The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-12

cuubVt COuottuttOuhlly iutSiiOIC WIN puV
regulation Of the internal, domestic and
municipal affairs Of her PEG pie. 1t is
submitted that if this bill became law,
Virginia would stand before the world in
the attitude Of denying to one of her most
important municipalities the great body CT
thai right Of local selfgovernment, which
she unfinchingly as, erts and CLAIMS for her
whole people against all opposers. In my
judgment, the bill is deeply Objectionable
on grounds of expediency as well as prin-
ciple. 1t Is especially unfortunate that
such legislation should at this critical
juncture be applied to city in which
colored men compose majority of its
suffragans. In view of the tundament-
al conditions on which Virginia stands
as member Of the Federal Union, in view
Of our own solemn and sworn recognition
of the political equality before the law of
all men, irrespective Of race, color or pre-
vious condition, the proposed measure, if
en- cted, could not fail to subject US to
disastrous misconstruction at home and
abroad. 1t would. root out the growing
goodwill and confidence, now daily devel-
oping between the races, and plant instead
the seeds of fresh irritation and strife; it
would renew and intensity the race
agitatlons of the past which are being
happily settled it would present
Virginia to the world as being
torn by int ,stine feuds of an apparently
interminabe character it would discour-
age and postpone if not repel the approach
of the immigration and capital to which
our most ardent hopes are directed; and
more to be deplored than all, it would
sound provocation to federal interference
in our domestic affairs. II it is argued, as
is reported, that majority of the voters
of Petersburg is composed of men who are
ignorant and unfit to rule, and that
it is duty to withdraw the
government Of that city from its ignorance
and vice and entrust it to its virtue and in
telligence, let it be remembered such
proposition assumes that the Legislature
has an arbitrary discretion by which it
may separate the people into classes ac-
cording to its own standard of merit, de-
termines what classes are worthy or un.
worthy OF self-government, and particu-
larly DISTINGUISHES whomsoever it will.
Such an exercise of despotic discretion and
power would not only be abhorrent to
the vital principles Of free government but
would establish a precedent fraught with
infinite dangers. If, in the political muta-
tons Of the future, those who consider
themselves virtually prescribed by such
measure, should come into the control of
the government, they might, in the exer-
else of the same arbitrary discretion, de-
termine virtue and intelligence to reside
only within their own party or race or
color, and following and extending the ex.
ample. now sought to be established,
might commit to their own partisans the
government of, not one, but many or all
the cities and towns and even counties of
the commonwealth. Such precedents as
cribe unlimited power to the legislature,
and assume that it may submit the princi-
pies of liberty at will. They are
"bloody instructions, which, being taught,
return to plague the inventor" There
can be no security tor liberty but in an
immovable adherence to fundamental prin-
ciples. Applying the words of one Of the
ablest political writers, of any age, "let
me exhort and copjure you never to suffer
an. invasion of your political constitution,
however minute the instance may appear
to pass by without determined preserving
resistance. One precedent creates another.
What Yesterday was fact, to-day is doc
trine."
In all legislation it is necessary to be
mindful of the fact that the two races are
now so unalterably Incorporated together
in the body polite, that no discrimination
can be made directly or remotely against
either, without imperiling the rights and
the peace Of both. or without infringing
organic law. In my recent inaugural mes.
sage, the following words were addressed
to the General Assembly:
"One patriotic aim, controlling all our
counsels and impelling us to avoid the ex-
ample of extremists of whatever sec.
ton or class. must always be to establish
and perpetuate relations of cordial
corporations and good will between the
races, and this is to be accomplished not
merely by distributing equal burdens and
benefits to each, but by promoting such
connections of kindness, confidence and
interest between them as will; without linz
pairing or touching the social independence
of either, enlist each in increasing the
of the other, and both in adj
vancing q common veal.
We are afforded a golden opportunity for
settling forever the internal jealousies and
discussions which have hindered our ma
terial progress and Tor completing
the pacifcation of all the elements
of the body polite. Il devoves
upon the white race now to consummate
such settlement and pacifcation. In view
Of their acknowledged superiority in educa,
ton and intelligence as well as in numbers
their dominance in every department of
the public service, their ownership of the
great mass of taxable property, it would
bring lasting opprobrium upon them if
while local self-government continues
unimpaired, they should pc NIT the
existence of any pretext upon
which Adventures might, by fomentii g
between the races, distract the peace anu
retard the progress of the state, or upon
which any federal legislation or interview
ton whatever might be invoked to the in
evitable disturbance of the internal tran.
guilty. Non-residents, whatever their
eminence, ability or philanthropy, can
never understand the character and CIR
cumstances, or wisely administer to the
wants of our colored population. Our
selves and no others are qualified to per-
form the task assigned us by
Providence. If 70. restrained and
thwarted by superior power, we will per-
form it absolutely and effectually by pro-
noting the best interests of both races.
We intend to perform it by scrupulously
guarding the newly acquired rights of the
colored man, by atording him liberal faci.-
tiles for education, and melting him to use
them. nv developing his best Qualities and