The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-01-15

Dsveraux, Georgia. G. W, Price, Jr.
Georgia; L, MADISON, ]. W, Hood, J..
Leary, ]. H. Harris, Steward Ellison
North Carolina, On being received BY
General Garfield in the pArlor, Mr.. Elliott
the spokesman, addressed the Prssidan
elect as folloWs:
As representatives Of the colored people
Of the statesot Virginia, North Carolina
South Carolina, Florida and Texas, We
have come in their behalf and in our own
names to congratulate you on YOUR tri
umphant election 10 the high and reHpon
sibls office OF President Of the United
States, and to assure you that as their
prayers during the exciting political
contest which go happily eventuated
10 your success, we ferveptly utter.
ell In your behalf as the stand,
ard bearer OF the Republican party,
90 shall they still pray that you may be
guided by that divine wisdom Ia securing
to oil American citizens the blessing Of
equal laws and just administration; cheer.
ed by the many brave utterRnces which
YOU have in the pSst made In our behalf,
and recognizing the valuable service you
have hitherto rendered In the cause OF our
emancipation and eniranchisemeut,
We have alto come 10 present to you q
brief statement OF our condition In the
South, net in spirit Of diclation, but 10
the belief that fair representation OF our
cause can best be made by those Of US
who are compelled to endure Vrevious
wrongs for mere opinions sake. Although
clothed with the rights Of citizenship by
the provisions u the Constitution Of the
United States, and recognized as
such by the legislative ensctmsntr
and Judicial decisions, yet, still In oil the
Southern States we are but citizens 10
name, and not In fact, Our right to parti
CipAte In elections or choice OF public
officers Is not only questioned but In many
localities denied us by means OF armed
violence, fraud and intimidation. In many
OF the Southern States, sir, the rights OF the
majori les are illegally and wantonly sub
veIted by the imperious will OF uusCrupu
lous minorities for no other reason thu n
thattbeSe ma ajOritios consist ofmen who
free and enfranchlsed by the laws OF the
land, prefer 10 remain loyal to the country
nj which they are citizens, and steadfas,
in the support OF that political parry
which saved the life OF the Nation, and
10 the charge Of which can most safely bG
entrusted the duty Of preserving the re.
suits accomplished by the late war.
Believing the same manly courage
which characterized your utterance 10
the city OF New York last summer TO the
loyal boys In blue will sustain you 10 O
fearless administration OF the laws with.
out favor or pRrliAlity, we look forward
with very great pleasure to the time
when you shall sume control Of
the government. As you did not
then, cir, though your own election stood
trembling In the balance, falter In render.
ing full justice 10 the royalty and patriot.
ism Of our race, as tested at Wagner and
at Lustria, and in the fery crater al Pc.
tersburg and other battlefslds, as we'll az
the services rendered by them In
giving BuCcor to the Country's de.
tenders who had made their escape from
southern tombs Of living death, wO feel
confident that our rights and interests, in
common with those Of others, will not be
forgotten or neglected by you 10 the hour
Of your triumph. We dev0tedly pray that
your administration may be crowned with
most abundant success, and throughout
your eeiforte as chief magistrate we shall
have country that shall lift up oil and
cpp'e none.
General Garfield responded in the fol.
lowing language:
GENERAL ELLIOTT AND GRNTLEMHN:-I
thank you Tor your congratulations ON the
successful termination Of the great cam.
paign that has recently closed, and
especially for your kind allusions to me
personally for the part l bore In that
campaign. What have done, and what
l have said concerning your
race and the great problem that your
presence on this continent has raised,
have said as q matter OF profound Convic.
ton, and hold 10 with all the meaning OF
the words employed in expressing It..
What you have said In regard 10 the stu.
alton OF your people, the troubles that
they encountered, tho evils from which
they have suffered, and atill suffer, | lie.
tened 10 with the deepest attention and
shall give II the full measure OF re Election.
The way 10 make the mJority always
powerful over the minority Il TO make lie
members as trained and intelligent as the
minority itself. That brings the equality
Of citizenship, and no law can confer AID
maintain, 10 tho long run, q thing that Ia
not pheld with reasonable degree OF
culture and intelligence. Legislation
ought 10 do all It can. |
have made these BngRestions
simply 10 indicate that the education Of
your race, 10 my judgment, lies atthe base
Of the final solution u your great question
and that cannot be altogether In the hands
OF the State or National Government. The
Government ought 10 do all II properly
can, but the native hungeriug and thirst.
Ing for knowledge that the Creator planted
Ia every child must he cultivated by the
parents Of those children to the best pos.
sible degree oi their ability.
l rejJiCe that you have expressed 30
strongly aud earnestly your Views In re-.
gard to the necessity Of your education
l have felt for years that that was the q nal
solution. Those elfJrs that are humble
and comparatively out OF sight are In the
long run the efforts that. tell. | have
sometimes thought that the men
that Hink q COfferdAm In the
river and work for months
In anchoring great stones to build The
solid abu'ment and piers, whose work is
bye and bye flooded by the water and out
OF sight, DO not get their share Of the
credit The gaudy structure Of The bridge
that rests on these piers, and across which
the trains thunder, is the thing that
strikes the eye Of the general pub.
lie a. great deal more. The sunk.
en- piers RAd hard work, the educa.
tionai growth and the building DIP Of 10.
dusty; the economy and eli that can
help TO be the foundation Of real prosper.
ity ls the work that Ii the long run tells.
Some Scottish poet tAid, or put In the
mouth Of some prophet 10 say, the time
would come when
nBtftt'mD tiIht
And BettfAm'e nigh
Shall IN Soton kmCnSomtn'1 hSiahtn
and II 10 when The might and
IL. "a