Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-09-13
A Letter of the Rev. j w. Dunjee TO
his COIOred Friends of the so nth.
- p,ob,
From the Richmond w big.
RICHMOND. Va Sept. II,

and Of the SouM generaty:
So nu ncrouS are NY letters from LOUISIANA
aud from all parts of the South. and from both
races that il would consume large proportion
of nv time were | to attempt to answer them
10 detail | must, zen, briefly respond to
them collectively and give tie more important
reasons that bave prompted me to co cooperate
with the conservatives and democrats of my
State aud of the couutry IN the support OF tue
meu, measures and principles OF the demo-
cratic party.
| claim no greater honesty or patriotism
than Influences others OF my race who differ
with me aud who see proper TO unte with the
lew whites Of the South 10 their crusade
against the great body OF the whites of my sec
ton. will not denounce them for so doing,
for they are but acting upon the prejudices
that have been instilled into them by selfish
aud corrupt leaders, until they verify believe,
iu banding together aud forming color line,
they are but performiDg their duty to their
Gyd, their race and their country. While,
however, [ concede to them honesty of pur-
pose, | claim like Integrity ln following the
die ates of my honest and deliberate judgment,
and feel perfectly well assured that the time
Is not distant when our race throughout the
South will not hesitate to declare that the path
| now point out to them is the only one that
can lead to an abidug peace between the races,
aud that prosperity, happiness and coutent-
ment that mus, be the desire OF ell worthy the
smiles OF beni6cent Providence.
There never was time when the fact was
more clearly perceived and felt that the TWO
races, the colored numbering 4,000 900 and the
whites 5000, 900. have to live together within
the limits OF the sixteen Southern States; and
that their highest moral, Intellectual, and ply
IL las~z tln fanb thak bath
shall harmouize 10 their respective spheres, So
that each may attain the greatest progress, IN
these respects, to which their race is capable.
We believe, after ten years experience, that
this can best be attained by the colored people
ceasiog to antagonze the white race in their
political campaigns, and mantestlng that con-
fdence politically in them which they daily
manifest towards them in their business rela
tlons.
We sec constantly that colored men trust
most implicitly the whites 10 vital matters ap
pertaining 70 their contracts Tor labor, By which
they and their families are supported Why,
therefore, should We not equally trust them
about our political matters, which are far lnte-
rior 10 their bearing on our we'll belogI
If we answer candidly why this want of con-
fdence 10 political matters, We must say, 10 our
Judgment, it is iue to the fact that our polltl-
North, have persistcntly instilled 10 the minds
of the colored people the idea if the Democratic
party obtain power that the amendments to
tue Federal Constitution and the guarantees OF
the States 10 behalf of freedom would be re-
pealed, and that We would be put back into
slavery. This has placed the colored pople po-
Etlcally more In antagonlsm to the S0uthern
whites aud rendered their minds more susccpti-
bic to all forms of imposition at the bands OF the
carpet bag element than all other causes COM
bined. The experience, however, OF conserva-
tive or democratic asceodency 10 the last SIX or
seven years in most of the Southern States, ls
causing the scales Of prejudice and error to tall
very rapidly from our eyes, aud 50 lar from
placing our rights 10 jeopardy we arc rapidly
learning that our personal security seems to be
only assured to us where that party has control
10 the South.
We begin, further, to see that such dire
result as pulling four millions of people back
into bondage is not evea desired by the larger
class Of Southern whites, if they could accomp-
lish it. aud we begin, moreover, to learn that
its accomplishment is utterly impossible, even
if they desire it, ln fact, the pubic sediment
of all civilized nations would be utterly hostile
to it, if it should be desired by the Southern
whites, backed up by Northern people.
In regard to the fourteenth amendment,
which gives to the Southern States some thir-
teen or fourteen more members OF Congress,
and, by consequence, the same number 10 the
electoral college, more than they would have
without ii; the Southern whites controlling this
additional political power, would be less Wllng
therefore to see 1t repealed than the Northern
people themselves, for by means OF this they
may now aud for all ime to come determine the
Presidential struggle, or continue their present
ascendency in the House of Representatives.
And as means for such an end, We know by
the past that they will never willingly surren'
der it.
These views, and this experience is rapidly
preparing the minds of the colored people, or
at least the more Intelligent of them, TO aid the
Southern whites to obtain conuol OF the South
era States, aud accounts for those lm mcnSe una
jorlcs iu the recent elections in the States OF
AabaDa and Mississippi. And this tor the
most manifest of reasons, that their eyes are
now being confronted with the fact that these
owl aud political rights, guaranteed by the
Thirteenth Fourteenth aud Fifteenth amend
meuts, are much better respected In those
States where the conservative or democratic
party is in the ascendancy, than those where
the Republican party holds power
lu proof OF this We pOlot coDSplcuously 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, including tnelr
right to vote, are as well protected 10 Virginia
to-day as they are 10 Massachusetts,. And the
provision made by the State for our education,
while it is DOT all that We would desire, yet
taking iuto consideration that nearly one half
OF her property was lost by the war, and debt
OF more than $50 100000 resting on her, 1t is
all We have right TO expect. But Virginia is
no exception to this benign action on the COL
ored people, where the whites have gotten
Possession of the State governments. Witness
Arkansas which, few years since, under
petbag governments, was theatre of strife
and bloodshed. Now, under conservative rule
all Is peace and quiet. How gladly would the