Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-12-15
State Constitution, So-called.

In reference to the monstrous instrument,
miss called the Constitution, adopted by the
mongrel Convention, the Petersburg Index
says:
Life, under its ruthless oppression, for the
white man who remained true to his manhood,
to his associations, to his instincts and culture,
to his intelligence and experience would be so
barren of all that the Spirit of Freedom Graves.
so prolific of all which that spirit cannot look
upon and live, that there is no fate in the range
of probability which seems not preferable to
such.
From beginning to end it is one perfect anti
dote to Peace in the communities for whose op-
preston it was designed. Its whole structure
is discriminative in favor of the one. and a.
gainst the other class and the most studied
effort to consummate plan without flaw, by
which it should beimpossible to prevent conflict,
which inhabit Virginia, would fall short of its de-
sign and fail of its object, unless 'twere written
in the very spirit, and contained the exact
features, which mark this despicable instrument
Of Tyranny. Under its operations there could
be but one of two results: Either the white
man or the black must go to the wall-and if
the former first, then both.
Industry will not be chained by sloth, intel
ligence will not be directed by blindness, pro.
perty will not submit to pauperism, liberty will
not be ruled by despotlsm wearing the mask
of license, the dwellerS In land will not be
,jostled out by vagrant usurpers-wlthout dire
and bitter struggle, in which these natural In
fuences shall be worn threadbare ere submission
be made There can be no government of
people, born and taught in the fullness of In
dividual and national republicanism, which un-
equaizes the rights of its citizens. and labors to
the suppression of natural superiority, and the
creation of artificial domination, but that gov
eminent shall be brought forth by force and
fraud, Graded in convulsion, reared in insecure
ty live to the detriment of all that is noble and
right in the ends to which Governments are
designed Of God, and die by the excess of its
own destructive power.
And such is the accursed image which is
sought to be reared in our midst by these pro
phets of Baal Under its yoke, all that is best
and highest In our people would be banlshed
| from power, all that is meanest and lowest be
summoned to authority. Specializing sojourners
would sacrifice every permanent and material
interest of the people they have come to despol,
housing their i'll gotton hay while the sun still
| shone on successful rascality, while the owners
and the thinkers and the workers OF Virginia,
should see their portion parcelled out without
| the lawful authority to give voice In the mat
| ter.
This is not defamation The thing speaks
| for itself Once in force with its gerrymander-
ing of districts, and its test oaths and the white
people of Virginia will be as hopeless upon
their own soil as though they had never held a
name, glory, a freedom or a self-domlnion.
MORE OUTRAGEs AND LAwLEssNEss IN
ADMINISTRATIONS OF THE COLORED MILL
TIA-Menphis, December 9.-The AUatanche S
Little Rock special to-day reports that serious
outrages were perpetrated near Lewlsburg on
Saturday.
On the night of the Sd disguised party went
to the house of Alvin and Wash Lewis (colored, J
living near that town, with two white pro'ti-
tutes, who had been repeatedly warned to leave
the county on account of their character The
party broke into the house, killed Wash, and
ran Alvin off, Saturday Captain Matthew S
company of colored militia went to the neigh
borhood, and meeting Joe Jackson and Robert
Perry In cotton wagon, arrested them. -Four
negroes took Perry into the cane, stood him a.
gainst tree, and shot his ear off.
Perry then broke from them and escaped
They then shot Jackson, MORALLY wounding
him, and left him. He was found, and told
who did it before expiring They then went to
the house of Thomas Hooper, aged sixty, took
him off, and shot him down in the road, after
wards saying he tried to escape.
| The sheriff, who is a Republican, says Hooper
was murdered. He told the citizens to organize
and place themselves under him, and he would
arrest Matthew's band. 1t was thought it
would involve conflict with the militia and
negroes. He also sent petition to Governor
Clayton to disband the militia. The greatest
excitement prevails. Arrests are numerous.