The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-02-04
From the Winchester Times = 4if
20 all Northern Men Residing in the Valley
of Virginia. -

of Virginia. M rf..,.
/ wish to hold little plain talk with you
aa no politician, in its literal sense, yet
hold views on political questions that are my
own-guided, I trust, bya sense of right and
justice toward all. I an Republican of the
old school, holding its principles to be those
that should covers our country. For my
governing principle endeayor, as far as pos
sible to fellow the maxim of our Saviour
"Do unto others as you would that others
should do unto you.''
TO begin WITH will give you my expert,
ence of four years and over, South of Ma
sons & Dixon's Line. My calling has
brought me in daily business relations with
people from almost every part Of the South
and mast say that more courteous, OPEN
hearted, out-spoken, honorable and genial
people it has not been my lot to fall among
in my Remembrance. True, they differ from
us in many ways. Their ideas of men and
matters differ from ours. But they were eds
ucatsd one way and We another; and by ap-
plying the Golden Rule, their opinions and
views are entitled to as much respect from us
certainly as much as ours are from them.
Now, to come to the point more closely F!
1t would seem By the doings In Congress that
soon Virginia will be called upon to vote for
Constitution, by which she is to be govern
ed in the future. Upon the principles en-
grated in this Constitution the better class Of
Virginians feel very sensitive, and think
justly. They are proud spirited, high min
ded people, and they feel that they should
have some litsls to say and do, with a Consti-
tuition under which they must live. But so
C. IL, L. l., Il !,
ton was made by white men who were mostly
mere adventures, and by black who were SIM
ply their tools. Now, you apply the golden
rule to that Would you, in your native
State, stand quietly by and see such thing
take place there? No, never! You would
bring your pride of education, your whole
energy of character, your State pride, and
lastly (but most dear to you) your liberty, to
bear down upon it to prevent it. just so
does the native Virgnian. Hessis doing SIM
ply what you would do were the matter re.
versed i3F9ses nee ica4a1 a3..-s.l1its .s@t-
You naturally ask, What would you have
us do ?" I answer, you have many of you
settled in the State with a view Of making it
your home It will be a much pleascnter
home for you in the future if you within this
present struggle simply stand aloof, and let
Yirginians; fight it out with the government, i.
or at least not set yourself up autagonistio to
whatthey Thinks just for them under the
circumstances in which they find themselves,a
They have warm and patriatcState pride,
and honor them for 1t. They simply want ?
q Constitution adopted under which they can
live aud feel that they are not degraded ; one
under which they can work, and still retain
sheir manhood, their State pride, and their
love of country. All this is absolutely neces-
sary for them ever to be a contented and pros
porous people, and enabls them Of their own
volition to bring up the old honored Common
wealth to her proper position in the sisterhood
Knowing what I have learned of Virgil
mans during four years past, know they un-
derstapd the status of the colored race better
ing to give the negro all that any reasonable
man would, in the Constitution to be adopted
for the government Of the State. a Ii ST.
Ny advice would be to all Northern men
Attend diligently to your calling, whatever
it may be. If you are superior to Virginians
in education, in mechanic arts, in your system
Of agriculture, in your energy aud perseyer-
ance, it will soon show itself, and in the end
you will do Infinitely more to reconstruct "Cld
Yirgiaia" than you would were you to enter
this contest antagonistic to what they thought
was right and proper for them: 80 1880 g
IF my disjointed ideas, hastily thrown to-
getker, have any influence in causing you to
ponder over these suggestions, and apply them
to the situation and circumstances of the hour,
and induce you to heed aud act upon them,
| shall feel fully repaid fori it would bs =
source of great satisfaction to me to see the
homestead of Washington, Jefferson, Madi-
son, Monroe, aad host Of other illuatrious
patriots and statesman, whose names are
household word the whole country through,
so reconstructed that her people could live and
flourish in is, and not feel that they have beep
degraded, either by the General Governr.a.S
or by those who have sought her bee "
fnd home D
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