West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1880-08-28

oi the war, like hundreds OF thousands of
others who had opposed secession, was
soldier OF the lost csU1e, and shrank
from no 1Scrifce in its defence. Since
the surrender of Lee | have known no
nag but the flag OF the Union. aud have
honestly labored for a restoration of con
stiiuuonal liberty aud the Union OF our
fathers ,Whilc opposed So the recon
struction acts and the methods OF their
enforcement, hsye never been regarded
as an ultra man, and have always advoCs-
ted moderate measures. In 1873, when
the people of Alabama determined To call
convention 10 enable them 10 rid them
selves of the odious Constitution forced
upon them 10y Congress, and TO form
new Constitution more acceptable 20 the
masses, ! advocated the election OF "a non
partisan delegation 90 the Convention, be
lieyng that Constitutional Convention
should know no party, and that partisan
politics ought not to enter into the can
vass. l offered myself TO tic pcopl, as a
candidate upon that platform, and had
opposed to me, as the regular Democratic
nominee, the Hon. w. NJ. Lowe, the pres
ent Greenback Congressman from this
district, | was defeated, simply because
the Republicans refused to support me.
AT that time they were unwilling TO vote
for Democrat under any circumstances.
They have grown more liberal since, and
are very eager now 10 vote for independ
cnt Democrats under any and all circum
stances. In 1875 they had not realized To-
It's full eNtc 1t how damning was the rec
ord they had made in this State. Gnd that
the sceptre of power had departed from
their hands forever
During the eight years they he1 con
troll of our State Government they euc-
cceded in nearly bankruptinE our State
and people, adding TO our State debt near
" thirty million OF dollars. For this
they had little or nothing to show. Ia
1874, thanks to the Civil Rights bill. ,he
taxpayers of the State succeeded in cleo
ting Democratic Governor and Legis-
lature. At that time our State bopds
were utterly worthless, and our State
money was selling at sixty cents on the
dollar. Now our bonds arc at premium.
our state money has been redeemed at
par, our people are prosperous in a re
markGblc degree, both white and colorcd
and the latter have at last realized that the
/ Democrats are the best conscryators Of
/ peace, the best promoters of the interests
of All classes, and the safest guardians Of
the public credit. Do not understand me
10 say that all the COlOrcd people have re
allied this truth; what ! mean 20 say il
That mutiiules of the more intelligent
ones among them have done so. Copee
qucntiy. they vote with the Democrats,
freely. intclligontly and oftentimes in
despite of shameful bulllozing on the
part of the ignorant masses Of their own
race. 1t Is no Shotgun policy" which
has Effected this revolution. The simple
truth is, the negro has proved himself 10
be more of man than his heretofore
would bo Republican masters believed
him to be.
Let me furnish the readers of The Sun
little OF the evidence l haYe e. hand 10
support ,hl5 statement.
There arc now published in the State Of
Alabama several papers edited and owned
by colored men. Two of these, and by
far the two Gb.cst, are edited in the inter
es.s of the Democratic party. The Her
aid of Huntsville is one of the two. 1t is
edited by w. IL. Council, who is also the
| principal Of the State Colored Normal
| School at Huntsville. Council is not yet
thirty years Of aoc. lie was born a
slave, and has educated himself since the
war. During the days Of cGrpet-bag rule
he was a violent Republican. lie is a
man Of rare gifts, however, and is, besides
I pOsscsscds Of great force and indcpcnd-
cnce Of character. IL took but a few
| years Of Democratic rule TO convince L,n
Of his carly political blunders. He not
only had the good sense 70 see that the
State had been benefited by the downfall
OF his party, but be also had the manli-
! ness 20 confess as much. When he first
began TO give public expressions Of his
change Of sentiments his life w.g repeat
edly threatened by his colOred opponents.
/ have myself seen him, on the stand,
face a bowling mob of ignorant blacks
with the dauntless courage of Roman
gladiator. This brave colored man ia
born orator, and but few white men
of his own age can surpass him as a stump
speaker During our late canvass he was
on the stump constantly for tLc Demo.
cratic ticket Among the counties visited
by him was LowndCs--a county reported
90 Je controlled by the shotgun policy
The following is taken from his paper
Of Aug T., giving an account of what he
did and saw in LowAtes Lot the Re
pubicaDs OF the North who are declaim-
ing 90 funously about the solid South,
read and ponder il well
We went TO Lowndes county week be-
fore last % assist Iu the canvass. On the
night 81 our arrival we spoke 20 small
audience IN the Court House. We never
met kinder people than we found In
Lowndcs The white people Of the co.,
are labOring earnestly by acts Of kindness
90 convince the cOlOred people that tho
tales tirculatod by their vicious leaders
are untrue.
On Wedne day Of last week a barbecue
was given, % which all were invited fir