Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-05-28
The SituatiOn-The Safe Course.
The Winchester News saws i:

vote, and shall not pretend to advocate ,
constitution which gives them that right
We think the fifteenth amendment, hurried
through Congress by a revolutionary faction
for revolutionary purpose, is eath-blov
at the rights of the States which can only
die with our liberties and we are not going
to support any man for tho Legislature whl
will not pledge himself to vote against it,
ratification.
The Richmond Enquirer, of the 18th
! says:
The county and township organization
features, to which there has been considera
Die opposition, was decided should remain
and be submitted without elimination
If the latter part of this statement prove
correct and the decision be adhered to, moth.
ing will be left the white people of Virgins
but to rally together as one man, and vote
down the whole Of the proposed constitution
and they aoiU Ito It,
The Lynchburg Va,yinian, which Joined
the committee Of nine and approved the nc
ton of the convention Of Edmunds Il Co..
now says:
We see no alternative left now but to vote
down the whole concern, even at the risk Of
having Wells and his more than forty thieves
quartered upon us for some time longer.
And again:
And working men, renters of land, both
white and colored, may not deceive them
selves with the idea that landowners will
all have this tax-estimated to be about eight
times what it now costs to support the State
governmental pay. Not so; for the work
ingmen, renters Of property, will have to
contribute in the way of rent and in many
other ways to the support of the most costly
and ruinous system of government ever forced
upon any people.
The Fredericksburg Neus says:
Of course no decent man, white or black.
not an idiot OR a knave, will vote for the con-
stitution-that is, for confscation and State
reputation. No sane man can vote for an
annual tax of nine millions ofdollars near
ly So in the hundred dollars value of prop
erty, instead of thirty cents, as at present,
Such a tax would compel reputation Of our
State debt of $43, 000,0 900 What is to be
the compensation for paying such a tax,
even if we could pay it Simply the luxury
Of educating the black aud white children
together, in this State Who wants that?
And again:
The only safe course, without peril and
perplexity, and free from inconsistency, is
to vote against the constitution as now pro-
posed, as we'll as against each Of the separate
provisions. ~
The only hope of salvation to the State is
for every true conservative to rally around
the flag of uncompromsing opposition to the
constitution and VOTE IT DOWN, come
what may.
The Washington correspondent of the
New York World says:
If a dead fight is made against the consti-
tuition, however as is now apprehended, the
canvass will be very intense, and. under
anything like fair count, the State can be
relied upon to prefer the homer Of exclusion
to the degradation Of reconstruction,
The Norfolk Nryinian says:
No intelligent man, who will take the
trouble to examine the Underwood consti-
tuition, can differ with us in our judgment,
and it is difficult for us to comprehend how
any one can be found with tie hardihood to
advocate the adoption of an instrument
which promises all these horrors The
only mitigation was found in the promised
relief from the county organization, which,
we repeat, if enacted, will throw Eastern and
Southside Virginia into the hands of the
negroes, who, in the occupation Of multi
tude of Offices, will organize help in the
tairest portions of the State.
Under these circumstance, animated by a
steady determination which has never falt-
cred, and reinforced by the letter of Mr.
Harye, we call on our people to REGISTER
to a man and VorE Down THE CoNsr1ru-
TIoN! :
f. The Lexington Virginia Gazette says !:
It. is idle now to complain of the course
of our leaders. There is but one thing to do,
Organize, Register and VOTE AGAINST
THE CONSTITUTION, no matter who is
our choice for Governor Or for the Legisla-
ture. In regard to this matter it is madness
to be lukewarm. A man who stays at home
virtually votes for the Underwood abomina-
ton. 1t is especially our duty in the valley
to put forth our whole strength in this con
test.
And again:
Vote against the Underwood constitution.
Vote for Walker or not, as you please We
do not advocate his claims nor those of Wells.
Walkers associations are more respectable
than Wells's. He is more identified with
the interests of Virginia, and no doubt he
is morally much better man than Wells.
But they are running on the same platform.
Wells has declared himself opposed to the
test oath and the disfranchising clauses Of
the constitution Walker in his speech at
Lynchburg advocated the adoption of the
constitution with the clauses expunged II
there is any difference in their position we
are unable to see Il
But let us make united effort to defeat
the aspirations Of both Of them by voting
against the constitution.
The Fredericksburg Herald says:
Yes, our Judgment was unchanged when
we acquiesced in the action at Richmond
and opr judgment stands indicated to day
by the poverty bride Of Grant to the people
Of Virginia for the adoption of the Under
wood monstrocity saas'
A HEAVY TELEGRAPH Built is stated
that q bill contracted by Secretary Seward
in telegraphing over the cable to the Hon
Reverdy johnson has been presented te
Secretary Fish by the agent of the Atlantic
Telegraph Company for payment. It con-
sists of a single item and amounts to $40,-
900. MIR. Seward, it seems, was allowed