The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-24
Gvening State 9nilrnaI
Letter from Fnuauier.

THE PLAINS, FAuoUIER Co., YA,l
September %, 1872.
To tbs Editor Of The State Journal:
was raised states-rights Democrat.
| cast my maiden vote for General jackson.
never voted for any man for any Office
over Democrat before the war. Since,
voted.as I thought for the best men. AT
the last election before the war, | differed
from my party, and voted at my precinct,
with eight others, for Douglas, to try and
prevent the blood | saw looming up before
me. Passion filled the place of brains and
the fire-eaters plunged us into the gulf.
Being Virginian and brought up in the
states-right school, felt must live or die,
sink or swim with my dear old mother. |
lived as it were on the battlefield and was
thoroughly destroyed. Virginia went down
and all | had was on board, except my
land. As soon as government was restored
the creditor seized his debtor by the throat
and demanded, "pay that thou owest'
yes, war interest and all. My negroes were
set free--Iny personally was taken or de-
stroyed by both parties, and though an old
man was sent to prison for being one of
Virginia's truest sons. The same fire.
CdlCIS titdl ihIo wa ~" SSllSu
the reins of government, and with Shylock
severity, demanded the bond, the bond, even
when it must take the pound of flesh from
over the heart of our unfortunate people.
This same party though crushed down,
was never conquered or rather its leaders,
and now they urge on and keep up as un-
ccasing warfare on the government as
before our surrender. think this as un-
wise as thought secession unwise. We
should have taken Union men who were
property holders for our representatives.
Such would make laws that they and VIC
could live under and let the war spirit blow
off. Before this that spirit would have
gone, and there would not have been
colored leagues and ku-klux orders
to disturb and to destroy. Contrary
to the Conservative party Of Virginia,
of which have never been a member, I
voted the second time for Lewis Mckenzie
for Congress, and was tainted by my dis
tinguished relation and friend, Governor
Smith, with the salutation, odd expect
to live to see one of my blood Radical ?"
What now do / see? The Governor and
Mckenzie both in bed with old Greeley,
the father of Radicals and the teacher Of
fanatics, with no principle to shield them
from the cold save the old arhite hat.
Farewell, Governor! Farewell, Mckenzie!
| have supported you both, but | cannot
get in that bed. Its very smell is poison.
| look upon Virginia as in her widow
hood; like Rachel weeping for her chill
dren and refuses to be "comforted, because
they are not nor can | consent to put
my dear old mother to bed with Horace
,lo hn u-aSlal I ,,pofor
to give her to her noble conqueror, who had
shown so much kindness to her children.
No unkind word or act has she received,
to my knowledge, from him, although her
people have kept up such silly war upon
him and his administration, and even now
some of the very men whose necks he
saved from Johnson's hemp, are crying
" Anything to beat Grant" have to be
grateful for myself and for my ungrateful
friends. .'..-..
After mature deliberation and the reaG.-
ing of both sides, I have come to the con-
cusion to vote for Grant against Greeley,
or anybody else. When General Grant
said, "let us have peace" he meant it !;
but how could there be peace in the ten
States where 800, 900 masked warriors were
CARRYING on their nocturnal prowlings, and if
Greeley tells the truth, had murdered 5000
negroes, for no offence but the color OF their
skins and their politics. .....-'.
am grateful to General Grant for many
things, among them for saving the Union,
and for restoring order out Of confusion.
Having done 50 well while bothered by
such men as Greeley and Sumner, he can
afford to do better still-close up the
bloody chas:n and wipe away the memory
Of blood. hE .a.
We had political discussion at The
Plains on Saturday, 81. Gov. Smith led OF
in n speech Of two hours, and was replied
| to by Col. Mosby in q two hours speech.
Mr.. Shepherd, Of Warrenton, followed Col.
Mosby for a half hour for Greeley, when
Major Richard II. Carter took the stand.
It was late, and some of the people began
to move off, yet the Major proceeded and
acquitted himself well. The whole Discus
sion was able.
Governor Smith, once Nirginia's chain
pion on the stump against the world, con-
| trary to nature, seems to retain
his ability and mettle, but standing on such
foundation as Horace Greeley--his and
Virginia's slanderer and enemy--he could
not do himself half justice for the want OF a
cause. Colonel Nlosby in pleading for
Grant over Greeley had such vantage
ground that aee think him the hero oil the
| day. Respectfully, .a-
p. A. l.. SMITH.
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