New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-06-04
From Virginia.
RICHMOND, VA, May Il, 1874

aIn one al The lew native White men oil
VIRGINIA who have kept pace with the gyeat
revolution for the advancement. and improve
ment of the negro race of this continent, and
vet Iind myself rs popular to-day with onr
rnliti,al adyersaries as those who have
skunk from the responsibilities and results
ofcach advance movement. ! regret there
are - few" OF my way of thinking, but am
powercsS Ia increase the number because
The negroes themselves give us no substan-
iill all. This fact has discouraged us in the
,siJ. aud presented the successful prosecu-
ton al our plans for their welfare, but what
,hall We say of the immediate ,roSca,, when
they, and they alone, can control the con-
duct of those whose influence in legislation
NAV be- Cor or against their interests, as they
shall decide at the polls:" We will very
soon he called on to choose who shall repre-
sent Us in The next Congress of the United
state and, although il is possible the great
question "f Civil Rights will have been de
icimipcd before lis meeting, no steps have
been taken by the colOred people to Learn
the attitude of those who are seeking their
support with reference to this most important
measure.
Inced not go beyond this Congressional
District H. convince the most skeptical that
the negroes are neglecting their solemn duty
in the vital crisis TO them. They may be
heard every day in groups declaring their
preference for this or that aspirant for the
Congressional nomination without even con-
.idcring who are for them and who against
them.
Thus Car | have heard of four candidates
Hon. John Amber Smith. Rush Burgess, J..
H. chandler, ana Andrew Washbuln. Neither
oi these gentlemen have ever indicated that
they are in favor OF the Civil Rights Bill.
Three of thcm--Smith, Washburn, ana Bur-
cess, have ayailed themselves of past oppor-
iuniiics 10 define their positions with refer
cnce To this question. The ioimcr uncquiy-
ocally opposed, the latter in favor of it.
greatly modified, and Washburn too tmd to
express himself. Now, who else but the man
who is unable TO rise TO the dignity of a man,
would stand by and say he prefers either of
these three men, pledged rs they are against
his dearest rights and interests? Zach of
these asliranis have their atlhrrcnts among
the colorcd men. every one of whom pray
Cf they pray ut alb every night of their lives
that Congress will give them the Civil Rights
Bll pure'as il came from the soul Of the ul-
mortal Sumner; and yet they are the bought
tools aud hired emissarics Of these gentlemen
L. 90 a"ong their fellow men and elcctloneer
for them. Shame on the mm who thus bar
tiers not his own birthright for money, but
be il upon him who sells the promotion Of
his children and grandchildren for few dol
lars, and the sum so paltry rs to be INSULT
cent 10 clothe decently one of his little ones.
Mr.. Filter, tell me what encouragement
there is {" a man To go forward in this great
work of discriminating these people when
they are the first to refuse assistance? But
Tor the fact that | have faith in the ultimate
result and shall be proud to be enrolled among
those who have shown Il substantial graf
ltulc Ia our former slaves by eXhausting
every conceivable effort for their advance
mcnt. would surrender and give up the
unequal contest.
But why, Mr.. Editor, should these colored
men play the traitor to their own race? Be-
cause of their greed for Office which leads
them 10 become the slaves of those who dole
out the pap. Here, in Richmond, the most
active colorcd men are those who hold some
Federal office, who, whenevcra public meeting
Is held, push themselves to the front and. pro
claiming themselves representatives, OF the
NEGRO race, lay down a plan for adoption by
the masses. | deny that they are rcpTesc.-
ifires of any race. White skinned enough
To pas, Cor white men, when among strau-
gers, and ready to resent as an insult the
charge that they are negroes, they are no
more or less than the representatives of 4
ring, or some Federal office holder, who gives
them place that they may ''yell" for him
or his iayorite on all proper occasions. That
this condition of affairs will continue to exist,
believe, until you, who are sufficiently in
telligent 10 see through this hypocritical
cauage, send some of the best colored men
Of the North here TO tear Oil the mask from
these hypocrites and show them to your
people in their true light and characters.
am too much of a friend of the colorcd
iNoI'N w DS Niiiiur, W t.;Nc dIN SUP WHICH
would jeopardizc the educational advantages
they now enjoy in the South but do not
believe the assertion that, TO pass the Civil
Rights Bill, will bc the death-kncll of free
schools. know the people Of the South too
well. They are the finest threatcncrs on
earth, while Virginia boasts of oXccllng
New York city in the possession of political
trcksters and sharpers. Well, yield TO her
the palm in this respect. Virginia at one
time threatened TO defeat our present con-
sutution, AMI then voted for il almos: IMAM
imously when threats failed 10 deter us from
Offering il for adoption. [ might cite You In
numerous instances Of "brag" her Conserya-
I've people have played, but ! need not do
so. The Civil Rights Bill once the law Of
The land, will be acquiesced in by Virginia
with grace that would make her "nggers"
laugh from ear TO ear. We are n good peo-
de, Mr.. EditOr-the best on the globe but
We are insolent, and proud, and jealous iO
everybody who attempts TO lead us. Had
The Federal authorities at the close Of the
war insisted upon reinstating slavery, We
would have objected, and set them free
quicker than lightning.
But, seriously, the Civil Rights Bill is just
and proper. aud must be passed sooner OIL
later; but its early adoption depends alone
upDn the necrops nf tho Co,,tI, ~, ,l,o,.