Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-09-04

conduct this canvass as he had the can
vass for congressional honors in the
Ninth district last fall, when he and his
Conservative competitor travelled and
spoke together for months without Ell
cher dropping word to wound the
feelings Of the other He also spoke
Kindly of Col. Withers as a gentleman
commanding his entire respect. He
said it was needless to ayow that no ma
tional issues are involved in this can
vass; there are but two parties in this
country, and Virginia must array her
self with one or the other He review
| ed the history of the Conservative par
| ty of Virginia, and said they We're
obliged to abandon their organization
as white mans party in 1868 because
the leaders found themselves abandon
ed. The negroes, he said, naturally
and properly go with the Republican
party because it gave them their rights
and protects them in them, and because
it is the party Of freedom, the party of
progress, and the party Of the nation
Though States rights man in the
past, he denied being g secessionist, and
claimed that Virginia was opposed to
secession III 1861, although the Conven-
ton passed the ordinance. In conclu-
sion Col. Hughes arraigned the Con
sentative party for violations of the
spirit OF the Constitution in regard to
the homestead act and for other alleged
infractions ofthe Constitution,
Gen. Kemper followed Col. Hughes
and was received by the audience with
wild cheering. He made speech
equal in matter and effect to any heard
since the war, and when he announced
himself as the hext Governor Of Virgin
la the cheering was immense. After an
eloquent reference to Fauquier county
where rests the bones of. his fathers,
General Kemper said that he should Mt
ter 10 sentiments aud make no remarks
incompatible with the dignity OF the
high office for which both he and Col.
Hughes were candidates. His ogpo-
nent should be treated with proper
courtesy. The representatives of the
people had made him their candidate
by unanimous vote, and he had never
refused; and never would refuse, to
obey the call of his native State in the
council of peace or the stern ordeal of
war. He said this is no national con
test; parties are not divided here as at
the North; we are happily withdrawn
from the arena Of Federal politics the
great issue here is what sort Of govern
ment are we to have in Virginia to deal
with our lives and liberties for the next
four years.-These issues DO not come
under the cognizance of Federal courts
or require the action of President
Grant; and as to President Grant, he
would say that he had no desire to con-
denim him in advance. He had enter
ed upon another term, and it will be
well for him and us if he rises shove
the level ofsections and faction and
obeys the voice Of patriotic duty SO as
to secure the welfare Of every State and
the whole country. Tt. matters not
whether we have been Democrats or
Wings before the war, Secessionists or
Unionists in 1860 OF 1861; whether we
have been for Greeley orfor Grant, for
Mahomet or for Mustapha, or for nei
ther; whether foreign or an American
sun shone upon our birth, our interests
are the same here.-General Kemper
then reviewed the record of Col.
Hughes. A community prospers in
proportion as all classes work together
in peace, harmony, and mutual good
withdrawing none but equal burdens
and disposing equal benefits and impair
tial justice to ALL He affirmed before
the world that during the past four
years the Conservative party in Virgin
la has, as far as it hes in human power,
fulfilled these conditions. There has
been equality of rights between the
two races-both races living under the
same laws and enjoying the same rights
with the exceptions in, favor of the
blacks. Six years before the time APP
pointed by Radical Convention the
Conservatives had established and Or
ganized a system of free education, and
to-day 100000 persons, the great ma
jority colored, were receiving it's bene-
fits while the white people raised the
money. So fairly has the State govern
nent in Virginia been conducted and
SO justly have the negroes been dealt
with that the most trying eyes of Fed
eral Office holders and detectives have
been unable to make out a single case
of violation of civil rights in Virginia.
Only a day OF two ago the African Con
ference Of the colored Methodist Church
in Virginia met in Richmond and bore
testimony to this effect.
General Kemper spoke Of the effort
| of the Republicans of Virginia in the