Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-03-26
FRIDAY MORNING MARCH 26, 1869.

ofMessrs Walker, Lewis and Taylor. Nov
this is extremely absurd to say the least o
it. What care the people of Virginia con
corning the responsibility of this ticket I
is principles not mere men we want. Thi
is then the merest effort to sugar coat yer,
bitter pill, and we can tell the advocates o
the Walker ticket that it Will not be swallow
ed by the majority Of the anti-Republican
of the State, though it be intensely sugar
coated, and that those who do swallow i
will find it to be most nauseating emetic
The committee then herald their platform
We give it for the amusement of our read
ers.
ssPeace and good will among men,
The prosperity and happiness Of all the
people.
Unity of purpose and combination o.
strength to build up our State and develop
her inexhaustible resources
Consolidation and concentration.
The removal of political disabilities.
The striking from the Constitution the
test oath and the county organization.
The unity of the States and the glory OF
the Union.
The equality of all men before the law,
and the equal protection of all, OF whatever
color or previous condition in life.
True allegiance and loyalty to the Gov
eminent.
And such platform. Made up, in the
main, as it is, of vague generalities, how
could it excite anything but laughter. 1t
must be trick Of their Republican Chair
man to carry the Petersburg ticket and plat
form. The first four planks really mean
nothing. The fifth and sixth trench on sub
jects which are of interest to our people, but
pray what can the Walkerites do on the sub
ject. It is true they may aid the Conserva-
tives in defeating the disqualifying clauses
in the Underwood constitution, but how do
they propose to effect the county organiza-
ton clause. The only thing proposed in
Congress in reference to getting rid Of the
onerous features of the Underwood Consti-
tuition was concerning the disability and test
oath clauses. The constitution as whole
to be voted upon and the disqualltylng
clauses to be voted upon separately. 1t a
majority vote ''against disqualification" then
that onerous feature of the Constitution fails
to become part of it, but this does not eff
feet the county organization clause nor any
of the other onerous features of that odious
document 1t is plain, therefore, that the
Walkerites, nor even the Wells party, have
any power in the world to rid the people OF
these onerous clauses save by voting down
the whole constitution.
The seventh plank is rich. Messrs. Grant
Colfax, Blaine & Co. come down from yon
high pedestals, the Walkerites are going te
take care Of "the uaity Of the States and tn
oloru of the Union." Ha! ha !" unity Of thu
States and glory Of the Union"
The eighth plank goes back on the ole
.snew movement and the negro. The for
mer said grant the negro suffrage and eligi
bility to Office "to boot" Congress say
the negro shall have suffrage and office, bu
the Walkerites say they shall have only
equality before the law and equal protec
ton" But then you know the Walkerite'
are all powerful, for have they not taken IL
charge ''the unity Of the States and the glory
of the Union"
The ninth plank beats all. Allegiance
and loyalty to the Government" In thu
good old days of the Republic this idea wa
secuted. The allegiance of the fathers wa
acknowledged due only to the Constitution
That and that only they swore to support ane
defend. With the Walkerites, however
loyalty to the Government is the thing
This is the platform of the party which
solicits the votes Of tho Conservatives O.
Virginia. Let US examine into the probable
results of the Walker movement. From the
eighth plank mentioned it is plain that ii
can obtain but few recruits from the Wells
party. The negroes will all stand by tina
party, since it does not cut them off from
suffrage and office, but gives them the second
place on the ticket. The ninety-two thous-
and negro voters will be fine nucleus around
which to rally and comparatively few whites.
now allied with them, can afford to leave so
strong party. This seems to be in the
minds eye of the Walkerites. or part and
parcel of the plan of DR.. Gilmer, and hence
their high sounding but meaningless plati-
tudes to catch conservative voters. Whether
this is the intention or not, the result is the
same. The Walkerites can only draw
strength from the conservatives. Some
conservatives will be caught. others will 60
with the hope Of 'loaves and fishes" What
then will be the consequence The Withers
party will be the only one weakened and will
fail to defeat the Constitution which they
could do but for the weakening Of their
ranks by the Walkerites. The Wellsites
and Walkerites will carry the Constitution
The Withers party and Walker party will
vote to strike out the disqualifying clauses
and the Wells party will elect their ticket
The Underwood Constitution, freed only O.
one Objectionable clause, with all its other
onerous and odious clauses untouched, will
be the Constitution Of Virginia. Wells il
known to be an ardent aspirant for the U
S. senatorship. The negro Legislature viii
elect him, and Harris. negro, become thu
Governor of Virginia. Picture to yourselves
the Underwood Constitution. freed only O.