Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-09-18
anti. RADICAL MEETING IN FAIRFAX

Pursuant to a call meeting OF the citizens
of Fairfax county opposed to the Radical party
was held at the Courthouse, and NJ Makeley
was called to the chair, and F. N z Lowe ap-
pointed Secretary On motion, a committee OF
FIVE, consisting Of NJ D. Ball, D. +. l)ulany,
CT. Reynolds, James Sangser, and Z. w.
ffurley were appointed to draft resolutions ez-
press7e of the sense of the meeting, who re-
ported the following preamble and resolutions,
which are published as an address;
TO THE VOTERS OF FAIRFAX COUNTY.
Whereas, under existing laws, an election
must shortly be held in Virginia for ConVen-
ton to frame Constitution, and whereas every
exerlion is being made by the Radical party to
deceive the masSeS- more esI ecially the colored
people--aS TO the feelings and wishes Of those
opposed to their party, that they may hold
them in perpetual bondage, to execute their own
selfish aims. and whereas we believe the teach
ngs OF that party calculated to produce moth :,
ing but mischief and sorrow, we, citizens OF
Fairfax county, opposing those teachings as ut
terly false and insncere, proclaim the following
as the principles and policy Of ours, the Con
stitutional party Of Virginia, and pledge them
our support:
lst. We declare our attachment to the FED
ERAL UNION and we desire to see lis Constr
tuition and Laws sustained, its peace and pros
perity restored, and have no wish ever to revive
the exploded doctrine Of secession.
End We affirm our earnest wish to 1--we on
friendly terms with the COIORED PEOPLE, to
assist and be assisted by them, and TO aid IN
their improvement and elevation. We desire
to withhold from them no civil right, to refuse
them no legal privilege, to practice Or them no
class legislation, and we brand as absurdly and
meanly false the charge that we entertain the
thought of attempting to remand thcm 10
slavery.
3d. We favor 4 system Of EDUCATION which
will enable all the poor Of the State to acquire
the means Of Improvement.
4th We arc in favor OF uniform TAXATION,
not of taxing one class tor the benefit OF anoth-
cr--of moderate taxes, but not of total cxcmp-
ton, as tending to put premium on ld!cncSs'
and make those who acquire property To DC
taxed to support the slothful and worthless.
5th. We are in favor Of electlng to any OF
FIcE only honest and competent men, believing
chat the welfare of people depends on the in
tclligence and integrity Of their rulers.
9Th. We arc opposed to all secret political
leagues, as degrading and mischicvous, and
tending to establish the vilest form of slavery
-nalncy subsection to the schemes of merce-
nary demagogucs, the elevation OF unworthy
men to office, the abuse of power and the injury
Of the public.
7th. We denouncc and scorn the wholesale
arrayng Of one class against another, OF labor
against capital, as utterly mean aud unworthy,
and subversve of all peace, prosperity and CIV
iization.
We ask the citizens Of cur county to unite
with us in the support Of these principles -
We do not ask them to spend their money or
waste their time in attempting to decay men
into them, by vain displays and violent haran,
CUES, but to weigh them in their hearts, and II
lhoy are worthy give them welcome, not that
,ce may get office, but that they may get peace
and prosperity. We ask our coored citizens
their oppression. We claim that we have
given evidence Of this. As they depend on us
for help when their troubles come, we have
right to ask them not to assist to involve us
all in troubles from which neither class will be
able to help the other We invoke them to
consider what Just cause OF complaint We will
have, and how serious the consequences may
be, if they array themselves against us, and We
call on them to prove themselves treemen, and
not blindly follow the lead Of selfish and aspir-
ing men who, desiring to ride into Office On
their back, would urge them 10 their own
ruin, and create enmity aud unhappincss here
Only friendship and prosperity ought to exist.
10 this end We request the coiored people OF
the county to give Us the opportunity to retnte
the teachings Of the men " no drag them into
secret conclaves, to iostil false doctrines into
their hearts and we promise to meet them and
discuss the issue joined in any manner snl At
any time.
The citizens who favor these views arc III
vited to form associations in the different mag
isterial DISTRICTS and report progress to the
next meeting, to be held at the Courthouse
October 2l4t, unless sooner called
NJ. MAKFLET, Chairman
+, M, LOWE, Secretary.