Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-06-15
Letter from VIM. Old, Jr.

i we extract the following from a, letter VIII
ten by VIM. Old, jr., and published in the E.,
q'arer oad Eraminer of the 7th inst: r.,
On the vote to be given between the car
s t.ddates for Governor, my opinion, (whethe
correct or not( is distinct and decided Th
greater our objections to the constitution th
more reasonable and serious our apprehension
of its operation; the more compulsory the oh
legation on US to place its Interpretation, AM
the administration of the government forme,
] by it, in the hands of honest and just men, in
terested and pledged to preserve peace and t
give impartial protection to the whole people
hesitation, and with an earnest wish for its sue
cess, for the Walker ticket. ]" tze
81 ut is objected that both Walker and Well
are Northern men, and both Republicans :
| The first Is in my view. no objection, and maj
| at this time he q recommendation. at ieas
prefer an honest Northern man to any ndtir
| Vnginiaa who can take the IRON clad oath anc
no other native Virgnian can get or hold ihi
| office It is best to judge these men by othel
rests than the places of their birth or the den
tty offtheir party names Let us Judge them by
| their personal and political characters; by then
interests and their avowed purposes by the per-
sonal history ofthe candidates of whom most OF
US in Virginia know very little. Mr.. Walker
bears fair character. he came amongst us no,
as an official or political emssary, but as cit
izen seeking a home and an-opportunity to In
vest what capital he possessed. He identi6,
himself with the material interests of Virgins
Politically, [ know nothing Of him, ,sexcept that
he is represented to have leen consistently OPP
posed to the unjust and dangerous features of
the proposed constitution, and that he has de-
c'ared his purpose to secure community OF
potica rights to both races, and equal protec-
ton to the rights and interests of all the peo-
pie of Virginia aud that he is supported by
men committed to the same course
Of Wells we only know that he has been
charged by men with whom he has been polit-
ically associated, and with whom he seems to
have been personally intimate, with grave Of
fences, and at least one Infamous crime, and
that he did not disprove the charge on his trial,
and has not removed the suspicion created by
the charges. Politically. we know that he
came to this State as a political official; has
conducted himself as Governor as an embit-
tered partisan was an original aud persistent
advocate of all the iniouities Of the Underwood
constitution If his testimony before the re-
construction committee be correctly reported.
he denounced and avowed his deep and abiding
distrust Of the white people Of Virginia. He
is supported by all the worst enemies of this
people,. His friends, witt his knowledge, and
doubtless with his approval, are organizing and
discipinng the negroes in distinct partisan
organization in which there are few whites, and
using a secret league to control them in public
affairs. From the Hastings, his supporters are
embitterlng the negroes against the whites, and
the poor against property holders By their
constitution, by their canvass, and by their par
ty organization, he and his friends are arraying
races and classes in deadly hostility, destroying
peaceful relations creating and striving to per-
petuate an intestine strife, for which time will
furnish no lenitive and no physician a cure
Human ingenuity can hardly devise amore ter
rible war on property. Curses more withering
and enduring than would be inflicted on the
whole people by the election (under any consti-
tution) Of Wells and Legislature imbued with
his spirit and committed to his purposes
Former owners subjected to the domination of
their late slaves majority of whites to mi
norlty OF blacks, property at the mercy of a
mass of paupers, the machinery of law and
government. private and public force putin the
hands of men educated only to know they have
power, and to hate those over whom they are
put in authority, all directed by man who de-
tests the race he has deserted, and the classes
on whom he has warred and will have subjected.
The people will not trust, incur the hazard
of calamisies so terrible. am sure they will,
if they refuse to support Walker in this con-
test. Your friend, 5r
VIM OLD, JR.