The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-02-07

WEDNESDAY EvEN'G FEB. Z, 1872.
[CoMMUNICATED.l
10 the Editor Of the State Journal.

lCOMMUNlCATED-I
To ths Editor Of the State Journal
The Dispatch of Saturday last charges
that Messrs. Lassiter, Jorgenson, Stovall,
Southall, Pearce and Noble, Republican
members of the House of Delegates, were
present when the vote was taken on the
amendement offered by Mr.. Evans, of Pc
tersburg, that no distinction should be made
on account of race, color, &c., by the insti-
tutions accepting the Land Scrip Fund, &c.,
&c.
have waited patiently, expecting to see
some denial of this proposition by some of
the gentlemen charged with being recreant
to their political obligations but as MOTH
ing has yet appeared, we conclude that,
with one or two exceptions, it may be pos
sible that the constituency of these gentle
men are of but little consequence or con-
sderation to them after the day of cleo
ton and it may also be true that there
are negroes in the city of Richmond who
tacitly or otherwise think, as evinced in
late action on their part, that because the
Republicans of Richmond failed to elect
members to the Legislature, that therefore
the Republicans of this city have no right
to manifest any interest in the present
course of legislation or the apparent indC-
ference on the part of members elected there
by anxious Republicans from other parts
of the State /; but we cannot consent to be
placed in this category. Legislation, if it
be mimical to our existing constitutional
civil rights, or if we fail to secure immuni-
ties. guaranteed in the State constitution in
consequence Of the want of vigilance on the
part Of men sent there by Republicans,
then all who profess to be Republicans and
act with that party Except the whites) are
doomed to suffer the same prvations and
Inconvenience resulting from their derelic-
ton in the performance of high trust, so
confidently imposed in them. No right
thinking man desires to see any Republic
can in the Legislature appear unseemly in
that body, but we do expect to see gentle
men there, representing the most oppressed
class in the State, standing vigorously and
firmly in their places in the advocacy of the
passage and enforcement Of those principles
which they so readily admit on the hastings
are the legitimate fruits of Congressional
legislation following emancipation. In this
connection, we have now to refer to COM
munication which appeared in the STATE
JOURNAL of the I'd instant, written by
member of the Legislature, elected by the
colored vote of one of the lower counties
The reasoning of which leaves
us no alternative, but to come to
the general conclusion that there
are class of Virginia quasi Republicans,
who are no more in favor, even though they
had the power of doing exact justice to the
negro, than are some Democrats; and here
is the proof: "The unhappy faculty of
running against immovable obstacles,
which has been so frequently observed on
the part of those who aspire to prominence
in the Republican party in Virginia, re.
suited yesterday in motion from Mr.. p.
X. Jones, of Greensyille, asking that legis-
lation be had to secure all rights to the
colored people of the Commonwealth, in
public conveyances, &C., as are enjoyed by
their white friends. Now, sir, it is well
known that the supreme organic law of the
country places all men on the same footing
as to public rights and privileges. The
wrong complained of results from the
fact that our State judges in the major
ity of instances, refuse to recognize this
fact, and it is simply foolish to cumber our
statute books with laws of the character
indicated until the law officers are per-
mitted by popular opinion to conform their
rulings to the requirements of the national
constitution. Time, and time alone, can cor
rect whatever OF wrong results from uniform
prejudice, and he who would attempt to
change this natural course of events, and
by force, produce state of things for which
the body Of the people are unprepared, is
attempting that which necessarily ends not
only in abortion, but in greater injury to
the cause proposed to be benefited. The
white people of Virginia would be justly
chargeable with the basest ingrattude if
fhavy tor fat,, 1tlnx H. 1, l..
feelings for their colored neighbors, and
but for the promptings Of ambition,
which frequently induce colored men to at
tempt to force results for which the white
" people are not get prepared, all would be
well.o Now, these are the sentiments of
legislator elected and supposed to be in
harmony with his constituents, sent to the
Legislature to do what he reasonably can,
to shape the law in such manner as to re-
/. quire the judges humanely to conform to
its mandates. But as soon as he entersits
portals, he ennnciates q line of policy
which he knows would have defeated him,
had it been known before, and in it, tells
those who voted for him ''that it is foolish
to cumber the statute books with laws''
which look to the security of that class of
them who are being maltreated at every
cross-road by whole community "this
would be forcing results )" but they must
wait until fiendish spirit has been cassat-
ed in every conceivable insult toward them,
and then that will be time enough to make
laws for their protection, which the courts
may be required to respect. Now, this is
pernicious doctrine that the writer would
not presume to present for the considera-
ton of any but those whose rights he is
willing to see outraged, and but for the
ready incubation of which the white Re-
publicans in the present Legislature, would
accomplish something beside the role of
absence and balanced pay account. 1t is
very pretty thing for man, after his
election, to take out 1Dsice white handker-
chief and place it between the miseries of
his constituents and his conscience and
then theorize about the impract-
bility of present justice to the
negro, during his legislative term but
very different thing to face an adverse
public opinion in their behalf. But this
state of things cannot last through many
succeeding years. 6 remember" says
CULVER, sit was with extreme difficulty
that could bring my masterto understand
the meaning of the word opinion be-
cause reason teaches rs tn affirm or danv