Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1868-04-30

ii very different In its charac er from that con-
Is npated by the acts of Congress. These did
!. = profess more than the purpose to provide
I"' the protection ofthe negro but the con
s'itntion framed leaves it necessary to provide
s,'r the protection Of the white man.
/ has been suggested that the political par
y IN possession ofthe Federal Government,
Gseparatory to the Presidential election, are
81 xous to have the Southern States in the
"a on; but were it admissible to entertain the
hypothesis that party considerations would
Enf.itence Congress in this matter Virginia
Ii 5ht we'll be an exception ~ he Southern
sates in general, as her vote would probably
81 cast against the party in question at the
Presidential election, and, indeed. must be, if
ne whites will only take care TO register, as
- can command a white majority of thirty.
five thousand.
It is our duty, them to act together; to avoid
divisions; to disregard all cavilling objeos
TONS; and to vote down the proposed Consti-
ion. To say of such a. Constitution that it
would be insupportable is language too feeble
% say Gift could be maintained venty years.
i'at itwould leadto absolute social death is too
na,vious to need establishment 1t is an in
mutation, eataclysm, whose black pillows
would submerge. even in that short time, every
IN nument of civilization. and leave the white
Of ACCOMMODATE Of the ablest of his party.
consistent Union man during the war, elected
TO the convention Radical. and acting with
IS party for three months Of the session of the
body was compelled at the last moment, to
declare that tie constitution established negro
supremacy, and that, although in favor Of ne
gro suffrage he had no alternative left but TO
vole against it at the polls. 1t is strange
spectacle that large portion the American
people. however embt tered by the antagonism
If civil war. should be willing to see members
Of the same family pass, even temporarily, I'M
Ger such oke. 1t is one of the noticeable
incidents of the age that, in what claims to be
the most enlightened country in Chrstendom,
fir anzy like the crusade for negro suffrage
20 resembling the delilium of The French revo,
'ition-shonld take possession Of the public
mind. To us not the South, the North contem-
plate the application now being made Of this
Sy'i em OF the South is matter of astonishment
That the negroes of the South can establish
Themselves in any permanent supremacy over
the whites, we do not. however. accept for
= onent fit shall be the pleasure of Congress,
- 1t has the power to do. to put upon us a
constitution which they have invited US freely
10 pass upon a constitution giving the negro
tnnfod the power they have in Jamaiea--we
~iall interpret it as the decree of God for a
sharp and decisive settlement of the controver-
sy between the white and black races on this
continent. tt will fearfnlly enibarrass, but it
will not destroy, the white race Of the South.
The white race Of the South cannot be destroy
ell When the negroes are put over us, then,
NJ least. VIC shall put forth our strength. We
,hll offer such Inducements to white immgra-
: n that these sparsely settled States must
rapidly fill up. The negro will be overwhelme
with numbers, and it will be too late to make
Tav terms. 1t is perfectly evident that Provi-
nee designed the territory of the z. States
as theatre of great white empire, whose
power and whose civilization shall exert a
controlling influence on the history of the flu
tnra. That the three or four millions of blacks
II re can interpose barrier to the realization
Of this destiny is plainly ehimerica. The only
question is. shall the changes which impend in
III" South be gradual or violent? With peace
ho'Teen the races, the whites of the South
m hit be saved from much that awaits them
rnder the radical programme; and the blacks,
while RENTED to their proper position in soci7
city. would be saved from the rapid extinction
~ race. The settled and determinate antag>
s=niam of the races (which will be inaugurated
at cnce by such q constitution as this prec;pi>
-tAtes Immediately the beginning Of the end.--
iirginia, racked to the utmost capacity Of
ecr<aTanco, will be the first to throw to the sur
f.scethe disease which has so long preyed upon
her vitals, and though for some years the pits
able victim of disgusting eruption, will ulti-
4nately be restored to health, to vigor and
s;ntainted blood.
IN protesting against the establishment of
n gro supremacy We plead for both races; for
the whites, that they may be spared. depressed
az they now are, the utter prostration of fur
Ter violent changes in their social system
l -, IL,
ley shall be allowed a fair opportunity to
ave, or at least 10 delay, the doom Of their
ece
In conclusion. making no hypocritical pro-
Foefions, we affirm in sincerity and in truth
;nat the people eff his State desire 10 be restor-
c'lto the Union. and cherish no purpose Of
'2;sloyalty to the Government; that they long
] n The re establishment of kindly relations
between ali the sections of the country:
al that they entertain other feelings or
'rposes than those of kindness and beneyo
nee towards the negroes
The negroes behaved well during the war:
rad we can trace all the disorder and criminal
misconduct into which they have fallen since
I" The pernici0us teachings of those white ad-
T'aturers who are using this ignorant and Gre
t'':ous race for their own selfish and rapacious
irPoses. Ifleft alone to deal with he negro.
N whites OF Virginia would honestly endeavor
+" afford the amplest protection to ms person
and property, and to make every provision for
his intellectual and moral culture But when
il IS proposed-for The palpably base purpose
aggrandizing party-to deliver over the
3f''perty, the social order, the liberties OF the
WHITES, TO the vindictive and licentious rule of
the negro, every instinct of duty, every sent-
iaent that can animate a man to eXertion, calls
upon the white people # Virginia to repudiate
and resist such unparalleled oppression.
Every Northern State which has voted on
tie subject since the close of The war has re-
j cied negro suffrage Ohio, on II direct issue
10 later than last fall, did SO by majority
exceeding fifty thousand. Kansas, Minnesota
bad Connecticut had previously done the same
ing. The late Constitutional Convention Of
Wv York deliberately recoiled Fl ON deciding
he question. And Michigan. hitherto SO ov-
rwhelmingly K, publican, has just voted down
II new constitution by a majority Of thirty
thousand because it admitted the negro to the
,folls. The census shows that there were only
seme $4,000 negroes in Ohio in 1860. There
could have been about 1000 negro voters in
skas State had they been enfranchsed. (this is
community where the white vote is nearly
,alO, 000. an appreciate influence In Mich
fsaH there are only about 500 male negroes q
IF araTs1 Tho white UotarS numbop mara