The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-09-03
'.vIRGINIANs RULING VIRGINIA.

al - -
.vIRGINIANs RULING VIRGINIA..
Why is it that The Enquirer has been
SO greatly troubled about the position as
sumed by the Hon. R. M. T. Hunter in his
late speech at the Richmond Theatre 2
Why has it labored so hard to controvert
by attempted sarcasm and ridicule his
reasoning in favor of ga government
for Virginia composed Of Virginians
--Virginians in every sense of the
term, real Virginians?' Everybody
knows what Mr.. Hunter means by the
term Virginians; that he means not only
native-born Virginians, but that small
class of natives who, in April, 1861, met
in Metropolitan Hall, in this city, constr
tuted themselves a state convention, elected
George Chalmers, Of Halifax county, their
president, and, by most inflammatory and
reasonable appeals to an infuriated mob,
intimidated and overawed the legally
elected members Of the state convention
assembled in the Capitol, and forced them
to pass an ordinance of secession which
they had been expressly inhibited from
doing by the terms of their election. This
is what is meant by "Virgnians
ruling Virginia." A few wealthy men
and large land-holders of extensive family
influence, who were never In sympathy
with the people and never had their con-
fidence, the real bona-fide f. #. VS., who
have always looked with contempt upon
the native white laboring men. and treated
as outside barbarians all foreigners
these constitute the ruling class ~ SO
named. These are the VirginIans who
must rule Virginia and none others
who for the last twenty years with
naughty intolerance and tyranical pro.
scription have viifed and abused in the
lowest language of Billingsgate every
man who had the independence and man
liness to think for himself and fearlessly
express his opinions. The dread Of this
prescription has had its effect in forcing
hundreds into silence and even into co-op-
Grafton with them, and many of those.
who at this day are most clamorous in
advocacy of their pretensions, and most
abusive of those who reject them, were
at one time the besmeared objects of their
abuse, and now seem to draw their in
spiration from the very sewers from which
they received their salivary baptism.
The people who constitute the bone and
sinew of the state have never been
allowed to have anything to do with the
control of the state. They did not drag
her into the war in 1861 they never au-
thorized the passage of the ordinance Of
secession they did not array her in
hostility to the United States government
by the seizure of Federal property, and by
executing that ordinance before it had been
submitted to the people for ratification or
rejection nor before the expiration of the
thirty days allowed fer its submission, fill
the state with soldiers from the Southern
states to vote upon it.. This was treason
not only against the United States, but
against the people of Virginia, and yet,
this was done by Vnyi,aians Vir-,
ginians;; the same Virginians that are
again trying to take control of the state,
aid whose reasonable schemes have in
Volved her in such irreparable ruin.
Before the war we were represented by
them to be the most oppressed people on
earth, and they promised to provide for us
a Canaan flowing with milk and honey.
But Moses is dead, and Aaron is dead, and
the lying political priests are now urging
the people TO worship the ashes of the
Golden Calf set up in the name OF
Secession.
But the people of Virginia have had
enough Of such false prophets and lying
priests, who are now trembling at the
handwriting ON the wall, as if they clearly
foresaw their inevitable doom. The true
independent citizens of the state will hurl
down this oligarchy Of f.. F. V's, whose
rule has degraded and disgraced the state
and take control of her themselves. n.
Native-born Virginians, in common with
the natives Of every other state and of
every other country, who have elected to
make Virginia their home, and whose
interests are to be affected for veal OR woe
by the future policy of the state, will say
whether the narrow exclusion and pro-
scriptive tyranny which has heretofore held
sway in Virginia shall be continued, or
more liberal, just and progressive system
shall be initiated, in harmony with the adj
vancing ideas of the age, and the material
growth and power of a great and pros
porous people.
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VIE take it to be maxim of the greatest