Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-04-15
To the Readjusters Of Augusta County.

see that you are called upon to assem-
BILE at the Court no use, on the 25th Of
April, for certain purposes. think [ can
safely say that almost every one of you if
u personal friend of mine, and that am
under past political obligations to almost
every gentleman of your party in the coun-
ty; therefore you can feel with certainty
that I address this letter to you in all
kindness, sincerely hoping and believing
that you will receive it in the same spirit
in which it is written. [ know that, with
very few exceptions, you are sensible, hon.
orable, noble and brave; but you your
selves are bound to admit that some of you
are led on by a blind zeal, some by perso-
nal hatred and others by desire for Office.
Already the mask has been torn from
the face of your "veiled prophet already
has be sold you for a price, and dares ask
you to ratify the sale. Will you do it
God forbid Will you confirm this unbo-
ly alliance he has formed with the enemies
of your state VIII you join their ranks
to make war upon your fellOw-citiZenS
Will you snatch from the temple of fame
the monument of Virginia's greatness,
| which was erected and placed there by our
great and patriotic ancestors Will you
turn your state over to your former slaves?
destroy her institutions, and throw her
people into anarchy and ruin ? Will you
forfeit your. claims to patriotism in the
eyes of the present and future generations?
all to crafty your hatred of the people
who differ with you in reference to tie
State debt?
Now suppose you form this coalition,
and success crowns your unpatriotic eff
| forts, what will be the result ? Already
;s,; ot,ov no Of =,
gealS with their ermine bedraggled and be-
| smirched in partisan cesspool deciding
cases like old Jeffreys of Eugland) to
please tyrant. see man seated in the
| gubernatorial chair whose hatred to one
| half the people is unbounded. A legisla-
| ture, worse, if possible, than the black and
| tan Convention which framed the Under
| wood Constitution, legislature which
| will riot and revel in the Capitol of your
| State, disgrace to yourselves, and to
mankind. see men totally ignorant and
depraved filing most of the offices in the
State. You will be compelled to give the
minor offices and some of the most impor-
tant ones. to the negro: [ see Ignorance.
superstition, and fanaticism, stalking like a
pestilence over the land and overwhelming.
in it's accursed course, the intelligence,
decency, and responsibility of our people.
I see civilization backstepping into barba-
rism and sweeping into the Unsuitable
Jaws of communism all that is good, holy
or virtuous. This is no exaggeration, no
overweight picture: and l beg to call
your attention to Athens, Rome and SYRIA
cuse; to England, under the Rump parlia-
ment, to France and all of the Swiss re-
publics in the last decade Of the last centu-
ry, and to France on two occasions since.
All of these are fearful illustrations of the
result of just what you are called upon to
do-to place your State in the hands of
the ignorant and vicious portion OF her
people. Readjuster Democrats of Angus
ia, will you do 1T Would such course
elevate the negrOor would it lower you !?
Would not the many absorb the few 7
Finally, in the name of all that is dear to
YOU and to me, either in the past the pres
emit or the future. reflect calmly and dis
passionately, each one of you for him
self. Do not be governed by those who
have axes to grind, but let every man de-
eide for himself, at his own home, and by
his own Preside.
If the dreadful knife is to be plunged in
to the already bleeding bosom of the ven
cradle mother of us all, let her not. as she
wraps the robe of her former greatness
around her. and falls at the base of the
statue of Washington, exclaim, with NOR
LITIGATION and establishment And you too,
o ny sons -