The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-23

HALIFAX COUNTY, VA, Jan. 20, 1871
To the Editor of the State Journal:

HALIFAX COUNTY, VA, Jan. 20, 1871
To the Editor Of the State Journal
What egregious mistakes we sometimes
make about the character of our fellow
beings,--especially when those fellow be-
ings are public men, and belonging to dif-
ferent political organizations from our
own. Into how many and foolish errors
of opinion do the party journals OF the
day lead their credulous and unquestioning
readers. For instance, q man becomes
Republican, and, although he may be able
to point to lifelong devotion to her in
terests, the papers, at once, pronounce him
false to Virginia. and an unthinking or
cruelty prejudiced people shout "amen."
| have been led to these remarks by what
l have lately read in the Conservative
newspapers regarding the Hon. John r.
Lewis. Why, Iknoac the man, as | tell
my Conservative neighbors, and there is
not truer man on earth than John +.
Lewis. His brave championship of what
be believes to be the right, whatever its
present odium, and his tried and perftc
loyalty to Virginia, are acknowledged by
all who really know him. "But how can
he be true to Virginia, after having so be-
trayed herr" How has he betrayed her 2
Well, by becoming Republican y
Ha, ha You may yet learn that the old
State will be a thousand fold happier and
more prosperous under Republican
leadership, than she ever was under Demo-
cratic rule. "But he deceiued u.s." How ?
"By turning Republican after be was
elected" Not So He was a Republican
before you had Conservative party; you
voted for him as an svowed Republican on
your ticket for Lieutenant Governor; be
was elected to the Senate as Republican,
and If any body was deceioed-achich 1
doubt-you deceived him. This charge of
deception has often been made, but every
one knows that Walker aud Lewis ran as
Republicans-that there was no Conserva-
| tive party in the field, and that when
Walker became, as he has, Conservative,
John f. Lewis remained what he was, a
Republican. You voted for him thinking
that he would turn traitor to his own
party,--he did not, - and so, and only So
he deceived you.
"But, being Republican, he is neces-
sarily untrue to Virginia" All now
that slavery is abolished, negro suffrage q
fixed fact and dead party issue, and
secession a bitter thought that makes us
grind our teeth at Democracy whenever
we think of it, the Republican party hGs
nothing in 1t aatagonisttc to Virginia's
highest and best good. And tell you
my friend-my Conservative-Democr
friend--it wont do to call man false to bi.
State because he wont join the Democrat,
party John F. Lewis was raised an Ole
Line Whig-was taught to hate Demo.
cracy and there are many Old Line
Wings in this State, who, rememb beriug tbt
past and all its woes, would, like Lewis
join the Republican party in preference t.
Democracy. When man calls John r
Lewis false to Virginia, he forgets tina
that bravo Virginian, with an ancestry
which the vainest f. f. V. might well b.
proud of, and with record of fearless 10y
atty, can reply, like the old Scotch chief
tain, cypress my heel upon my natiue heath
My name is Nc Gregor I"
John f. Lewis is an honest, fearles
man. Il is true be has not the orstorica
powers of such men as Sumner and Trum
bull; but be has just as fine natural abli
ties as mapy who are ambitious to fill hi
place, and great deal more honesty t.
back it, Integrity and incorruptible 10y
atty are more needed now by the Southern
States than fine speeches and parliamentar,
tact. Congress will be more apt to re
spect the former than to listen to the lat
ter. Northern Senators may be won b,
the pursuasions of an undoubted honest
of purpose, but they will not surrender t
either equality or superiority in debate
Congress at present certainly, is not al
appropriate arena for the exhibition 10
Southern oratory. A FRIEND.