The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-01-08

Virginia Conservative Convention.
SPEECH OF HON. R. NJ. T. HUNTER. {
After tie adjournment Of the Virginia
Conservative Convention 10 Richmond, on
Thursday last, loud calls were made forthe
Hon. r. M. =. Hunter. He came for
ward and said
He could desire the merit of impartialty
for the counsels which he was about to
give his countymen, as he had no interest
in the proceedings Of this or any other. po-
litical body, except those which every citi-
zen has inE the good gov ernnent iof the
country to which be belongs. He had q
sentiment, however, which was stronger
than any interest could be, and that was
Tor the promotion of the welfare add pre-.
sefyatioD. Of the honor Of bis native State,
which was dearer to him now in her mis-
fortunes than n the pa!my days Of her
prosperity He had no political aspira-
lions, and ifhe had, there was no possible
|public career before him. He said this not
by wav Of regret or complaint, for whilst
he heldthat no man had Alright to throw
away any opportunities of usefulness which
had been bestowed upon him., yet if they
were taken from him he might rightfully
turn aside to domestic pursuits, which
were far more congenial to his tastes than
the stormy career Of public life. He had,
however, a difficulty in offering counsels
now which he had never experienced be-
fore. He had been q member heretofore
Of former 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, were satisfactory to HIM.
self at least. Now, he was not to consider
the questions before us in that point of
view, but lie was to ascertain, il possible,
what would be allowed to us byltlose who
controlled US, and to choose amongst those
things what would be best for Virginia. 3
Even in this limited view Of the ques-
ton he was at a loss as to what was before
US. 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 acts as the
ultimate and final decree of the Congress
which must rule us, ut least for the next
two years, then he had only to choose be-
tween military government Of the control
ofthe colored race. Between these alter
natives he had no hesitation in saying that
he preferred the military control. Under
military government he was controlled by
men of bis own race; educated men, who
acted under The responsibilities Of their
commission, and 10 some degree under the
control ola President who we know to be
disposed to do US justice, and accord to us,
as farias he could, our Observation-Disclosures
live werelto be placed under the control
Of 1.-The black race, in the country between
the Potomac and the Rio Grande, it was
not difficult to divine the results We
had the experience of Hayti and Jamaica
| before us. There was no doubt bat that it
would result in the formation Of black
mans party, which would prosecute the
white man in all possible modes. In Hayti
they were suddenly emanclpated as'in this
country, and without adverting to the
scene Of atrocity which occurred when
they had control Of public affairs, tits ens
ough to say that the result waste destroy
all the elements of material prosperity and
moral progress. A black mans party was
formed, and the whites were opersecuted
until most of them were driven from thu
country, and he had, the authority ofani
intelligent observer, who has recently been
amongst them, that they not only exclude
all white,men from Office, but deny them
1 the privilege Of holding real estate, The
black men themselves only .workiby conn
pnlsion, and the culture of sugar, of which
4 they made 100000, 900 ofpounds 10 1889,
has disappeared; !, go Of, Gotten, and so,
would it have been Of coffee, If itwere not
that the trees planted long ego still con-
tinue to bear. In Jamaica we have the
same history as far O. was compatible With
| the control Of the. English Government ~
The same hostility toIthe white man, the
same decadence Iin agricultural production.
Could any one doubt but that We Should
see similar results in the Southern States
If the whole country between the Potomac
and the Bio Gnnde should be submitted
to the rule,of the colpred race2 The Rad.
ical party seemed to think that they would
thus secure the support of the whole
I Southern country SO long; 40 the black
man should rule. J They would find them.
selves mistaken in this after the first cleo
a ton. The blacks would form, not a Radi-
4 cal, but a black mans party; and we know
4 from. the history Of party warfare that all
d parties would bid for them. They would
act for the benefit OF themselves, and not
i for this Or that party Of the whites; and
4 can there be- conceived anything more de-
moralizing than. q party constituting, in
THE language Of one Of III, resolutions one,
| third Of; The Senate and q fourth Of the
1 House Of Representative, who would thus
hold the balance Of power between, the two
parties Of the white race, and act only for
/ their own good. AS freelanoers ID; the
! field, they, would determine all disputed
questions in reference soply to their own
interests. he said This ii 10 feeling 81
hostility to the colosed race, but in accOfd.
ance only with the history Of the past .
On the contrary he felt kindly towards the
colored race, but thought their welfare was
! to be promoted il 2 mode which was con.
ltrary, perhaps, to their own view. But
there were dangers ahead Of them il Their
! present course IF which they had not ad.
q verted, and which had been carefully Don,
1cealed from them Suppose they could
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