The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-05-22
evening Statt Sa,.rmat
THURSDAY EvENG. MAY-22. 1878.
4 CoIOrcd Man Invites the Dispatch
TO a Discussion.

raa.r s.. BURKEvILLE, May II. ~
To the Eiitor Of The State Journal
1t is painfully evident that hatred Of the
negro is to be the string on which the
"Conservativesn of this state are to play
in the fall canvass. This is because the Re
publican party of the state has pursued no
policy that admits of honorable attack.
The Conservative party's only hope is
in tanning prejudices hostile to the negro
there are no policies effecting the states in
terest on which distinct party lines may be
drawn; the fact is true of this state as it
is true of the country; hence, the Con-
servatives light on the unoffending negro.
Being o colored man. this false issue
interests me. .....-.
l appeal to Virginians l appeal to the
re,ple of Virginia, and beseech them in
the name of the prosperity of the state,
notice her wide acres, once your boast,
now lying idle; because capital will not
come to you in your unsettled state) APP
neal in the name of peace not to allow a
few individuals to stimulate discord, to feed
an unholy prejudice, with the view Of these
few persons enjoying places OF profit and
honor, while the mass OF the people are
not benefited. The colored man in your
midst is your friend; if it were not for
these few agitators, who picture the colored
man as hideous, who urge policy to
degrade him, (which was consistent
with slavery when it existed, the
happlest relation would exist between all
parties. These instigators of discord and
strife deceive you; they misrepresent. 1t is
no design of the colored man or of his Re-
publican friends, for the colored man to DOM
mate over the white man; the idea is pre-
posterous; such thought has never en-
tered the colored mans mind. He knows
that when the state shall Danish this unnec-
essary agitation and shall assume natural
condition, the wealth and intelligence of the
state will in all respects largely control its
interest. There is no reason for supposing
that the colored man of to-day can be pos
sessed of such commanding means and
other overshadowing attainments as will en-
able him to subjugate, If he acoald, the
whites of Virginia and of the country with
their attainment in wealth and education.
1t is the veriest folly to talk Of it. 1t
must be humiliating to the otfice-holders of
the Conservative party of the state to be
obliged to resort to so fallacious subter-.
fuge. It is to be expected that there will
be cases, in which colored men, by excell-
ing, by becoming rich and educated, will
WELD an influence; it will be their interest
to have the states interest thrive; they
will govern themselves accordingly. This
will cause the interest of the state to domi-
nate, on all sides, over prejudice. "a
With paeifcation the policy of the state,
there will be less agitation about the states
colored element. This element will give
more of its time and thought, as a laboring
class, to developing the material interest of
the state. AT present the colored man is
concerned in securing the common respect
due him as civilian; to have more consid-
Grafton for him, than when the law declared
him slave, subject to the will Of master.
With his rights assured as are the rights of
others, all will seek their leyelT-the poor,
the rich, the coarse, the refined, each of
whom will have regard to their taste and
affinity no party will dream of intruding,
unsolicited, upon any individuals social
circle there will continue to be respected
the social barriers against indiscriminate
intrusion upon home and its privacy.
The colored mans demand to be secured
in his public rights follows from his enjoy
ment of the elective franchise. In securing
these American Republican rights of a cti-
zen to the the colored man all he demands
will be conceded. 1t will be in accord
with the genius of our government and its
free institutions TO do so; to war against the
same and its legitimate consequences is to
prolong rebellion. which no party now pro-
poses to do, while, in warning, they in effect
do SO. These thoughts were suggested
by number Of illogical, unkind and pre-
judicial articles lately published in Soon
servatiye' prints Of the state, especially in
The Richmond Dispatch. Though hum
BILE member of the community, a colored
man, / would rejoice to have The Dispatch
open its columns to fair and dspassion-
ate discussion of the following question !:
SIN the light of justice and the supreme
law Of the land in the light of the consti-
tuition of this State; in the light OF the best
interest Of all parties, should a discrimina-
ton be made among the citizens of Vir-
ginia, based on race. color, or previous
condition of sergitude 2" respectfully in
wife The Dispatch to q discussion in its
columns Of this question over my full sig
poturo e.Grf. aH tr .ltIt3 d.