Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-10-03

the army and navy of the United States,
met IN the city of Richmond on the 18th
u!t. Most Of the members had held COM
missions in the branches of the service
named, and now hold Office under the gov
eminent, or under the District Command
er. 1t seems to be rather matter of
caste than OF principle that distinguishes
this convention from those of April and
August last. The latter put the irrepres-
slble coming man" on perfect social as
well as political equality with the affiliat
ing whites of the Hunnicutt and Wardwell
stripe; whereas the former only contend
Tor. the securement of political rights to the
freedmen, as We gather from the resolu-
tons adopted by them.
Thecommittee appointed for thatpurpose,
after the organization of the convention.
presented preamble and accompanying
resolutions, setting forth the principles
OF the party. Among other things, the
preamble declares, 'That we recognize
and deeply regret the feeling of discord
that exists between those who, though
lately struggling for separate govern
ment, have now no interests but in COM
mon with ourselves" After some dis
cussion, however, this clause was stricken
out, tor the reason, as one of the speakers
declared, that 'there was no such thing
as conciliating the people of Virginia, >
that sit was an easier task to conciliate
the tiger than to conquer the hatred Of
these people," The convention smust
take care that while fishing for these few
rebels we do not lose for every white vote
we gain, thousand loyal black constitu-
eats" All! here we have the truth in
nutshell. They were afraid to ':conciliate"
those who "lately struggled for separate
government" notwithstanding they have
s'no interests but in common" with them.
selves, lest they might lose the votes of
some of their 'black constituents"
After pledging themselves to carry out
the reconstruction acts of Congress, and
pledging themselves ''to honestly and faith
fully carry out the provisions of those acts
in restoring Virginia tie her position in
the union, they declare that ono repub-
lican form of government can permanently
exist without full recognition of the prin-
ciple of political equality for all men,
without distinction of race or color"-that
they ''are in favor of free schools, supper
ted by all and open to alr'-and that they
regard the present system of taxation as
partial and especially burdensome to the
laboring man." and that they "are in ia
vor of more general and equal distribu-
ton Of its burdens upon all classes who
enjoy the blessings and protection offered
by the civil government it maintains.
A resolution endorsing the platform
adopted by ''Hunnicutt and his SET" in
April last, was laid on the table.
They resolved to ''favor modification
of the usury laws of Virginia sufficient to
induce foreign capital to seek investment
in the State
We are informed by the Enquirer's re-
port of the proceedings of this convention,
that ''there were not more than dozen
spectators present, and, wonderful to re-
late, only two or three negroes"
We regard the principles set forth in
she resolutions adopted by this convention
as the veriest clap-trap, intended to de-
ceive and mislead the ignorant It is
very easy thing to speak in honied accents
to the poor 'laboring man." promising to
mitigate the burdens Of taxation, &C.; it
costs nothing to talk about "free schools,
supported by all and open to ALL" and
the cabalistic twaddle about political
equality" is cheaper than dirt but the
realization of these utopian ideas is an en-
tirely different matter. of which we shall
hear but little after the election
The main thing, regardless of prihci-
pie, is to secure the ascendency of the "a
dical party in the State Convention, and
to have all the Offices in the State filed by
themselves.
The practical effect Of the adoption of
such free school system as these people
talk about, supported by all and open to
all, at this time, would add an intolera-
BILE amount to the already too burdcnsome
load of federal and State taxes. It would
double the taxes of every property holder
in the State. And the benefits Of such