Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-04-26

Published Regularly on TOESDH1S, IHONcH'
DAYS and SATURDAYS ut Sic Dollars per
Letter from Elder Jos. L. PuringtOn.
To the editor Of the Oxford (INe. Den,ocrot.'
ALEXANDRIA, Va, April Sd; lSGl.-l have
in MY possession the Manassas Gazette of the
18th Of March, which paper, is published at
Manassas, Va, wherein | find letter copied
from your paper over the signature Of Jonas
Green. Manassas Va, Feb Is, ISL 1t is
not my purpose to attack the writer of the let
ter, or you for publishing it, but with my know-
edge of Southern people, and Of Southern so,
ciety, as well rs of Northern people, and OF
Northern society, feel bound to controvert
some of his Jonas Grecn's) statements, and
give plain, simple statement of facts, hoping
you will be so kind as to publish my letter, if
consistent with your ideas Of propriety | think
Justice demands its publication in your paper.
will first state that was born and raised in
Lincoln, now Sagadahoc Co., Maine. and resid-
ed in the Northern States until was thirty
wears DID, / went to Georgia in the Autumn OF
1856, where resided until | removed to this
city, one year since. | have travelled extern
sivey through the Southern States, rs we'll as
through the Northern States. | have been
member the Primitive Baptist Church thirty
years, and Il regular minister III that church
twenty-nine years | am pastor Of two churches
in Prince Wiliam county, Va, ono at Manas.
sas and the other one about ten miles south OF
that place. have the opportunity to know
something of Southern society, and Of the poo
pie in Prince William County. 1t is not right
to misrepresent the characters Of people tor the
qualification Of personal prejudlces, CT proposes
sions. Southern society, when compared with
Northern society is as good, and as respectable
as any in our common country. No more hon-
orable and high minded people can be found In
the world than there is in the Southern States,
and in Prince William county, Va. These ore
JuctS.
When high-minded and honorable men and
women from the North, come South, and con
duct themselves like gentlemen and ladies they
are we'll received, aud kindly treated; this is
true in every case But when any persons come
from the North, or any other parts Of the
world, and associate with low mean company,
which company is found every whore more or
less, they will not be admitted into respectable
society. This is true every where in the South
Would it be right to take the very drcgs of
society in the great Northern cities, villages,
and in the country, as q fair sample Of North
ern society? Certainly not. Would | not
egregiously misrepresent Northern people by
speaking of them all in disreputable manner?
Of course | should Let the truth be told and
believed Of Southern people, and on the point
OF morality, virtue, and honesty, they are equal
to any other people on the face OF the earth
These are facts
This stale charge of the sad results OF slavery
does not come with very good appearance,
when we consider that itcomes from those who
have labored long and hard to abolish all dis,
tinction of society and to bring about Il social
amalgamation.
Honorable and respectable society in the
South shrink with horror from such amalgama-
ton and at the attempt which is made, regret
to say, BY the government to force tho abroga-
ton of the natural distinctions of races to pro-
duce the same sad state of things which is now
existing in Mexico and other countries.
The colored people of the South, who have
not been corrupted by white amalgamationlsts
shrink from the idea of a mixture with white
people according to the teachings of many
white people who pretend to be terribly shock
ed with the reports OF Southern outrages "
consistency thou art jewel
1t does not appear very well for any man to
say, who knows better, or ought to know better,
that there are many families in Prince William
Co., Va that can neither read nor write, when
there are SO many in the Northern States in
like circumstances.
Such man ought to be ashamed of himself.
Some of the greatest statesmen our country
has produced were Virginians know Of no
whito family in Prince William county, and |
have the opportunity to know, but what have
about as good education as most families at the
North If the new Constitution and School
law in this State should be remedy tor the
lack of scholastic education here, it will be
more than what has been done in some Of the
Northern States.
In relation to the battle fields of Prince
William county, [ have not much to say.
supposing the Southern States were wrong
in setting up Il separate form of government
this does not Justify the reconstruction policy
Of the dominant party who by the mere accl-
dent of circumstances have arisen to power
The country formerly proSpered undor Dem
ocratic rule, and | know of no reason why i
should not prosper again under the same rule
At least our condition could not be worse thai
it is now
As to how much Gov. Walker and the Con
servatives cheated the Republicans in thu
State, do not know, but it does not soun'
very we'll for man who misrepresents tn
people Of Prince William county, to hud taul
with others 1t is we'll for man to look at bot
sides of u thing, or subject, before he attempt
to give all impartial decision.
In the attempt to crush out the honorable
and high-minded people of the South, th'
cry is raised of Ku Klux outrages, midnigh
assassins, &c., &c. Many hig minded peopl
at the North might suppose the South wa
pandemonium by such statements and re
ports. Nineteen twentieths Of such report
are manufactured for purpose, yes for a pu
pose. And that purpose is showing itsel
In majority of cases in tracing out the or
gin of such reports they are found to original
from men committed to the wholesale poh'
Of crushing out the last teccSS-.u spark of civ
sitting Of the ashes of civil and religious Ii
erty: Weep, o weep, angels of mercy
Rebels and truitors-where are they? Eel
answers where don't envy the happiness
those who impugn the motives, and attack II
characters Of men more honorable and mo
gentlemanly y than themselves. Jefferson Davl
Robert Z. Lee and others, were high tone
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