commit ono Of tho highest or all sins, u sin
against nature. Would any party In the loyal
States permit the blacks to give the power OF the
to u minority amongst themselves
when thay had oply to call into action their own
strength to avert t2 Vas there ever race supe-
rior in numbers, wealth and intelligence to those
who governed them who tamely submitted to be
SO ruled?
I throw out these considerations not merely TO
encourage my own fellow-citizens and brethren,
but for the black race Itself, for whom L have
kindly feelings. / was not only reared amongst
them and feel the kindly ties of early association,
but acknowledge the obligation which rests upon
us to give them all the opportunities OF progress
and development which we can afford them Ill JUS
tice to ourselves. That the reaction will come,
have no doubt, but fear it will come IN mode
which l should regret as friend to civilization
and humanity and to the black race itself. And
suppose for the sake of o brief period OF control
which is given them, not for their own sakos,
but to secure the supremacy OF the Radical
party they should thus get, up, contest be- be-
tween the races and incur the hostility OF The
whites, what will become OF them when
the reaction comes / 3hudder to think OF
the result. II the Radicals appeal to the black
race to sustain them, will not tho other
party inyoLe the aid of the whites, who are so
much more powerful in all tho natural elements of
strength in the country III Which they may be
brought into competition. speak not only IL tho
interests OF the white but also oil the black race,
when l protest against any b. lstem OF laws WHICH
seeks to place the weaker and inferior race ID con-
troll over that which is superior in wealth, num-
bers and intelligence. After all, the citizens Of
any community have more interest in its good
government than in the question OF who shall
direct 1t. will not offer tho advice, because 1t
will not be received in the spirit IN which 1t Is
offered but far better would 1t be Tor the backs 10
leave the government OF the country where they
found it. II they do not provoke the hostility OF
the white race, they will be treated not only with
Justice but generosity. II th1y are made equal III
the eve Of tho law, and protected III all their
rights, would they net be in far better position
to leave the government TO the whites, who arc
best fitted ior 1t? I am suro speak not only my
own feelings, but those also Of the white citizens
of Virgini /, when | say that at present wo would
tolerate no government "hch did not respect not
only their freedmen, but their just rights Of person
and property.
But, Mr. President it may be that they will heed
no advice which [ can give them. The Radical
party which now controls Congress may retain
that for two years yet to come, and they may force
on us a state of things contrary not oIly to JUS
tee, but sound policy. There will nothing be lett
to us then but patient en- urance until the reaction
comes. That il will como do not doubt for mo
me mt, and fit should bring consequences to the
black race which we shall all dcplorc, shall not
be responsible for it, Mr.. President, know what
1 recommend whon counsel patient endurance
and manly forlitude to tho people of Virginia, il
this state OF things should occur. 1t will be hest
for our beloved State that it should be go. The
present generation has sutf red still suffers and
perhaps may continue, for some time to come, To
suffer. But what is the lifetime OF one genera
ton in the existence OF Slate Virginia WI! re-
vive and fulfil destiny us bright probably as her
most ardent sons ever wished for her. Trials, diff
fcaltes and sulerines constitute the discipline by
which individuals and States are trained TO moral
and hero:c excellence. What individual ever at
tanned greatness who reared in the lap OF case
and luxury, and was not trained for some part OF
his life, i'll the school of adversely: What nation
has achieved excellence in greatness which was
not disciplined in the same school England had
what is called its rebellion, period of some cruel
ty and much suffering, and yet from that rebellion
sprung some OF those acts which are tho proudcst
monuments Of the liberty OF the subject, and more
than all, the resolution in which Were laid broad