Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-09-21

power, would be less willing therefore
to see it repealed than the Northern
people themselves, for by means. Of this
they may now and for all time to come
determine the Presidential struggle, OF
continue their present ascendency in
the House OF Representatives.
And as means for such au end, we
know by the past that they will never
willingly surrender it.
These views, and this experience is
rapidly preparing the minds of the col
ored people, or at least the more in
telligent of them, to aid the Southern
whites. to obtain control of the Southern
States, and accounts for those Immense
majorities In the recent elections in the
States Of Alabama and Mississippi.
And this for the most manifest of
reasons, that their eyes are now being
confronted with the fact that these civil
and political rights, guaranteed by the
Thirteenth, Fourteenth. and Fifteenth
amendments, are much better respected
in those States where the Republican
party holds power.
Ia proof of this we point conspicuously
to the State of Virginia, where the two
races are moving on more harmoniously
than the most devoted friends of the
colored race could have anticipated ten
| years ago.
We have no hesitation in saying that
the rights of the colored people in
GLIDING their right to vote, are as well
protected in Virginia to-day as they
are in Massachusetts. And the provision
made by the State for our education,
while it is not all that we would desire,
yet, taking into consideration that nearly
one half of her property was lost by
the war, and a debt of more than $50,
600, 900 resting on her, it is all we have
a right to, expect. But Virginia is nc
exception to this benign action on the
colored people, where the whites have
gotten possession of the State govern.
lments. Witness Arkansas, which, a
few years since, under oarpet~bag gov
ernments, was a theatre of strife and
bloodshed. Now, under Conservative
rule, all is peace and quiet. How gladly
would the intelligent. aw-abiding COLI
ored men of South Carolina and Louis
lana exchange sheir government al q
rulers for such as those in Virginia and
other States named.
If these be facts, and no one cal
truthfully deny them, why the officiou'
zeal and energy now employed b,
Messrs. Norton Chandler and Dix il
cur behalf? We neither ask or desire
such protection as they are now propos
J ing to extend us, and to the more in
telligent colored people the question il
constantly put, why all this zeal il
behalf Of our rights just before every
Presidential election. This coincidenc,
is very striking and Suggestive.
might point to evidence in abundance
to refute the idea that the Radicals o
Republicans in our midst are really ou
special friends. Certainly in seekin!
to excite the rare-prejudices they ar
not wise or discreet friends hut | mus
be pardoned if / mistrust the unselfsl
interest professed for our race by thos
who manifest it alone about election
times, when they are aspirants for som
position of honor or emolument
Were it not for the fear of extend
ing this communication beyond al
reasonable limits | would cite In erte,as
the operations of the Freedman's Bank
professedly established in the interest
and for the benefit of our race It wa
actually but an instrument by which W
could be the more effeetualfy robbe'
and plundered of our hard earnings
The report of the Hon. B. B. Douglass
of this STATE, in the last Congress, il
relation to the Freedman's Bank. if
could be read by every colored man il
the land, would excite an indignation
against the party that permitted thi
wholesale theft Of the tens of thousand
of dollars that the poor freedmen hat
deposited with view to the purchas
of homes that no language of mine cal
depict. But must here close, trusting
that the Great Master, who overruleI
everything to his own honor and glory
may make plain to us the pathway O
duty.
I l ann most respectfully, your WELL
wisher, J. W. DuNJEE.
| VULGAR WORDS "A distinguished
author says: 81 resolved, when l was
child, never to use a word which
could not nrOnounca hefora INV r,otbo