The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-10-30
Correspondence of the Valley Virginian.]
The WOrkingNEa
History and Records Reviewed.

On Saturday night, the 18th of October,
we went to Sarepta Hall, ipNAlexandria. to
to see and hear General Kemper, the Con-
sentative candidate for the next Governor
Of the Old Dominion. General Kemper' 5
looks, manners, address, and general appear
ances is decidedly favorable. A gentleman
Of fine abil tiles, an accomplished scholar, a
ready smooth, and pleasing debater, no fair
and generous man will deny yet, admitting
this much, it does not follow that he is the
most suitable man in the State for Governor.
The great issue at stake is will he adopt and
carry. out the true democratic principle,
"The greatest good to the greatest number"
will Partially be extended to the rich at the
expense Of the poor, will even the poor aohite
man, the humble dealer, the mechanic the
common laborer be considered an equal be-
fore the law and placed on an equal footing
with the wealth, aristoeracy, and the first
families of Virginia.
The white vote Of Virgiaiais estimated to
be seven to FIVE colored votes, which gives
the whites decided majority. A large ma
jority of the white voters is composed of men
of moderate means, that is to say, the gener-
al dealers in goods, wares, and produce, the
mechanics, the seafaring men, the farm, and
common laborers. This Glass Of men have
thespower beyond a question to dictate who
shall be the next governor, who shall 60 to
the next legislature, and who shall control
the destinies Of the State for many years to
come. Now it is the simplest thing imagi-
nable for General Kemper to be elected gov
ernor Of Virginia for the next four years !!
All that is required on his part, on the part
of his friends and political supporters, known
as the white mans party" is to produce ey-
idence, clear and positive, with dates, pages,
and names from the printed records at the
State Capitol, that since 1885 to 1865, a Pc
Rod Of thirty years, that they have been the
firm, tue, and consistent friends of the me-
chanics, the laborers, and the humble class
Of white voters. We repeat, the white vo-
tiers, the mechanics, the moderate traders,
the seamen and fishermen, the common la
borers have the power to say who shall be
the governor of Virginia, and that party will
certainly win, which can prove by the rec
ords Of Che state, that it has been for the
past half century the true and firm friend of
the said white voters. A man, be he white
or black, who Will vote against and defeat
true and long-tired friend, is nos fit sub
ject for the right of suffrage, or to live in
a civilized country.
There is not man in Virginia that un-
derstands this all-important subject more
thoroughly than General Kemper. He
knows, and to his deep regret, where his
strength and only hope Of election rests he
would cheerfully give up every dollar he
possesses in the world if he could bring for
ward therecords for the past thirty-6Ee years,
from the library at Richmond, and prove to
the satisfaction Of the white mechanics and
laborers, that he, and his friends, have man
aged State affairs with justice and imparti-
alisy thst'the rich and the poor had Jared
alike-that the muscle, che brain, the intel
ligsnt labor Of Virginia received the same fa-
vols, the same instruction, tie same atten-
ton, the same blessings that men Of wealth,
of fine blood, and f. f. VS. received.
This is matter that evidently gives Mr.
Kemper, and the leaders of the Conservative
party great deal Of trouble. They cannot
with the least consistency and truth go to
the white mechanic and iaborer Of Virginia,
and say we have been your reliable friends
10 days past; that We provide the ways aud
means to educate your sous and daughters;
the richest blessings that heaven, the church,
or political party could bestow-for shap-
py is the man that fndeth wisdom, and the
man that getteth understanding. Fer the
merchandise Of it is better than the merchan-
disc of silver, and the gain thereof than fine
gold.'
The Iem-C Conservative party cannot say
that in levying taxes it put the burthen
where it Justly belonged. on The rich and
lordly landhoder ! hence the present trouble,
hence the necessity Of manufacturing an issue
to cover up past neglect in defending the
rights, and providing for the moral and So
cial advancement Of tie mechanic the in
dustrous and indispensable laborer; hence
the necessity of creating a strong prejudice
in the minds of the white voters by the cry
Of negro equality, radical ruin, carpet-bag-
gers, scalawags, Sc. Prejudice is power
full political weapon 1t defeated Henry
CLAW. the purest, the best, the most deserving
statesman that ever lived. The more false,
the more vindictve the more Infamous, the
more thorough it does its work -
Now we propose to view the political his
tory Of General Kemper, and bis associates
who haye had the management Of State af-
fairs for the pass forty years and upwards,
and prove by the records which cannot be
disputed or set aside, that they le3lsIated &c
clusiyev to aduance tie interests OF those 0ho
rea,reseuted the weozth, and claimed 10 pos
sess SUPERIOR blood, and descr0sog Of special
pravileges!
We ask the candid and careful attention ri
the white mechanics end laborers to
the statements here advanced, and If not
strictly true in every particular, we will frank
" acknowledge the error, and make all due
correction. s'Truth is mighty and will pre-
vail" therefore nothing is gained ny clrcula-
ting falsehood.
The first question to be answered, who and
what class of men have constituted the gov
ernors. the lawmakers the judges OF Ylr-
gipia during the past thirty and forty years?
Has not General KempeT and the wealthy
nlapter and the slave holder, and what is
known as the aristocracy been the exclusive
representatives at Richmond and the law ma
kers for the State? Did not property and affiu-
ence have the preference, over brain, and IN
dust1y? Did you ever know an instance OF a
dealer Of moderate means. mechanic, man
who GOT his living By toll, to be elected to