The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1884-12-03

STANTON, Va, Nov. 10, 1884.
Mssrs. THos. G. Campbell, Geo. 3
Stephens, O. u. Brock, j. Fl. Gibson
A. &ope!lr, j. j. Christian ano
Benjamin QuarIs:
FELLowcIrlzESs-I have haC
the pleasure Of receiving your let
ter Of this date, in which, after ex
pressing confidence in my views
on all public questions" you re
quest me to state, in writing
"What, in my opinion, will be III,
effect Of the election of Mr.. Cleye
land upon the political status, right
and liberties Of the colored pe0pl,
Of the South"
Knowing as l do, that you are al
men Of intelligence and good stand
ing in our community, and thai
you are representatives Of the besl
class Of your race, | hasten to re
spond TO your inquiry.
But before doing 10, / must bef
you to accept my thanks for tbi'
evidence Of your confidence. BIZ
assured that / will endeayor h
prove that it has not been mis-
placed, for | shall state nothing in
this letter which | do not believe
to be strictly true.
In my judgment the election Of
Mr.. Cleveland will be beneficial to
the best interests Of our country,
and toths people of all races and
colors. Mr.. Cleveland is a man oil
patriotism, ability, integrity and
frmness Of character. Ho has,
heretofore, been but little connect.
ed with the bitter contests Of par.
ties. He was elected to the Offices
which be has heretofore held, by
the united sufirages Of both parties;
aud We all know that he could not
have been elected to the Presidency
without the help Of the best Gle.
ments Of the Republican party
He will, therefore, cume into pow.
Or under the most favorable cirCum.
stances; and we have the beat reas.
on to believe that his administers
lion will be wise, prudent, and con
sentative. He will have no feel
ings Of revenge to crafty, ard no
political debts TO pay out Of the
public treasury. He will be the
President Of the whole nation. He
will know no North and no South,
no East and no West, but a restor.
ed aud indivisible union Of all the
States, His policy will be to do
justice to all, and extend undue
favor 10 none. Under his benign
influence sectional hatred will OK.
pire, and the war Of races will
cease.
1t cannot have escaped your OBJ.
serYation that il has been the con.
slant effort Of the leaders Of the Re.
publican party to array the colored
people Of the South agains! The
whites. To this end they have
tried 10 persuade you that if the
Democratic party were restored Ia
power the colored people would
again be enslayed; or il that was
not doDe, you would be deprived Of
your rights to vote, to be eligible
to Office, to cit on jarieS, and to EN-.
joy the benefits Of the public
schools.
Perni! me to assure you i'm the
the most solemn manner, and un.
der all the responsibility which
can attach toa man Of character,
that each and every one Of there
charges are basely false. Your
freedOm forever is guaranteed by
the Constitution Of the United
States, which is the supreme law OIL
the land, and so are all your civil
aud political rights, If the Demo.
cratic party were wicked enough to
desire to deprive you of any Of
these constitutional rights, they
have not the power to do 80. The
Constitution can be changed only
by an amendment proposed by a
vote Of two.thirds Of both Houses Of
approved by the Presi'
dent aud ratified by the votes Of
the legislatures Of threa,fourths Of
the States. You must see that il
would be impossible 10 obtain such
an assent to a change of the Con-
stitution Of the United States. But
: do not hesitate 10 Ray, that / be-
liepe lspeak the sentiment Of nine
tenths'Of the people Of the country,
that If the Democratic party OF
any other party, we're 10 make such
q foolish attempt, ii would be
hurled from power as IL by a whirl.
wind Of popular indignation.
II has suited the purposes Of un
priucipled and designing men 10
put these false rumors in cirCuIip.
ton to effect their selfish purposes.
Their object was TO deceive you,
and thereby to get your votes
They represented themselves as
your peculiar friends, that they
might use you as tools to put them
In office. Let me call your atten,
tiOn TO a striking example Of this
kind. For the last four years you
have been taught To believe that
William Malone was the firm friend