The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-04-16
The Negro.

The Negro.
NJ ara sure we do not in any sense
"" the fact when we say that nine
eAa .s If the people of Virginia have
'en.nS valve months been entirely disap-
WIN .as IN the disposition and conduct Of
pom. 40. He had behaved during the
'no ,r;,h remarkable conservatism and
ssautv It was wonderful how orderly he
10 and how constant to his position and
,,.;e, he continued to be in the midst Of
49,. excitement Of war and the confusion
..a disorder it carried, first and last, to
-, nsrts of the Confederacy. With this
s~smple before us, and with the know
,edoe we all had of the kind relationships
visiting between the negro and the white
man-the sympathies and even affections
that we're engendered by their inter-
course, illustrated in tho numerous
cases Of master and slave alike imperilllng
their lives for each othor--it was inferred
hy the great majority of whites that these
Kindly relations would continue; that the
negroes would not band together against
sonthern men, but that, like other people,
.hsv would have their preferences; that
thew would divide upon these; and that,
least of all, would they unanimously ro-
;ect their old masters-who were their best
friends. and whom they knew to be men
Of integrity and capacity-and supporter
Office men newly come into the State, OF
whom they knew nothing.
With this impression, many acquiesced
in reconstruction and were very hopeful
that it would be productive of no great
disturbance of the relations between the
races.
But when the election took place we
were all undeceived. The negroes voted
as one man for the strangers or for them
selves. They severed every tie of respect,
friendship, and gratitude, and banded
themselves in solid array against the
whites. Naturally, such an attitude en-
gendered passions which were industri-
ously fomented by the selfish Radical in
terlopers who expected to profit thereby.
So great was the spirit of intolerance and
malignity towards the white people ex-
cited in the breast Of the negro that he
became the advocate of all sorts of pains
and penalties as the punishment Of rebel
lion-a thing, indeed, Of which they knew
nothing. Had Congress of Virginia ne
groes been chosen to decide our fates, we
would have suffered disfranchisement and
the confscation of all our property.
1t is true that this state of the negro
mind and this conduct of his was wrought
out by the Yankee agitators and the negro
clubs. But the readiness with which the
whole population yielded to these appli-
ances, and the extent to which its inhu-
ences were carried, -penetrating the whole
system of industry and affecting seriously
the operations of farming and manufacture
ing-were, as an example, alarming. 1t is
one which has seriously disturbed the trust
once reposed in the negro, and perforce
compels US to reflect seriously upon the
future, and to make calculations involving
agreat deal less reliance upon him than at
any previous time.
This condition of matters, social and
political, is sad for us all, but more espe'
cialy so for the negro. His only reliance
was his former master and friend. From
him were to be expected employment ano
support-a homeland protection. HeWa
the safe guardian of the public welfare
who alone could preserve order, conduc
industry, and insure thrift and prosperity
without which labor must 60 unrewaroeo
and without which there cannot be com
fort and happiness for the laborer' oiaci
or white.
Whether there is possibility OF chang
in the disposition of the negro-of MS CIV
ing up his prejudices and intolerance 70
wards the only men who can, lnoeeo
restore industry and the public welfare
whether he can perceive the folly an
danger of electing ignorant blacks an
unworthy and ignorant white strangers t.
take charge of the important affairs of thi
state and for his own sake, as we'll as tn
welfare of the State, change his policy an
cast his vote for wise and upright nativ
virginians, remain to be seen. If he ca
do this, it will be we'll for him. If h
can't, the people of Virginia must neces
sarily accept the war Of races the negroe
have initiated, and will by every mean
in their power endeavor to overcome tn
negroes and their degraded and dishones
white allies. The victory is not doubtful
Virginians will triumph; and what ca
the poor, deluded blacks expect then
They are now conspiring against US all
and the very safety as well as progress o
the State depend upon their defeat. Thu
alienation established by the struggle ma.
carry its evils for years, but those evil
will be chiefly theirs, not ours.
GENERAL MEADE's PARTIALITY.-North
ern papers are endeavoring to apologize
for General MEADE by saying that while
his proclamation is aimed especially at the