The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-09-18
HON. JAMES FOOTEs JOHNSON.

This distinguished gentleman well known
to the people of Virginia as popular ors.
tor and Influential public man in every res
| pect, has formally declared his purpose to
cooperate in the present canvass with the
Republican party Of Virginia. In q letter
to the editor of the Lynchburg Virginian,
after stating his political antscedents-a whig
before the war, opposed to secession, msm-
Der of thu Com mittee Of Nine after the war
supporter Of Walker for Governor, in 1869
! and cooperating with the Conservatives in
the Greeley canvass of 1872; he announces
his purpose to support. the Republican ticket
in Virginia in the November election. Mr..
Johpaon is strong man before the people,
universally popular, and his present manly
attitude will encourage many others to fol.
low his example. He closes his letter as
follows:
I have therefore brought myself to investi-
gate dispassionately the difference between
the two parties 1t cannot be denied that
when the Conservative party took Horace
Greeley for its leader and standard bearer,
it fell from its Wanted position and went
horse foot and dragon into the ranks Of
the Radical party. In compliance with the
wishes of many Of my Conservatives friends
voted for him. l have eyer since regretted
it. Horace Greeley had originated ard ad-
vocated more measures Objectionable to tina
poon1o IF ha Sorrbarp al IL
man; and yet we were told that the maiute-
nance of civil and religious liberty depended
on his success. The Republican party is ma
tional. The Conservative party is sectional.
They both desire to get the aid of the Gene
raj Government to complete the James River
and Kanawha Canal, the great Improvement
oe the age. Which is most likely to succeed.
the one in accord with the General Govern.
ment, or the one in hostility to it? Look al
the platforms Of the two parties, and what is
the difference The Richmond Convention,
it would seem, tried to steal the thunder of
the Lynchburg Convention. There is too
much of fire and blood and thunder too
much reliance on war records, and little
too much tendency to secession ..under any
all circumstances. Is it not the best policy
of Virginia to place itself in accord with the
administration of Grant? He can have no
other motive than to subserve her best inter-
est. 1t is said that the Republican party ia
the negro party which desire equality. Such
arguments, if they can be called such, arc
idle. There is not now, never has been, and
never will be social equality among white
men even, The negro so far as know OF
believe, desires 20 such thing. They have
been emancipated, they are citizens, they
have government, and are entitled to and
ought to receive full and complete protection
under the laws aud constitution as much so
as the whole white men. No legislation can
bring about social equality. 1t is stated that
they are led by designing carpet-baggers.
Let US come to their relief, if such be the
case, and lead them ourselves, stand by them
be their friends, educate and elevate them
in their characters, aud make them an es-
ment Of political strength in our State. The
Convention at Richmond say substantially
hat they have no controversy with Presi-
dent Grants administration, then why shall
we not all come to his support As for my
solf | have determined to do SO, aud expect
to vote for the nominees of the LYnchburg
Convention. regret to part company vita
my old friends, but an doing what l be-.
lieve to be my duty.
Your friend,
JAMES F. JOHNSON.