Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-03-01
Speech of Ex-Governor fletcher to the
Freedmen OF ROckbridge, Va.

LEXINGTON, Feb. 22]. lS69.-After few
pleasant remarks the Governor said that ne
had come to make them plain talk, such as
thew could understand. The different profess
sions of this town, and of the whole State, are
dependent upon each other The lawyer can
Get along without the mechanic, the mechanic
without the merchant, or either without the
farmer and vice versa 1t would be the height
of folly for these classes to fall out and oppose
each other. Or if the members OF the same
family, instead of working together Tor the
common veal, should quarrel among them,
selves, what bad consequences would result
Just so with the whites and blacks. we are
here in the same State; we expect to live to-
cether and We must consult eacn other s inter-
ests, or disaster to both will ensue:
The Governor bore willing testimony to the
general good conduct of the blacks during the
war When, as Executive OF the State, be
summoned them to work on Notifications, they
did their duty WELL and while our men were in
the army-contrary to the expectations and
wishes of our enemies-our colored people re-
NAMED quiet and faithful. Honor to whom
honor is due" He alluded especially to Pat
rick, who used to belong to him. He had
served him faithfully and honestly, and Patrick
knew that his old master would divide his last
crust with him. Now, shall this good feeling
continue? By all means let it beso. We need
laborers, and you need employers VIII you
trust us as your friends, or will you believe the
SANDERS circulated to our prejudice by designing
men TO illustrate who were their real trends
the Governor cited the great emancipation case
of Charlton VS. Eunice," which was tried IN
Rockbridge in lS47. After the passage OF the
Connecticut emancipation act Northern man
ran some negroes from that State to Rockbrldge
Il a. tbo-n [afc
Rockbridgc lawyers took up their case without
fee or reward, and a Rockbrdge jury found a
verdict giving them their freedom. lie was
also counsel in similar case In Rockingham,
and with like result Our people have shown
themselves the true friends of the negro. We
are unwilling to have the races mixed, but We
are ready to promote by all means IN our power
the real interests of the colored man. Lett be
understood that the whites and blacks who live
here have Identical interests Be kind to US
and we will be kind to you. Help us and we
will help you. The Radicals have no interest
in the negro further than they can use him to
get into office The Governor gave the carpet
baggers and scalawags SHINING, which the
negroes seemed to enjoy very much, and held
up to the light their keeping all the Offices that
will pay, for themselves.
lie spoke as disinteresed ''looker-on. =
He could not vote and could not hold office
And he deemed himself fortunate that he could
not If it would force him to that den OF iniquity
in Washington. one of whose leaders could
truthfully conjugate, 81 steal, you steal, we all
steal.
He had been raised among these coored
people he had. when a boy, played marbles
with some Of them, Here John Calais
(colored) interrupted to say, ut is reported
round here Governor that you and used to
play marbles together on Sunday-but that
ain t 50, is it ?''I and he knew that they would
believe him when he assured them that he had
their true interests at heart Let US, then,
work together in harmony and peace, and we
can yet make our old State prosperous, and
leave our children rich legacy.
The above is very imperfect sketch Of this
earnest, and telling speech, which was fire.
quently interrupted by applause and many ex-
pressons of appreciation peculiar to the race
At the conclusion OF the exercises Rev. Barnett
(colored) returned thanks to the speakers for
their counsels, and urged his brethren to heed
and put them into Immediate practice. -Rtch
n