The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-03-20
Our DntiaS Now.


the honest masses Of the South. Still,
there are proud recollections of the past
and grand hopes in the future OF such a
people, which it is well for US to remember.
While History makes no mention ola peo-
pie in our condition, trecords no instance
where race has accomplished SO much or
developed SO high an order Of talent
Since Raleigh crossed the Seas, witlphis
brave cavaliers" and Spottswood discoy-
cred cur magnificent Valley since
Washington, the graudest Rebel Of re-
corded time, gained our independence;
since Jefferson, Madison and u hostoiothcr
great minds gave form and substance to
Constitutional Liberty, this people have
controlled Contincnt-andth their descen
dents only ceased to do so, when oycrpow-
cred by brute force. Shall we disgrace
this glorious record, by inactivity, or shall
we master the situation"
1t is all very fine to talk about "ltaly"
and Hungary" and what they did, by re-
naming passive under oppression, but
cur passive" men seem to forget that the
people Of Italy and Hungary were all Of
one race, and that but for the assistance OF
France and Prussia, these countries would
now be under the rule Of Austria. We
have no friendly or Interested ueighbors to
help us out OF bad scrape, but we have
four millions OF negroes to control.
Is it possible to teach the Southern peo-
| pie d little practical seifshncss! Is the
terrible experience Of four years, OF the
bIcodiest and most cruel war recorded In
history, to leave Us the same people We
were to leave us, or rather what is left
OF us, the same helpless people we have
always been? This is the question for US
to decide and the only question. The ex-
ample OF Italy and Hungary will do for
"ltonor" gentlemen, OF the inaetion' or
der, to talk about and grow eloquent over,
but rccollect, neither OF these countries
had four millions Of d.h1erene race; Il
race, it is true, that proved faithful during
the war, but still race that may be used
by our enemies, and theirs, to enslaye us.
It is now certain, as the yirgiuian pro-
/
claimed at first, that the provisions OF the
Military Bill' will be carried out, and ne
gro suffrage enforced. A General issues
his orders from lid. Quarters, District
No l, Richmond "a place formerly known
as the Capitol of Virginia. He does his
work Ike a gentlenlan and a soldier, bat
{ he srW do ii, bitter as it may be to him
and to us. In fac. our ''head is in the
Lion mouth" and it won't do to twist his
tail too much, neither will it do any bet
terto let it stay there and refuse thefriend-
ly aid OF the negro vote, to get it out. Ii
we remain inactive" Bolts & Co. may
succeed in twisting his TAIL to our great
disadyantas sc.
1t is true that our people have been SO
busily engaged, since the surrender, i'll
making bread and meat, . that they have
had no time to attend to the education and
interests Of the Freedmen and that bust
hess has gone into the hands Of our enc
mics. But even now our duty is plain ;
we must take more interest in this class
we mustshow them weare their bestfriends,
{ and it is sacred duty every man owes to
his family, to explain this question to them.
1t won't do to say you won't vote beside
Niger" for if you do net, and fail to
make him vote rightly and intelligently,
you are neglecting a duty and deserve to
be punished, Gas you Will surely be- for
it.
Our duty is SO plain one, that it seems
idle to repeat it, and we would not but for
the deplosable apathy and Indifference
(natural we know Of our people. We
must taAe charge Of ard control the negro
population, aud every white man that has
u vote must vote aud instruct every color
ed man in lis duty. The great hero of
this century and of the war, Stoneuall
Jackson. did not deem it beneath his digni-
ty, bat considered it sacred duty, to in
struct the negroes, even before the war
Are we SO proud and foolish that We can
not profit by his example I" Or will
We lay supInely on our backs, in master
" inactivity" and see this vast element Of
strength welded against us, by the vilest
aud lowest creatures on Goods green
earth" We will rot insult the intel
ligence Of our people by admitting such IL
thing, but we feel it our duty to urge upon
, them the necessity Of going to work at
once, and controlling this clement. There
is no time to be lost. and it would be a
poor compliment to people who held a
World at bay, with a '.skirmish line, for
four years, to say they can not now con
troll iouf millions Of a race, that skirmish
line at the same time, held in subsection.
| Tha tGsiivoy Iin;nou tn tho t.olondo