The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-03-16
Letter from senator Mahone

Letter from Senator Mahone.
The Boston Iracellsr of Saturday prints til
correspondence between Senator Malone. {
Virginia, and the prominent men of Mass
chusetts who invited him to visit Boston an
| deliver an address on the anniversary q
WashingtOn's Birthday. The invitation wa
of parties, and asked Gen Malone to speak q
Virginia, her present anG her future Anon
he sgners were Gov. Long, ex-G Cows Ciaflir
Talbot, Banks, and Rice; M P. Kennare
Ginery Twitchell, and B. w. Harris. Ger
Malone replied:
SENATE CHAMBER, WASHINGTON, Feb IL, 1854.
Hfs Erceiisncy John D. Long, Governor Of Aassachs
DEAR SIR: thank you and the other dtstinpuis,
ed gentlemen OF Massachusetts who have unite
with you In the courtesy Of an Invita- to deiive
an addre IS In Boston on Washington 5Sa ,day VI
2sry ne fssh hihsSsai M 1kka2a dHsssd
able to be present, and have hesit 70 .
distinguished an opportunity. th
occasion appeal elOquently to the
virginian, and regret more than ca t0l{ Ul
unable to be in Boston to address such an audie
upon such a topic. Tho source and the charactd
the invitation invoke tho ambition and patriot
OF every American To worthily comply wit
would involve something more than fond rem
cence, 80 natural amid the associations OF
favored city; more than commemoration of the
rotsm OF the Vrgtnians who marched with w
ingtOn to Cambridge, and of the soldiers of Ma
chusetts who shared the glory Of Yorktown,
more even than to exchange congratu lions
the suspicious outlook for our heaven blessed q
try.
A determination at this time in the historic CT
Boston OF citizens Of Massachusetts and Vire
would excite in our countrymen something bee
appreciation Of the sentiment awakened BY sue
occasion, and much more than remembrance o.
antipodal relations In mertcan politics honor
and ably sustained by these two States for
than so years of our history. Added to tho
ure born of q patriotic reunion SO dramatic, VI
D0 public DoCtRtfOn of 0mDbatiC
the altered plane Of political discussion, an
pecially OF the nnal Punishment from eur polit
sectional strifes and 1ealousies Happily, the
now no political organization avowing other
ments and appeals for public favor than sue
rest upon the theory OF restored Union--rea
In sentiment as we'll as In fact-cemented in q
lightened sympathies OF all our countrymen, q
as protected by the national authority.
We're In Boston ON the 22d Vt February, A
have other aims than to employ rhetorical
tudes In praise of the able men of Massaeh
and Virginia for sincerity In the great deb
parties In the past, and in honoring tho d
men on both sides, who risked their lives
struggle Of arms that followed that half-.,ns
heated discussion. The sentiment Of tn
is already recorded in eulogy Of the IS
those who differed with zach other upon
now belonging to history, and not subjectg
table discussion in current politics. TIN
Webster formulated the faith Of Massachus
the declaration that her ''past was secure"
pardonable pride the virginian ayows his TAI
posterity will duly honor the genius and tho
which have entitled Vtrginians to share the
tage OF fame which is the property Of all Anne
",
ment of representative trusts at tho nation
tai or In the local political struggles Of tha
5tates there are grave duties superior to
legerdemain of politics and more mandst
loyalty to party Virginia is awake to thos
and her publ c men have no pretext for
pretfng the sentiment Of her people as to
proper and necessary In the present an
striven for in the future. Virginia sees nj
cation for political alignments based upon
array or sectional menace; she disowns all
alliances based upon fundamental quest
pnted before the war between the States,
have grown out of the results OF the war, Of
have arisen from the measures Of reconf
Virginia regards the amendments to the
Constitution as part OF the organic law OF
to be as sacredly executed as the origin8
nent. The Will OF her people cannot be
with too much emphasis upon this and the
subject of the perpetual and harmonious cd
tion Of the tate and Federal Governments
are cardinal beliefs in the American creed;
fundamental tenets of the Virginia creed.
