Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-22
The Virginia Resolution.

The Virginia Senate agreed TO consider
to-day the resolution offered in that oodY
last Tuesday requesting the Representa-
tiyes Of Virginia in Congress TO bring to
the attention Of the National Government
the propriety and necessity Of providing
territorial reservation for the exclusive
use and local government Of such Of the
negro race Of the United states as may
prefer negro population and local negro
government in order to demonstrate
their capacity for self-gOvernment and
the highest development Of their
race" The wisdom Of resolution Of this
kind is not apparent. The arguments Of
its author in support Of it viii be looked
for with considerable interest. II Is
hardly probable that it will be adopted
but if it should it would stir up quite a
lively debate in Congress when presenter
there by NirginIa's representatives N5-
yr0 colonization schemes are not pTac-
ticable. The negroes do not intend %
leave their present homes in any cOnsld-
erah1a numbers. and they do not want u
On whore they could have local govern
mont 1f their own. The negroes haven't
anouyb respect for the leaders
oftbeir race 10 De willing 70 be governed
hy them. II a colony Of negroes were To-
Gated in one Of the Territories and kept
entirely separate from white people, the
chances are that it would make no pro-
yress. There would be neither law order
nor prosperity. The cOl0nists would drop
10 a lower grade Of civilization instead Of
advancing 10 higher grade. II would oe
a good thing for the south if the negroes
were u gradually leave it. OF course the
south couldn't afford 70 have them leave
suddenly. because they are now
the South's laborers, but their
gradual departure would be
a blessing. Their presence keeps away
white immigrants. and white immigrants
are what the South wants. It has been
demonstrated beyond question that the
whites can ky0rk in the fields in any part
Of the south at any season Of the year.
\ large part Of the cotton crop IS now
made by white labor. a gradual emigra-
ton Of negroes would be followed
by gradual immigration Of white people.
The negro. however, is in the South
TO stay. His future, whatever it
may De, l. 10 be worked out in the south.
His condition is very slowly improving.
He could not find anywhere else condi-
ti0ns 50 favorable for his improvement.
In Il colony his shiitlessness would prove
his ruin In the North he would not be
tolerated because Of his unreliability and
his utter lack Of any feeling Of response
bility. There are, Of course, exceptions.
NOrtherners who visit or settle in the
South quickly lose whatever sympa-
thy they may have had for the
negro. They soon begin to wonder
how Southerners bear so patiently with
negro servants and laborers. There are
fewer disturbances between the whites
and negroes on account Of politics than
might be reasonably expected. The
whites do not intend that their local gov
ernments shall fall into the hands Of ign0-
rant negroes or white adventures. They
cannot afford to have such rulers. Their
homes were almost taxed away from them
during the carpetbag era, and they
Will take care that such a condition Of
affairs does not occur again. There is no
objection 10 a negro holding an Office if he
has the necessary qualifications. Negroes
do hold Offices in the local governments
at the south, and their number VIII
doubtless increase as their fitness in
creases. 1t is certain, however, that be-
fore they take any large share in public
affairs there must be a greatim improvement
in their condition. Massachusetts fought
desperately 10 free herself from Butler
rule Would she tamely endure ignorant
negro ruler