The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-08-11
Who Shall Govern?

Ing IOSSE Oh Tue Sldle. ANY NbSAo 49,
north OF Mason and Dixon the Republican
party is entirely different from the party
bearing the name in this State.
The Republican party in Virginia consists
almost wholly of negroes who are not only
ipcompetent to fiji Office, but even to vote.
They have little property, pay hardly any
taxes. and have no qualifications that should
cntitle them to any participation in the 60
yernment of the country. In Pennsylvania,
Republicans are Of the same race with Demo
cvats-they bold as much property and are
as capable Of governing as Democrats.
So here is all the world of difference be-
tween Virginia Republicans and Pennsylva-
mis- Republicans, or Republicans anywhere
north Of Mason and Dixon.
Therefore we regard Virginia Republicans
very differently from Northern Republicans.
Can even Republicans themselves fan 10
recognize the wide distinction between them
Is there one single qualification in Virginia
Republicans emitting them to be trusted
with the important duties of public ONCE
And vet the few white leaders Of the untor-
tunate and incompetent negroes not only
claim through their votes our State govern
ment, but they censure us for disloyalty and
want of Judgment in opposing them. This
is Mr.. HrGuEs's argument. The bare state
ment OF the case is enough to bring into
utter contempt the pretensions of these Re-
publicans-this great black constructor with
sleek white head and cunning, giistening
eyes.
The white people are Charged with scpa-
rating from the blacks, and with acting Sc
ditiously (Mr. HrGHEs) by so doing. Disre-
eardne the offen>ivene>s Of the charge,
we may say that they would be only obcyinS
natural instincts So to separate from the
Africans. But even this is not true. The
blacks went Off to themselves. Immediately
the South surrendered came in the northern
preacher and the northern carpet-bagger,
and Satan came also. Nightly meetings oil
negroes under the direction of this triumvi-
rate were held, and the regular succession OF
prayer and song, and cussing- their
late mastcrs-m1de night hideous, ana
nightly rang in the ears Of the white people,
who we're not allowed TO leave their homes.
Did Mr. HUGHES then dean that negroes
were in few months to be made voters
that they were. indeed, to be the ruling
population, the whites being DISTINGUISHED
Thus the ball was set in motion by the
preacher, the carpet-bagger, and the devil.
tl,o haI1 then
existed in Virginia and the South. The
northern fiIe.brand was bur ming every
where, and the negro everywhere discarded
the counsel of the southern white man.
He was treated with contempt, considered
the enemy OF the black man and not to
be trusted. The stranger was Worshipped,
the native white man hated. ! a..
How, then, was the separation upon line
of color the work of the white man, and how
was it to be ended. Could the white man
successfully make ogcrtureS! 1t was tired
in vain. The carpet-bagger was trusted, the
native distrusted. The famous meeting at
the Theatre in this city exhibited the white
man on trial. The negro accused him, and
under u foregone conclusion did not even
listen to his defence. The negro has CONT
nued the political enemy of his own white
people, and has continued to support the
stranger. and what was little better, his
own race, ignorant and incompetent as it
was. for places of honor and trust-for the
government of Virginia. And now we are
blamed for the separation and reminded that
we are acting seditollSly. The accusation
is as contemplate AS it is unfoundcd.
Well, suppose the whites had ignobly and
sc,rviIy sslccumbcd and joined the negroes
"a thing utterly impossible), what good
would have come to the State? The con.
stituent body would not have escaped de-
graduation by mixing white and black. The
union would have been made upon con-
cession to the negroes, and their part i'll the
elections would have given the stamp to the
representative body and made that CORE
spond in degradation to the constituent
body. 1t was then matter of policy as
well as IL natural consequence that the sepa-
ration inauguratcd by tie negro should con-
tinue. The whites have the power to govern
themselves, and they will best secure the
dignity and wisdom of their government 10y
doing so-they will best protect their rights
and the credit of their government by man.
aging their own atfairs--they will best pre-
serve the public welfare and maintain that
high civilization to which Virginia had been
brought by acting independently and in
defiance of the barbarous element which had
been arrayed against them and which threat
ened the peace and welfare of society.
You see, Vireinians, how you have been
arraigned-you see how you have been as
sailed by the INSCRIPTIONS party that seeks
to put over you barbarous element which
threatens your State with embarrassments
and your society with degradation. Will
YOU by lack of courage and energy suffer the
government of your Commonwealth to be
taken from you and conveyed to the direc-
ton Of incompetency and faithlcssness?
1t is well that the issue is white and black.
If the Government is white it follows that
it must be intelligent and faithful if black,
it must be unwise and untaithful. Stand
up, then, Nirginians; rule your own State,
and preserve your public honor and public
dignity; save your people from further ruin
and oppression, and win for yourselves an
approving conscience, well-administered
government, and peaceful society.
DR.. McCosH, of Princeton, in the iiduca'
tional Convention at EImira, n. y, Is alser
The South The Poor South" Every I'm.