The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-02-27
A Few Plain Facts.

AHomH IL sploc VI ofCl eilhss' " Ao"S ~
.he press is FREE Our people are now
exercising themselves over the last bills OF /
Congress and never look at the past
Some are even so unthinking as to blame
the Southern press for all the ills and OPP
showered on US by the Radicals.
They say s'the papers did it, and never]
recollect that The press stood up for their
rights when every other channel ofthought
was closed; they forget that the much
abused newspaper is merely an express
sion of their sentiments; Of the thoughts
and feelingsof the great massofthe South |
ern people; the defender Of their rights
and the recorder Of their past heEolsm.-
It stands in the front from day to day and
fearlessly gives expression to the senti-
ments Of people. There may be evils in
the press, still, the good overballapces
them.
But to the facts, the truth Of history,
which timid people should not forget aud
the brave ponder over. The Military bill,
which we publish to-day, may be enforced
and an odious tyranny forced upon dis
armed people. At present we'can not re-
sist it, but it is consoling to know and feel
we are in the right; that nothing we, as a
people, have done, since the surrender at
Appomatox Courthouse, gives the mob
at Washington the slightest shadow Of an
excuse for the cowardly blows they strike
us. On the 9th Of April, 1865, General
Lee surrendered. The terms Of that sur
render were simple: The soldiers were
given written parole, which said they, in
consideration Of their pledge, not to take
up arms, were permitted to return to their
homes and.remain unmolested and undis-
turbed." The faith Of the u. S. Govern
ment; the honor Of its armies was pledged
to keepthis compact inyiolate. This Mill
ftary bill violates that pledge, for it ''mo-
Tests and disturbs us. Next, Andrew
johnson, President of the United States,
offered Amnesty and restoration to all
lights, on condition Of taking prescribed
OATH 1t was taken and has been kept in
good faith. Then we were asked to elect
members to Congress to reorganize our
States, by legally abolishing slavery; to re-
pudiate justdebts, &c. Those thingswere
done, bitter as the pills were to swallow.
| The laws have been obeyed; the Freed
men protected; our part Of the contract
faithfully carried out, and we see the re-
suit Of our faithful obedience to the laws
of the United States, in the bill which has
just passed Congress.
These are plain facts, patent to every
one and they can not be too often repeat
ed /; for in the "hurly -burly" Of such times
as these, men are apt to give even the
right away for expediency. Never did
the Southern people need all their native
manhood all their pride Of character 50
| much as now And their course is sim
pie. We must endure the evils inflicted
on us by a base and cowardly foe, and
asoah out Of our troubles. Material pros
perity will bring political independence.
We are poor and abused now, butWe have
climate soil and resources such as no
people ever had, and ace mast hold to them
| Our position is strong for it is right, and
the right must prevail in the end We
have faced too many horrors and endured
too much, to despond or give back now
1 Look up labor with head and hands; be
charitable to one another, press no man !;
all work together and for one grand OBJ
ject, the practical Independence Of the
South, and the day is not far distantwhen
we can bid defiance to the most accursed
tyranny ever endured by brave but IN
fortunate people.
The Military Bill.
The Richmond Times truly says: HIf
this bill becomes law, at the Virginia
elections, in May next, for Governor,
Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General
and members Of the General Assembly,
everg male negro IN Virginia aboge the age
| Of tlcenty-one qgiH he entitled touote. Nor
are aee permitted to alzo1D this election to
go by detaa1t, for the Azeaaadaia Con
stitation prouides that these ezectioas.sAaE
take place IN Nay neat. We are denied
the privilege Of seeking refuge in purely
military despotism by theabolition Of this
provisional government, for it rests with
the Federal Government, and not with
ourselves, to determine whether this State
government shall be continued or abolish
ed.
| Whether, therefore. we adopt the econ
stitntional amendment" with negro suf-
frage, and Congressional representation
annexed" or prefer to continue as We
are, we cannot, if SHERMAN s bill becomes
a Law, avoid almost immediate negro equal
ity at the ballot-box.
The Alexandria Constitution says we
shall haze certain elections in the spring,
and the SHERMAN bill says that, at those