Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-05-06
Governor Kemper and the CoIored Race
TFrom the Baltimore sun.r


rha co,ored members OF the General Assembly
of virginia lucnong leading cololed citizens OF
Richmond anh other portions OF tue State, called
on Governor kemper on Friday morning, a'.er
Ihe adjournment oi the J. ,islaturr, aud were
courleuusly received. Mr. SyphaN addressed The
Governor on hehaif of the delegation, saying:
"The colocd members would not leave the
capitol without paying the re pect une 10 ,he
Governor of the State. In DOING SO, ne "udeu'
we confidently express the no That your adinlu-
istratiou in the future may p. we what you nave
shown in the past-your devotion 10 the liue
rlory of Virginia and the true interests oil oil the
people, without reference TO color or cohuiiioh'
H. taking leave of you We invoke the dressings
of Almighty God upon cur commonwealth ana
Governor"
Governor kempcr replied ut considerable length
to this address, prefLcing his remarks ny saying
that he was trying to do his duty according 10
the constitution ond laws with imlainallty ne
then gave some excellent advice to the colored
Senators and Delegates, telling them that they
must work out their salvation with their own
hands. lie added:
"Education and Intelligence and character and
property are no free gifts. They must be WORKED
ior The government can't make this expert
ment Il success. Other people cant make you
worthy of liberty. You now have fair chance,
and in the future you will be measured ny "hat
YOU do for yourselves. You can never succeed
except by meklng up your minds now ena ior ali
time to lead lives oil soDr1ety, honesty, huusAy'
frugality, courtesy, by pIactcmg the Chiistiah
virtues towards all men, by doing unto others as
YOU would that others should do unto you 1t yon
were III their place and they in yours
"Let each race stand up for the interests ana
rights of the other and Of both. Ii you think
YOU haven't got all you are entitled to, don go
outside to clam it, Come hero to this govern
ment and let us confer about your claims. lou
will be fairly heard. If you are claiming any
Thing you ought 10 have, you'll get it. IL you
are claiming anything that is wrong, lar near,
in. will satisfy you that II is wrong and you Will
abandon it, Let us settle our business here al
home aud not seek any outside intermeddling In
our domestic affairs Let no man and no race Wy
to interfere with the social independence oil the
other. Any government which does that or per
mts that Is as tyrannital MS II 1t dictated What
we should wear or what We should eat"
The reply OF the Governor, chalacieilzed by
kindness, inanliness and good SENSE Is said 10
have been received by the delegation with appro-
val IL is to be hoped that thcy Will urge us
words OF wisdom upon their colored constituents
Being leaders Of their race, by virtue OF superior
intelligence and energy, they have the power To
give wider scope and influence to Governor
Kemper's admonitions than they could other
wise command. What he said Is worthy OF Inc
attentcntion of the colored people OF tho south
generally. Only by industrious aud Nlrtuous
habits can they elevate their race. and only by
each race standing up for the Interests OF the
other and of both can the happiness ana welfare
OF all he promoted.