The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-15
The State Canvass.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY, VA, !
This, 10 1891

July IL, 1851
Editors Dispatch II is not my habit TO
| intermedde IN public affairs, but feei tnat
a crisis is approaching-or perhaps II may
be more appropriately said IS already upon
us-whch justifes the bumblest ctlzen OF
the Commonwealth in raising warning
voice, and asking that his views as 10 Tue
mode Of escaping threatened DANGER may at
| least he respectfuIIy considered and ask
brief space in your columns for the eX'
preston OF nv own, believing that they are
entertained in common with very large
majority OF the Democratic party OF my
own section. II has already been announced
nv the gubernatOrial nominee OF the Re.
adiuster party that " Africa Is to be carried
| into tue war" 10 the coming State election.
In other words. the Issue Is TO be made up
whether the white man or the black man shall
administer the government OF the State.
| II it be determined in favor OF the latter,
nav God help us, and especially those OF US
whose lots have been cast in portion OF
the State which has been and is now OF me-
cessity dominated by the black man. That
| the issue is a doubtful one, TO say the least,
every cindd mind must admit. Both the
Readiuster and Radical parties are mars hal
| ling their forces for the contest. That there
| is 10 be an alliance offensive and defensive
between the great mass OF both OF these
naIties for the purposes Of this contest,
must be evident TO all Can this alliance he
successfully resisted by the regular Demo
cratic organization Can our threatened
| fate be averted, and the government OF Vlrs
IsginIa preserved IN its integrity to the de-
scendants OF its illustri0uS founders? These
things may be accomplished. Not, how
ever, desire to say most emphaticalIy, un.
der flag with the falntest suspicion OF
Funderism attaching TO it, or by any pro-
nounced leader of Funderism heretofore
at the head OF the Democratic State ticket,
and, most OF all. not by one who, in the
State canvass OF 1879, took part in the de-
nunciation of the Readiu,ter party as
thieves and robbers. A%pOrtion OF the
white voters of Virginia, respectable in char
acter and sufficient in numbers to turn the
tide of battle, will rally around no such flag
and support no such man, and If we go into
the contest with the one or the other, no.
thing but defeat-disastrOus defeat-awaits
us. 1t would be supeIhuOus to depict the
long train Of evils which must follow TO us,
both politically and socially. We can only
hone to achieve success, and we bad as well
look this fact squarely in the face now, by
winning back from the Readjuster party, in
part at least, the men who went of from the
| regular Democratic organization in the dis
| astTous canvass of 1879. This we can only do
by complete surrender OF the debt question
and By putting at the head OF the
Conservative State ticket some man who
has not made himself especially obnoxious
to that portion OF the Democratic party
composing for the most part the Readiuster
party. The agitation Oh the debt question
as a political one has brought Virginia to
the verge Of ruin, In the interest OF peace,
harmony, and good government, it must be
eliminated from our State politics. It's fur
Their discussion as political question seems
to me, with due Difference TO the opinions
Of others, the extreme OF folly and mad
ness. Place then at the head Of the State
ticket some man OF moderate views, pledged
to sligo any bill which may be passed
by the representatives OF the people for
the settlement OF the State debt, leav-
ing further questions, If any there
be, to the decision of the courts.
Do this, and many Of the Conservative Re.
adiusters will return to the old Democratic
fold, aud, Strengthened by this union, the
Democratic party will again carry its stand
ard TO victory, and triumphantly proclaim
the supremacy OF the white man over every
foot OF Virginia soil. Desiring to sail un-
der no false colOrs will say frankly that
have never acted either with the Funder or
ReAdiuster party, believing that l saw the
end from the beginning. Regarding the
strife between the two wings of the party
as unnatural and suicidal and destructive OF
our highest and best interests, both political
and social, have taken no part in the bit.
ter contest between them beyond the sup
port of the regular Hancock and English
ticket In the presidential election.
The great object which | have bad steadily
in view, now have in view, aud which, in
my humble judgment, far transcends in
importance all other considerations, is the
union OF the white people OF Virginia for
all that Is sacred to our race. have never
known, and do not now know, OF any suf-
ficient reason for the disruption OF the
Democratic party upon the debt question,
and / thank God that have had no palt IN
IL. With heart full OF foreboding for my
State, and especially for my own peculiarly
unfortunate section, would say with the
earnestness begotten Of impending dan
ger, " May God save the Commonwealth"
MEcgLENBURG.
| [The distinguished gentleman who sends
the foregoing says in it that be acted with
neither the Flinders nor the Resdjusters in
1879. We allow him TO be heard as one
whose opinions are entitled TO respect.
OF course, We cannot endorse hi; PROPOSE