Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-05-15
ICOMMUNICATED.

NV to the destinations of 'Fauquicr." Eau
ouier seems to forget that there is always two
aides to every question. Must tell him that
the great mass of the Southern people, thought
then, and still Think the iron-hearted Gen.
Lougstreet adopted the most rational, and
most sensible course, when he favored recon-
Citation. 1t is true his accepting Office i'm
paired bis Influence, somewhat, and laid him
open to the censure Of the carping politician.
tt has become common thing for US at the
South to inveigh against the Northern people
for having treated US coldly, cruelty, since the
late war, but careful retrospective view of the
political horizon, for the last eight or nine years,
will suffice to convince any candid man, that in
a great measure we have been the author OF
s.our own misfortunes. To substantiate this
assertion it will become necessary for me to
noint out to ''Fauquier" few little incoDsis-
tances and short comings committed by our
friends the Conservative party of Virginia,
we'll calculated to cause the Administration aud
the dominant party of the country to act in
shirt of retaliation upon US. | feel that have
right to speak thus plainly 10 reply to my
| III,
| from nv political record, being 80 far above re-
proach, having cast my first vote for James K.
Polk, my second for Lewis Cass, my third for
| Franklin Pierce, Ia better vote was never CIV
en- my fourth for James Buchanan, my fifth
for j John G. Breckenridge, NY sixth for Sey-
mour, my seventh for Horace Greeley, Ia very
bad vote, admit it, A great many people at
the South think, or appear to thluk, that the
Northern people should lay aside their section
al prejudice, whilst We at the South should be
permitted freely to exercise our sectional prelu-
dices. As long as the South manitesls that
prejudice Natural it may be to birth and eiu-
cation) so long may she expect the retaliation
OF sectional prejudice by the people Ut the
northern portion Of our common country visited
uron us, and so long will this embittered feel
lug and "wrangDg' be kept up between the
two sections, greatly to the injury OF the mate
rial interests of both, but largely more SO to the
weaker, or Southern portion OF our country.
The South Is now too poor, toe weak, 10 In
dulge in the costly luxury of politics, however
anxious few Of her political leaders may de,
sire her to do so, under the de'uslve hope that
the great Democratic party at the North will
come to our rescue This hope stands about
90 par with foreign intervention heard SO
much of during the war. This policy, adopted
ginia) since the war of II will and won't,
can and I can't" has to be abandoned and the
Southern people will have to carry out their
solemn pledges, fairly and squarely, to meet
the Northern people 10 a spirit OF comfy and
of amity, commensurate with their promises
made in the Walker, Greeley and Kemper
campaigns, before the South can realize that
material prosperity to which she has been
vouehsafed by beDiGcent creato: The largest
proportion of the wing of the conservative
party" to which my friend "Fauquier" belongs,
were peace men in time of War, and are now
valient war men in time of peace. 1t cannot
be successfully denied that Gov. Walker was
elected by the Conservative vote of Virginia,
as moderate Republican, and as Grant man
the writer we'll knows this because he be-
lieyes he was the first to call public attention to
Gilbert g. Walker; certainly the first above
tide water, Va. At this time the Conserva-
tives professed willingness to form an alliance
with Gen. Grants administration, and the
party 10 power, to be readmittnd into the
Union. Again, by Gen. Grants kind, personal
efforts and great Influence, We were relieved
from the DISTINGUISHING clause aud the test
oath 10 our State Constitution. and our repre-
sentatives admitted to their seats in Congress.
The morning after the election our present At
torney General sent a telegraph dispatch from
Richmond to Washington congratuIating Gen.
Grant upon the joyful result. This telegram
as much as said TO Gen. Grant ''by your kind
ness you have Grantized Virginia" Gov.
Walker could not have been elected but for
his professions of friendship for the admins.
tration. But strange to say, the Governor sooD
turned up anything but a friend to General
Grant and his administration The why's and
wherefore of this strange and sudden change
in the feelings of our Governor elect, Eau
ouier' knows more about than do. 1t is need
less to refer to the wholesale pledges Of re-
Cancellation made in the Greeley campaign. 10
the next Cube rnatorial election we find the
Conservative party OF Virginia changing front
again, and adopting a platform friendly to
Gen. Grants administration. Gen. Kemper
steps firmly and squarely on this platform; in
every speech be made in the canvass he relte-
rates his determination to stand .honorably and
fairly by bis pledges; again. In his inaugural
be reaf6rms this determination, yet, IN the lace
Of all this, "Fauquier' and his peace men 10
time of war, and war men in time OF peace
cepsure our noble Governor because he would
not dishonor his own sacred pledges. These
same men abused Gen. Longstreet terribly tor
bis political action, but when Gen. Beaure-
gard does the same; 10 fact, goes step further,
| you uuu Oiu NcStoT kOeu. LoiiJJ ooniu6 ouo
10 long argumentatiVe letter defending his
personal friend 1t is trite, but true saying,
that, what is sauce for the goose, should be
sauce for the gander. | will not pretend TO
speak outside of my own county, but do
know that in Fauquler, with q few Honor
able exceptions" that the war men of to-day
were mostly peace men (Don-combattants) dur
| ing The late war; that several of the most
prominent and bitter against the policy of re
Cancellation" hied to Washington immediately
after the surrender, aud Oh Bonded knee sought
the pardon of Andrew johnson. They were so
gratifed by his leniency, that on their return
to Warrenton they convened a meeting of
citizens on the first Court day thereafter and
miuistration fully and freely and thanking him
for his clemency. Moreover this occurred in
less than thirty days after the execution Of Mrs.
Surratt. Oh, consistency thou art indeed a
jewell. Amidst much to condemn there is one