Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-06-29

X. A. GRAY. +
Harrisonburg, June 11th, 1869.
/ P. S.-Many respectable coored people hav-
ing applied to me since the appearance Of the
above card to know whether had reference In
it to any coored man who thought of voting
the Walker ticket | answer, unhesitatingly,
no. only spoke Of the Wells negro, and am
therefore induced to make some slight correc-
tions In my card to be understood as [ desire
to be, and to make very few remarks to oul
colored friends. which / will take pleasure in
doing more at length on the stump. No peo-
pie in the world ever behaved better than the
colored people during the war. | believe they
are willing to dorlght now, if the situation is
explained, and they can understand what is
right and best. | look upon the colored man,
who has made up his mind to vote for the
Walker ticket, as a well meaning colored eiti-
zen, entitled to our respect and the votes OF
all such, of course, / would desire to have.
| say to the colored man, as have said all
the time, publicly and privately, that their true
interest is identified with the Walker ticket
They have always looked upon me as one who
would not willingly deceive them tell them
now that they lose no right by going for Walk
| er that Wells or even Grant could give; and
they gain by voting for Walker what neither
Wells or Grant could giye-the good will Of
| the white people among whom they were born
and raised. But if ruled by Wells and the
| leagues they vote en- 1aasse against the White
people of the State. viii the white race
(when their time comes; as it probably will
| Gomez generously forget and forgive such ac-
| ton? That is an important question for the
colored man to consider. Won't some friendly
white man talk with him about it? Colored
man, if you can vote for the Walker ticket you
can vote for Gray; if you can vote for Gray
you can vote the Walker ticket. Both will, I
hope, do you justice. 1t has become Wells
interest to array the black against the white
race. believe that single interest (even if
| that were all) endapgers the peace Of the Com
monweath, and the safety Of her citizens
hence [ encourage you in all honesty to give
the vote recommend, for your own and the
public good. r. A. GRAY.
Harrisonburg, Va, June 14th, 1869.
For the Staunton Spectator.
Mr. EDITOR The election for final Presi-
dent Of the Washington Society Of the Univer-
sity Of Virginia, was held short time since. =
The candidates for the high position were Mr..
S. Trayers Phillips, of Staunton, Va, and Mr..
George Perkins, Of Cumberland CO., Va. The
canvass was very exciting one, and lasted for
several weeks When the night for the cleo
ton came, the Society met at the usual hour,
and when the President announced that the
house was open to nomination for final Presi-
dent, an old member of the Washington So
ciety arose and offered the following nomina-
ton, which was received with much applause,
indicating that his sentiments were endorsed by
large majority Of his fellow-students.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen-Had | sew
cred the chain Of friendship which binds me to
Travers Phillips and left each link lying at
yonder door as | entered, the high sense of his
merit alone which abides in my heart, would
prompt nomination in his behalf for this Of
fee to spring spontaneously from my lips. Not
long after the surrender at the head-watcrs of
the Appomattox, small band of us gathered
here beneath the wings of our Alma Mater to
resume once again our pursuits in the fields of
Science and Of Art. We found the Washing
ton Society unorganiZed-h her doors closed-her
furniture scattered-her tapestry demolished
her walls silent, and her constitution lost The
gentleman who now presents himself candl-
date for your suffrages, was one of the first
| who enlisted his efforts il behalf of her re-
demption. He seized her dropping banner
bade her rise from her lethargic state-revised
her constitution, and by his unceasing energy
stimulated not even by the hope of reward, he
has assisted in resurrecting her from her Sleep
ing ashes: and in bringing her to the prosper
Gus and glorious condition In which we be-
hold her to night. AS member, during bis
| long career with US, his course has been noble,
highminded and independently passport,
talent and virtue, and by his gentle manner
and amable demeanor he has convinced his
fellow students that his heart vibrates to the
| tenderest tones OF humanity. | hope, fellow
members, from the profoundest depths of my
heart that this nomination Of mine will be rat
| flied by number sufficient to declare MIR. Phil
| lips champion Of the contest. First, for the
| a 1lv-
| because [ believe in the discharge Of his Off
cial duties, he will not only win for himself a
crown Of credit, but will confer honor upon the
noble society that he represents, and lastly, be-
cause in coming years when the bird Of mem
ory shall fit across my fancy-each feather OF
her fairy proportion suggesting as it will some
| halcyon event Of my youth-if he is trIum-
phant tonight, the loveliest plume that droops
from the wing that supports her, will remind
me of the pleasing assurance that the last act
that performed on the floor Of the Washing
ton Society, met with the approving smiles OF
majority of that organization whose honor ]
have endeavored to keep untarnished-whose
reputation | have striven to advance for the
last last four years of my life, and whose name /
shall ever cherish with a sweet affection.
| Mr.. Perkins was nominated Immediately af-
terwards, and the vote was then put to the
house. Mr.. Phillips was elected by a hand
some majority. Being called for unanimously
he arose and expressed his appreciation for the
| high honor in the most eloquent and graceful
manner. We congratulate the Society on THEN
selection and feel confident that the gentleman
will acquit himself with great credit at the ap-
preaching final celebration which will be held
on the 2Sth of June. n. q. W.
The above was designed to be published ir
our issue of last week, but was unavoidably
postponed to this week.-ED.
You had better close your store, Or lay dowr
your jack plane, or drop your hoe for "a few days
if need be, than stumble in this fight You
shop, your farm, your store, eve,ything depend
on the result. The preachers tell you, and toe
often vainly tell you, that you ought to taxi
time to get religion. And we tell you, yot
must take time to get votes in this election. =
| We want all the votes we can get For sup
| pose we already have enough to strike out the
test-oath; then we want enough to elect Walk
err and suppose VIC have enough to elect Walk
er then we want to secure the Legislature
and how can we carry the Legislature unles:
we get the counties, and it is very close, because
they have gerrymandered the State, and every
county will tell and we want every delegate we
can get.
| Work, friends, work, the night cometh wher
no man can work We have gone into this
| thing, and let us make clean job of it. Twenty
thousand new white voters on the revised reg
istration, is the word. Bring up your men,
| Rich. Enquirer.
SINGULAR ADMISSION FOR A RADICAL.-On
of the most violent radicals declared, the other
day, that if Presidential election were to oc
cur to-day the bitterest Copperhead would be
elected over any man the republicans NIGH
nominate. He was not disappointed office
/ Lo.x tat IL