Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1867-05-03
From the Richmond Enquirer.
Address to the COlOred People.

tains many plain truths, and will be read
with interest by the colored people, emana-
ting, as it does, from one of their own num-
Der, who is we'll and favorably known to the
entire community:
Fellow-citizens. attempt has been
made to deprive us of your confidence and
good will by ascribing to us improper mo-
tives in lately inviting certain white gentle
men Of this city-Mr. Mcfarland, Mr.. john
son and others-to address us on the subject
of our political relations towards the white
people Of the South.
We had seen a very industrious effort 60
ing on to draw our colored people into par
ty organization, pledged to oppose the south
ern whites as such, and chain them to the
leadership Of a set of men, chiefly white,
whose attempts to foster antagonism and ha-
tired between the two races we deemed un-
wise, unnecessary, and of dangerous tenden
cy.
It was very clear to us that our colored
people were made to array themselves into
party Of their own, led by a few white men
Of violent political feelings and temper, who
INDUCED the habit of severely .denouncing
tlldU CLASS VI WultcS HHOul VIC leiu dlWAJ ?
thought at least rs respectable as the one to
which these men belonged, so far from pro-
noting the interests Of the colored race, they
would seriously compromise those interests.
If we are citizens and freemen i'll truth,
surely we ought to be allowed the right Of
free Judging who are our real friends among
the many professed ones bidding for our IA
yor If colored men surrender their wills
and freedom of political action to leaders Of
any sort, and deliberately put away from
themselves the prerogative Of free, individu
al choice between political parties, the shac-
kles which they thus voluntarily assume will
be found more degrading to their minds than
the slavery which the law once imposed up
on them We cannot conceive Of bondage
more disgraceful than that imposed by free
men upon themselves in surrendering the
right to act upon their own judgments and
consciences; nor is there any use more base
self to be put to than the dirty work Of par
ty and faction. What is left Of the freedom
which we have 50 lately received from our
country as a priceless boon if we have al
ready lost the liberty Of exercising so plain
right as that Of hearing from respect
able men, belonging to one party Of the
whites, explanations Of their views on sub
jects vitality concerning us after listening hun
dreds of times, even unto fatigue, to the 9TH
er party: We should be unworthy of our
blessed freedom If we should consent to give
up the right of hearing both sides Of a dis
cussion involving our highest interests, and
if we should surrender our right Of indivld-
ually judging how we should act in an emer-
gency 50 important as the present.
There could not be more conclusive proof
Of the danger into which our new freedom
has fallen than this bold attempt to deprive
us of the right to meet in public to hear ad-
dresses from whomsoever we please on pub
lie questions. And this very attempt to de-
prive us of so valuable right shows that
those who make it are afraid of free discussion,
and ready to wage war upon those very po-
litical liberties which they boast of having un-
der their own exclusive keeping.
These men require of US, moreover, spe-
cies of conduct positively dishonorable. Many
Of us are in the employment Of gentlemen
who, as we have reason to think, are dis
posed to deal towards US with fairness and
honor in our business relations. But we are
expected and required, after receiving en-
ployment from respectable gentlemen in the
daytime, to 60 at night into political meet
ings and societies, where violent abuse of
these employers, their class and race, are the
principal theme Of the speeches. If we are
forced into this course Of conduct, then the
Of hot
should quit our employments, leave homes
which are pleasant to ourselves and families,
in order that we may indulge, without the
pangs of dishonor and ingratitude, in the new
and unnatural hatred which violent men in
sist upon kindling in the breasts Of the col
ored people.
The impolicy Of this course is as palpable
as its impropriety. In Virginia the colored
race is in minority. To band them togeth-
er is to force the white race into q counter
combination, in which event our race must
certainly be outvoted. It is claimed in OPP
position to this view chat the white laborers
and mechanics will unite with US against the
well~of whites But you know there is less
affection and sympathy between our race and
the laboling whites than with the richer class.
We compete with each other in the labor
market. We want many things of the new
State government. We want the new Con-
( sttution to provide for the education of all
children, white and colored, out of the pub
lie taxes We want this Constitution to lev
el and obliterate all distinctions of color be-
fore the law We cannot secure these most
desirable and most vital and priceless objects
by forming ourselves into a minority party
of colored men, and forcing the white major
ity to vote us down. Our great aim should
be, not to create enemies, but to make sure
and safe our rights and liberties
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE SoUrH-The
/, New York g Journal of Commerce. publish
es private letter from Carroll Parish, Lou
isiana, which speaks strong encouragement
for the South. Among other things, it says
that g the South yielded last year about two
hundred million dollars (specie value) in cot
ton for export, the largest amount ever raised
10 any one year before. At this ratio there
will be produced in fifteen years enough to
pay the National debt. The planters Of Lou
isiana are much better prepared to make a
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