Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-11-23
"' 4 Word to the General Assembly.


| n Word to the Gcnefhl AhsfHhDi9s
To ne Editor Of The Dispatch:
/ T'pon the incoming Legislature VIII rest
| much responsibility for determining the
! future veal or woe OF the Commonwealth.
| We are hut Yesterday escaped great ca
| lamitvinuublic life. The people of Virginia
! look To- thelr representatives for sCbstan-
| tial relief from the evils they have pa iscd.
! The men who bore the brunt of battle m
! tho recent struggle for their homes demand
! legislation that will plant society upon,
! hrmer basis. The Young Democracy de-
mauds II.
! Public sentiment everywhere enllsts for
| the enlargement of the elecuon-laws, ciu-'r
| rules of registration, restrictions upon the
| ball0t-box aye, essential reconstrucuon OF
| our political system. In these days ct
! ground-hoe politics conservatism l. no
| LONGER virtue. Radicals must be met
with radicalIsm
How long is the safety Of the Common
wealth 10 he lcopardiZcd whenever an APP
peal is made 10 the popular VIII
Are the social foundations OF the COM
muuty to be endangered IN every change
of state government.
Are we 10 wage a lie-and-deaih struggle
every few wears for the supremacy of the
| white race!
Since the great revolution in the body
polite the Virginia Democracy has con-
/ tented itself from year TO year IN the mega
! tive policy of obstruction and de-
! nal.' We might as well try 10 dam the
| ocean with bulrushe- as check the tide Of
radicali-m with so cAemlnate measures.
! The wrong cries for specdicr and stronger
! remedy.
And in the opinion of thousands old
and YOUNG ahkc-the time is come when
strong and radical reaction is iudl~pen-a-
| ho ia the life of States, rs IN that of IN
dividuais. there are decisive moments IN
which the actor must determine and act
! for himself alone We think Virginia has
reached that juncture of her statehood IN
the results of the past contest
The legislative body alone can afford
adequate aid. And the best people OF the
| lald concur that it, action shall be gov
crucd by no blind devotion 10 "conserya-
tism nor by any heroic scramble after
"prccedents.'
Much reform could be effected.
! II IL not our province 10 suggest me-
| th0ds or details. but bv way of lnaugu-
rating the good work let us have an enact
mcut making the registration correspond
with the asses ment-a law that every man
shall be listed upon the Textbook before he
can be listed upon the books OF regis
tration. The New York negroes who come
| back here periodically TO vote down the
! tnX-pa.ers of the community are always
citizens OF New York when the commits
s.oucr comes to asses, them for taxes. hut
Il full-hedged citizen IF the Old Dominion
| when the time comes TO vote. We are SICK
and tired OF this and everything Ike II.
The campaign Just closed was one OF the
most splendid in the annals of free peo-
ple. ard will abide IN memory f. tell the
possible achievement Of the party IN duty
tension. But while ID taught Us what De
mOcracy could Oh 1t also demonstrated what
IL cyldd not d. Many counties of the South
Side made the suprcmc-t effort OF their
history against the hosts Of biacknCss. And
yet Notwithstanding the united effort Of
nearly every white man ~ the land. the
blessings Of our mothers and prayers OF
our daughters. Amelia, Nottoway, Bruins
wick, and Mecklcnhurg are lett to carry
the stigma of small CalIban malOrltles.
One more chance and we VIII sweep the
last vcstige Of this stalnirOm our skies; but
we are not willing 10 enter again ON equal
footing contest against savage negroes
and AtricaniZed whites. Place social safety
beyond the reach of these enemies OF the
Commonwealth and we dread not the en-
counter.
This much the South Side and Tidewater
ask of Nirginia's Legislature. And when
that is secured our citizens may divide IN
Judgment upon questions of legislation
and economies as any other free people,
and not be forever sohdlhed To protec.
their birthrights and their traditions.
W.
WOODLAND" NoTTowAY. Nov. 10, 1852.