To tell you Of the present Of Virginia,
With more cioquence than that Of words pc
to her performance in those lines OF devel
which have made Massachusetts eminent
Dmm 'awealths. Our people have Just d
popular education to be among the most sac
ties and trusts OF representative governmel
Ire bravely executing that honorable decree
valuable and bsnencent results We are rapid
tnteeing priceless ballot to all entitled to
the American theory. Conspicuous amo
achievements Of the advanced thought tina
Virginia In full alignment with the highest
an civilization Is the prompt justice viii
been the fruitful source Of passionate disp
Virginia has closed the long strife, which N
Dire bell at night over the status OF the
man. His political equality secured throl
her domain. Ne or Undertaking tho rect
peculiar and trying relations in the past. "
accepts the 'inexorable logic Of facts and
the colored man the complete justice whi
conduct as a citizen challenges and exacts.
'qually grati1ed with what we doing
e,lored man and what he 10 doing for himse
vindicates himself and Justines us in our d.
lned efforts for his moral and intellectual adj
nent: In Virginia he is atlast In the full pa
II acknowledged citizenship. Conscious Of II
~lement IN his favor OF the question OF his ri
2ursue the duties and privileges OF citizenshi
conduct commands the approval II even his
3st critics. Our treatment OF the colored p
elevates them as citizens, and promotes their
1uctive capacity. They are Indefinitely witt
and no substitute for their labor, which Is pecr
ly fitted to the southern section of the Union
yet been found. our purpose Is to m ke the col
man feel his Identification with Us, and t. stimi
generous care and consideration, that there ma
prevented the calamity to the south Of a heavy
IS to the 81 Of e
sinta with confidence In the judgement of POI
which guarantees them all that American POI
Ind Christian civilization demand for them.
In fact, the Virginia Of to-day Is ABREAST OF the
most advanced CommOnwealths in promoting that
americanization and liberalization of sentiment
which in the near future will thoroughly unity our
country and make successful the only attempt ever
made to show the capacity OF people whom free
results In the present and for such aspirations In
the future, we invoke the fervid sympathy Of the
men OF Massachusetts,, and We do not appeal in
vain The spirit Of CASTE Of race prejudice Of In.
tolerance, Of prescription for opinions sake has as
little respectable recognition In Massachusetts,
Virginia. Your soil, consecrated to liberty without
license Is as unfriendly that OF Virginia the
growth Of political doctrines nurtured by mere
pr JUDGE OF section caste, or race TIE genius of
Massachusetts, like the genius OF Virginia. abhors
all political distinctions and privileges that would
bar the way to aspiring merit and honorable labor,
md repress the sense OF patriotic duty in any class
worthy OF citizenship.
The Virginia OF the present hopes for the Virginia
IT the future the prosperity Of leading American
Commonwealth, and We purpose to attain that con-
dttion by the agencies which modern civilization
has made available for our we'll as for yours
We court immigration; our soil and climate tempt
profitable industry, and never in the history of tho
state has capital sought investment in Virginia,
during the brief period which has followed her
formal declaration that her territory Is cordially
open to all grades OF honest industry that upon her
soil residence carries with itself tho fullest recog
ntiOns duo to honorable manhood without refer
considerations OF nativity, creed, occupa-
ton We aim to unfetter thought; especially 70
chain the mind and heart Of the rising generation
from the debasing influence Of prejudice which pre-
cludes the mental processes essential to the attain
ment Of truth. Forgetful OF exploded dogmas
avoiding the 'sluggish bays Of dead thought" vir
ginia is welded indissoubly to Dad American
Ism, which repeats sectionalism In politics in the
vocatfons of men. and yet conserves community In
dependence. As in tho night OF the struggle for
American independence, Virginia offers the frafer-
nal countersign to Massachusetts. and accepts her
generous sympathy with the performances Of her