The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-06-15


The platform adopted BY the ksad,u,'e'
convention recently held In this CITY mas
heeu r.-es the text for numerous lioe''
mon the fair name Of Virginia. From iSos
ur 10 1880 the Republican lioel'ers OF 'n'
south almost always excepted Virgins
when they detained against what they de-
clared to be the outrsges committed upon
The southern negroes. They conceded ths'
elcctIous In this State at least were con-
Quoted impartIalIy, aud that every negro
was as free TO vote for the candidates OF inc
l,cpub,ic,n party as every white to vote ior
those Of the Democratic party. The long
lines Of negroes that used TO be seen on the
merniug OF election.days standing with
their bead-men at the doors OF the voting
places furnished conclusive evidence tha'
they fe,t no fear Of beisg molested or in
any way annoyed because they would not
vote with the whites. Even then, when
our people bad not become accustomed 10 the
sight Of negroes casting their votes side by
side with white men, and when there was
no capitatiou tax TO be paid as a prerequi-
site to voting, the negroes OF Virginia never
for one moment felt any apprehension OF
being troubled because they voted as they
pleased.
We suppose that the elections In Virginia
are as impartially conducted as those OF any
State in the Union, and that there has been
as little cheating done. Very seldom has
any such charge been made. The follow
Ing from the Lyncbburg Pirginidn de-
scrIbes an exceptional state OF things. That
paper says:
ave know that the Boss General Ma.
honel discharged every one OF the colored
men employed here 10 the service OF the
railroad In 1869 who voted the Republican
ticket. They were good bands, whom some
OF the Is bite officers wished to retain; but
the Boss [General Mahone] said the edict
had gone forth, aud .the last one OF them
must go.' That looked like "a free ballot
aud q fair count ,"
As rule, there are not at any election
more than dozen voting-places out OF the
many hundreds in Virginia at which there
Is any suspicion OF uniairness or BULLDOG
ing. And that such was the true state OF
the case was almost always $50 far as we
know slways) admitted by the Republicans
In Congress who were in former years in
the habit OF waving the bloody shirt. They
charged election crimes upon South Carroll
ma, Louisiana, and Mississippi, but not
Spon Virginia.
That the ReSdjusers have deprived the
n, fo~ in
OF the fairness OF her elections, in respect OF
The perfect liberty OF the negroes to vote as
they will, is abundaptly evident TO every
one who has regularly read the Republican
Journals OF the North since the platform OF
the MALONE party made its appearance in
The public Journals. The following para
graph from the Wheeling InteRigencer,
edited by A. w. CAMPBELL. will enable the
reader to understand what we are abiding
to:
..The Readiusters' State Convention in
Virginia has inaugurated campaign in
that State which promises to be without
parallel In the South since the war. Their
platform divides distinctly into two parts,
and vicious as the financial portion may be,
is admirable. No Republican convention
North or South ever made more terse or
comprehensive statement Of the rights of
all classes of citizens under the coDstitu-
tionaI amendments than that which comes
from the Virginia ReadjusteIs. They de-
nounce every species Of prescription that
has been devised bs the Bourb ons OF the
South against the coI0red race. They ac-
cept the latter as citizens in the full and
literal meaoiDg OF the word, and denounce
With fiery scorn the bulldoziDg. the ballot
box stuflng, the social intimidation, and
the polI-tax-the means resorted to by the
rulers OF Virginia politics to keep control
OF State which is naturally opposed to
them.'
Virginia needs no defence at home against
such lbels. In the North she needs to be
defended, but cannot gain hearing. The
Republican Journals Of that section repeat
these Iibels day after dly, and never permit
their readers to see denial or contradic-
ton OF them, just as they constantly repeat
the stale falsehood, which we have over and
over again exposed that the Readiusters
propose to assign one third OF the State
debt TO West Virginia, and TO pay the other
two thirds ignoring entirely the fact that
the RiDDLEBERGER bill proposes to repu-
diaie more than twelve millions OF dollars
OF bonds which Legislature after Leeisla-
ture, Governor after Governor, and the Su-
preme Court Of Appeals, have solemnly de-
clared and decided to evidence debt Justly
owing by the State Of Virginia.
Through CAMERON, LEWIS, and BLAIR. the
Convention which put forth platform cal
culaied, II not intended, TO ruin the reputa-
tion Of Virginia must be so rebuked as that
their fate may serve as warning to others.
The November election must put an end to
the party which laid down this platform.
1t Is bad enough to be lbelled by northern
men.
What Then?
IL the MabOueite, are Defeated This va,r