Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-06-04
ALEXANDRIA,
THURSDAY EVENING" JUNE 4.

1HE PUBLIC nave IreQuGuGiy Seeu deuuucla-
tons heaped upon those Conservatives, who,
sometimes, express almost a determination not
to keep longer in their employment, and assist
to support and encourage those colored people
who, living upon them, and by them, unite in
every act of oppression and tyranny exercised
against their employers and, by their action
and cooperation, show that they would, if they
could, not only PROSTATE the rights, outrage
the feelings, and entirely disfranchise, but even
destroy the business, and capital, and enter
prise, and industry, and means, of the white
people OF this State. We are free to speak on
this subject, because we have always been ,op-
posed to the principle Of an employer attempt
ing to control the vote, or even to exercise any
personal influence upon the political action OF
those whom he may employ as workmen or
laborerS; much less Furnishing them for the
exercise Of their right of choice. But let us
look at this matter. .ts.lo
Lately, in Richmond, the military authorities,
Or their agents or subordinates, turned out OF
of6ce--deprived of their situations-discharged
from the performance of work, by which they
earned their daily bread and the food and
clothing of their families, several worthy, de-
serving, active and efficient white municipal
officers To one of these officers thus discharged,
land we believe the same has been done in
other cases., Mr.. Cahoon, the new Mayor Of
the city, appointed by the military, gave the
following certificate
s>l am satisfied that Clinton Deprlest was q
good and faithful officer, and he was not dis
charged from the force by reason of any neglect
or dereliction of duty on his part, his removal
being made purely on political grounds" 1a
Now what is this, but Furnishing men for
opinion sake, and refusing to employ them
because they will not vote as the Radicals want
them to vote Recollect that this is not the
case of legislative body, or municipal body,
voting for men of their own political opinions
to fill Offices; or OF the people voting for the
election of officers, and preferring men of their
own politics for the Offices in their gift. It is
the case OF the prescription by military officer
of individuals for not thinking and voting in a
particular way In what does this differ 10
principle from the case of the discharge by a
CltlZSu vi d WUl hMdu VI CLupioycC, All "EeihS
and voting with the Radical party? Nay, it is
ten times as bad The citizen honestly be-
lieves that he is assisting to support man, who
is constantly and steadily engaged in efforts to
Cypress him and destroy his business aud pros
perity, and he declines to employ him any
longer. The military authority, or the party
edict," has no such excuse. The 'punlsh-
ment" isiuhicted-the turning out" Effected
contrary to the wish and against the desire OF
the people. A man, who is a Conservative, is
supporting the Constitution, and ehdeavoring to
accomplish restoration OF the Union-and yet
he is punished purely on political grounds. "
Has not Conservative citizen as much right to
employ whom he pleases, as Radical military
officer, or Radical faction? Let us hear,
therefore. no more of the 'denunciatlons" to
which we have referred at the commencement
of this article, as long as the Radicals practice
what they profess to condemn. When they
show by their action that they arc are opposed
to this kind Of thing, it Wilt be time enough
for them to speak. Until then they. should
hold their peace on the subject. It is not for
them to throw the first stone