The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-12-18


late or impair her obligations to the Federal
Union, but to perform them in good faith,
{ g. This Convention doth solemnly: declare
and assert that the people Of Virginia are
entitled to all the rights Of freedom and all
the guarantees for provided by the
Constitution of the United States, and they
insist on the same as unquestionable and the
Constitution, which all are sworn to support,
does not justify the governing of Virginia
by any power not delegated by it, nor ought
she, under it, to be controlled by the Federal
Government, except in strict accordance with
its terms and limitations. -
4. This Convention doth declare, in the
language of resolution adopted by a pub
lie meeting held at the Cooper Institute, in
the city of New York, that the policy which
continues to subject the people Of ten States
Of the Union to an irresponsible government,
carried on by military power, is inconsistent
with the express provisions Of the Constitu-
ton of the United States, and is subversive
Of the fundamental ideas of our Government
and of civil liberty and the object of which
this great wrong has been persisted in is now
being disclosed to the people and tothe world,
to wit: to subject the white people Of those
States to the absolute supremacy in their To-
cal governments and in their representation
in the Senate and House Of Representatives,
of the black race, just emerged from person
al servitude, is abhorrent to the civilization of
mankind, and involves us and the people of
the Northern States in the consequences of
surrendering one.third of the Senate aud
one-qnarter of the House Of Representatives,
which are to legislate over US, to the sdomin-
ion of an organized class of ernancipated
slaves, who are without any Of the training,
habits or traditions of selfgovernncnt.
5. This Convention, for the people of Vir-
GINA, doth declare that they disclaim all hos
tility to the black population; that they sin
cerely desire to see them advance in intelli-
gence and material prosperity, and are will
ing to extend to them a liberal and generous
protection but that, while in the opinion Of
I this Convention any Constitution Of Virginia
Ought to make all men equal before the law,
and should protect the liberty and property
of all, yet this Convention doth distinctly de-
clare that the Governments Of the States and
of the Union were formed by white men, to
their control, and that suffrage should be.still
SO regulated by the States as to continue the
Federal and State systems under the control
and direction Of the white race
! ! g. That ii the opinion Of this Convention
the people Of Virginia will sincerely co-ope=
rate with all men throughout the Union, Of
whatever name or party, who will labor to
restore the Constitutional Union Of the States,
and to continue its Government and those Of
the States under the control of the white race.
| On motion Of John T. Anderson, Of Bote-
| tourt, it was resolved that the executive COM
mittee. when appointed by the Chair, take
speedy means to test the validity of the recon
struction acts before the Supreme Court.
Mr. Aylett and the mover Of the resolution
advocated its passage
On motion OF Hon John B. Baldwin, the
Chair was given time to appoint the commit
| tee Of thirty three, as provided by the report
Of the committee above mentioned.
Hon. Samuel Dowell Moore stated, that
as the Convention had done all the good It
could and fit remained longer in session might
| do harm, he moved an adjournment s,ae dc.
The motion was agreed to, and thus closed
| the ablest the wisest and most prudent con
| vention VIC ever saw, assembled in Virginia.
There were loud calls for Hon. r. NJ. Z.
Hunter, when, after some hesitation, lhs adj
vanced to the front Of the stage, and was. re-
ceiyed with rounds Of applause. IS ai9
Mr., Hunter said He could claim the mer-
| it of inpartiality for the eounscls which he
was about to give his countrymen, as he had
no interest in the proceedings of this or any
| political body except those which every citi-
zen has in the good government Of the eoun-
| try to which he belongs. He had a. senti-
n1ent however, which. was stronger than any
interest could be, and that was for the pro-
| motion of the welfare and preservation OF
the honor of his native State, which was
dearer to him: new IN her lnisfortunes than
| in the palmy days of her prosperity. He had
| no political aspirations, and if he had = there
was no possible public career before him
He said this not by way j of regret or
complaint, for whilst he held that.n man had
Ia right to throw away any opportunities of
usefulness which had been bestowed upon
Illin,. yetif they were taken from him he
might turn aside to domestic pursuits, which
were far more congenial to his tastes than the
stormy career of public life. He had, how
ever, q difficulty in offering connsels now
which he had never experienced before. He
had been, a member heretofore of public
meetings which had the welfare and honor Of
Virginia under consideration. But then,
there were always some general principles Of
Justice or considerations Of expediency upon
which: he could reason and form some theory,
which, whether right or wrong, was satisfac-
tory to himself at least. Now, he was not
to consider the questions before US in that
point of view, but he was toaseertain, if posi-
Bile, what would beallowed to US by those who
controlled us, and to choose amongst these
things what would be best for Virginia.
Even in this limited view Of the question
he was at a loss as to what was before u.s.
If he were to take the recent. elections as q
test of the. feeling. Of the North, he could
hope that the cup Of universal negro suffrage
would pass from us but if he must take the
reconstruction act as the ultimate and final
decree of Congress which must rule us at
least for the next two years, then he had only.
to choose between military government or
the control Of the colorcd race. Between
/ these alternatives he had no hesitation in
.sa wing that he perferrcd the military control
Under military government he was controlled
bv men Of his own race educated men who
etod s,,,dor fTo Observation-Disclosures of their com