The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-05-06
The Valley Virginian--- Extra.


| OF slavery; which made war on Mexico for this
| purpose, and undertook to carry slavery into
| Kansas which eXerted its drest might to deS-
troy this Government in the interest of slavery;
which opposed at every step the abolition of
| slavery; which fought aglint the admission of
| the colored man to citizenship. and threw itself
solidly against the amendments to the constitr-
ton; and finally against the civil rights bill,
| whose ONLY aim was justice to the colored peo-
! pie. The Republican party may have failed in
! a high duty but you can readily see that what
| ever may be the fate of the colored people, and
| what position they are hereafter to occupy so
| cially and politically, will depend either upon
! the continuance in power OF the Republican
party or upon their efforts to elevate themselves,
| to improve their minds to such standard as
| will enable them morally and politically to
| Judge what is good and what is bad. Ii Your
| proposed convention be composed OF men of
sound sense, men who are llnseltiSh enough to
feel that ours is the county of both races in all
its amplitude, such men as | know you have in
every country i'll the State, and let them be I'M
tramIneled and unpledgett to any man or any
policy, and with the determination to exercise
their own Judgment in the consideration OF
matters OF Importance / am free to confess
that great and lasting good will be the result
but if Your convention should unfortunately
contain some of the turbulent spirits who are
CHRONIC DIsTURBERs OF THE PEACE
and dignity of all our Republican gatherings,
greatly fear the result.
Let true men be appointed to the convention;
let its proceedings be marked with that ability
and dignity which know colored men to pos
sess; state your grievances calmy, and, above
all, be firm in your conduct after you have de-
cided what course yon will pursue, and you Will
be sustained by the better class Of men Of my
own of both political parties.
Do not take any step rashy. Remember,
nfn hcu ri no nnhl
fabric desire, most earnestly desire. to see
you in the full enjoyment in all your rights L
wish TO see them secured and protected by
peaceful means. | hold that political truth is
like revealed truth; let it first be ''pure, then
peacuabie.'
| believe the colored p eple should be dealt
with justly Gn its bloldest sense) as kindred
people-that they should be admitted to full
| participation Of the benefits of common gov
eminent. regret to say as they now stand
they and their political friends of the opposite
race are met OH all occasions in the South, with
q; spirit OF angry and vindlctlve controversy,
| and believe events will bear me cut when l
say the coored people have shown common
dable willingness to contribute everything to
| sustain the government in its just and equal ac
ton, and they have shown determination
equally comlnendatory in refusing to submit to
acts Of oppression. belle, e they will give all
they possess to defend the honor of Virginia
! DAI DelcNc titv VIII as one HILL, duUpt Vic
language of u statesman now passed away
! millions for defense, not cent for tribute.
| | am II southern man by birth, by rearing, by
education and by all the tender sympathies
which bind the heart of man to his section and
people; but claim the wider and more glori-
our privilege OF being
A CITIZEN OF THE AMERICAN UNION,
and. while love the South and her glorious
traditions should love them less if they did
not form part OF this grand Union. No act
OF mine shall contribute toward surrendering
the right Of any and all citizens OF Virginia,
without regard TO race or color, to discuss and
vote upon measures for the government OF u
common country.
honestly believe it is important that such
right should exist, and that every man should