The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-04-28
NO. 3
An Address
TO THE REPUBLICANS OF VIRGINIA AND OUR sYMPA-
TH1sERs BEYOND THE BORDERS OF THIS COMMON.
WEALTH

WEALTH.
We, who entered our protest against the unfair
arbitrary and peremptory proceedings of the late
Convention of colored men held In Petersburg,
March A. 1884, feel incumbent upon US to say why
we withdrew from said Convention. We were the
representatives OF the people who sent there,and
we believed on leaving home that we were going to
an assemblage where colored mon could and would
have free discussion of the peculiarties surround
ing their condition, and calm and deliberate In
terchange Of opinion.
We believed we were there to decide upon some
practical plan, to be set forth In an address, by
which the colored people Of the State could act with
that party which would be most liberal In securing
TO them the full and complete enjoyment Of their po
tical rights, and yet not in any way lesson their
allegiance to the Republican party materially Inn
pair their Republican organization.
But circumstances, 1t seems, consptred as to
make this ardent desire and praiseworthy motive
impossible and this 1mpossibility arose, as we be-
iieved when we entered our protest and withdrew
from said Convention, from the unjust, unfair and
Injurious intermeddling Of white Re-adjusters
throughout the State.
This intermeddling went so far In many instances
as to select those who should, from certain local.
ties, represent the coored people in that Conven-
ton. This claimed and still claim to be unjust
and unfair, and when found that large numbers
of those delegates were there upon free Transports
ton, and having their board paid by the leaders OF
that party, and that they were so tmpatfently
ious to perform the role marked out for them by
their political masters, make 1t impossible
for any one to be heard who differed in the sight
est degree from their proposed plan-whsn we were
fully aware of these facts we decided to wash our
hands of the proceedings of that dtsorgantzed mob,
and TO say to the people why acted thus, and to
AOu LOU
We do not agree with any set of men who will
Ing to commit rights and welfare to the keeping
OF any man, or set Of men, for we know too well by
the rise of all nations and people that eternal vigil
lance is the price of liberty and If any opportuni
ty to better our condition cviy or politically has
selves to the keeping of some Others while we
quietly plodded along, bindly trusting to the gem
erostty of the men to whose keeping we had commit
ted our liberties We will not consent that men who
were selected by no one but themselves, and who
represent themselves only, shall dictate and shape
thousands
est hard listed toilers throughout the length and
breadth of the State we care nothing for ofice but
whose highest aim is to feed and educate their
children so that they may step upon ltfeS arena
with reasonably fair preparation for its duties.
While we have always looked with favor upon any
in the South which would tend in any
degree to ameliorate condition, and soften the
which the whites hold against us, we have not con-
cuded to unceremoniously forsake those who were
our friends in the darkest hour of our dtrest dis
tress.
We believe that If we are to change one white
to see whether or not our condition 10
to be materially benefited and permanently better
ed. If not, why should we change?
We believe in that maxim which says: 1.-THE
friends thou hast, and their adoption tried grapple
them to thy soul as with hooks Of STEEL"
AS to the talk about uberalzing the feelings of
the whites towards us, 1t may be regarded as bosh
until we are able to demand something for our
selves by reason of uirtue and inteltiqence.
1t Is true, as President Garfield said to the Hon.
R. B. Elliott and others, that to as strong and as
as trained man, we must be likewise
trained; that foundation must be solid to support
the superstrueture. We must learn to cease being
the wards Of any man or set of men; we must learn
strongest weapon of defense must learn to
1t properly and to some purpose We must recog-
n1ze the fact that with yet human rights is the
paramount consideration.
In this of do not forget that as citizens
the burdens laid upon the State are to be borne by
US as well as by our white brethren, but we must
look to the proper enjoyment of national rights
drst and then to the proper regulation OF munich
pal rights.
We have ever believed that the Republican party
should act in the coming contest party. Be-
ieving, ALSO that the colored people should be uni
we do, that they at any time, with
fair election and honest count, cast $4,000
10000 votes they should say largely what is to be
ione and what they want. We know, also, that they
are numerically strong enough to decide the COM
ing contest in favor of either or the other wing
1f the Democratic party, or perhaps carry the Re-
publican party to victory.
We extremely anxious to see the statute,
which requires the payment of the capitation tax
a prerequisite to voting, abolished; want the
abolition of the whipping, and the invtoate mainte
nance of the free schools But to this time Meth
er the Re-adjuster nor the Funder party have in
their platforms enunciated any principles contain.
ing these positive declarations; therefore we be-
eve that any positive action by the 18th of March
Convention was premature and illadvised, and
therefore we would recommend that the Republi-
cans throughout the State keep intact their organi
cations, and make ready to send their very best
to the Republican State Convention, when one is
held, and then and there, after knowing what each
wing of the Democratic party proposes dodeclare
what shall best be done by the Republican party
under the circumstances
We make this appeal in the interest Of peace and
harmony, and hope that whatever line of policy
shall be decided upon, may carry to success and
deliver the State from Bourbon rule and place her
in the galaxy of prosperous and progressive States
where, by reason of her natural resources, she
properly belongs.
[Sfgned.l JOSEPH T. WILSON.
President of the Conference of Delegates who with
drew from the Petersburg Convention, March IA.
1881.
w. P. LUCAS, Secretary.
Edward T. Bland. H. L. Harris
D. L. Jones. J. G. L. Paige
P J. Carter. J. H. Meek1ns
Jephas Jones. j. w. Cromwell
Charles Seals. G. W. Jones.
R. Bandy. E. P. HILL
John Scroggins, R. F. Tancil
W. ii. Whiting. A. W. Harris.
II. L. Holmes. c. W. Lindsey
T. B. Pinn. NJ. R. Demortie
j. W. Pondexter. M B. Thomas
March, 1881