The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-10-19

ihlttees, and the chairman Of the mos
lmportant--that on election franchise
was the notorious Parson HunDicntt
llunnicutt favored DISTINGUISHING 30, OOl
more than had been disiranchised by th
Federal reconstruction acts, and Genera
Benjamin +. Butler journeyed to Rich
muhd to advise them to disiranchis,
every white man who had held any i'm
portant position.
This aggregation OF iniamy and igno
rance placed in the Constitution two
clauses which will ever stand as an ever
lasting reproach to the Republican
party OF Virginia, and the awful crime oI
which no self-respecting white person Oi
the State can ever cOndOne. One of these
clauses provided that no person who had
held any civil or military office under the
United States or under any State, and
who az such had taken any oath either
as an executive or az a judicial officer OF
the United States, or OF any States, and
who had thereafter engaged In insurrec-
ton or rebellion against the Duited
States or given aid of comfort 10 the
enemies thereof, should eyer afterwards
vote.
The other, Mr.. Jones said, was the in
famous ironclad oath, without the taking
OF which no man in Virginia could hold
any office This practically turned every
office in the State, from that OF chief eX-
acutiye To that OF road overseer, either to
ignorant negroes or the SOuth.hating
and Northern adven-
turers, who had recently entered the
State for the sole purpose OF plundering
its impoverished white people. IL was
true, the speaker declared, that the Presi-
dent had permitted a separate vOteupon
these two clauses, and that at the cleo
ton on the 9th of July, 1869, they had
been stricken ont, but it was equally true
that ~ 40 Republicans had voted to
nearly every white man IN
Virginia and TO turn the proud old Com
over to the tender mercies OF
ignorant negroes and debased Northern
white men.
He did not know how the Republican
candidate for Governor had voted upon
these two propositions, but I've was ut
that time In utilization with the Republi-
can party and shortly thereafter Fed.
eral officeholder The speaker had never
heard that he had repudiated the notion
Of his party associates, and the prsump-
ton was that he WA in sympathy with
them.
sCME TRUE viRGINIANs.
There were one or two Yirginians,
staunch, true and loyal TO the old Com
the speaker said in that black
and tan Underwood Convention. They
were the voices in the desert, ~ II were.
Among them were the stOut-hearted
Gibson, of Culpeper, and the irrudite
John l.. Marye, OF fredericksburg.
Mr.. Jones was "A student in this city
when the election for members of this
took place. Well does he re-
member the bonfrps and rejoicing Of the
people Of this city when Gov. Marye was
elected.
THE PRIMARY NOMINATIONS.
Mr.. Jones said that naturally all Dem
Ocrats had not secured the nominations
in the primary OF their iavorites. In one
or two instances his first choice had been
in Others those he favored had
been rejected by the Democratic majority.
HIs CHOICE SOW.
In this election all OF the Democratic
nominees Were his first choice; To each
and every one he would give his unstint-
I'd and loyal support, for in their success
depended the prosperity and weliaW oi
the Commonwealth of Nirginla: lie
trusted that in his lifetime he should
never see a Republican representing Nir-
Rinia in the L. s. Senate-there To adyO-
cate and support those principles and
policies of Republicanism, which he be-
iieved. To be in the main vicious, and III
tended to advance the interests OF the
and trust aggTegations oi
the country. Recent Developments in
New York have 40 startled the country
that he trusted such public sentiment
would be thereby created against the
party, which IL responsible
for the conditions which have been
brought to light and had fattened upon
these conditions, that the Democratic
party. which had always given the peO-
ole honest and clean administrations OF
public affairs, both in Nation and
State. should be once more restored To
power throughout the land.
SERIOUS CHARGE.
Congressman Jones referred to n sub
ject which produced a profound sensa-
ton in the audience, and which cannot
fail TO create the deepest interest through
out the State. Speaking otJudge Lewis,
the Republican candidate for governor,
Mr.. Jones said that he had known him
long and well and had always regarded
him az man OF exalted personal charae-
ter. but there had recently come to hls
an incident ID his career which
precluded the possibility OF hisever being
elected by the white people OF Virginia to
the governorship. Mr.. Jones said he had
learned from sources which he regarded
AZ absolutely reliable, indeed, he had
been told by gentleman OF the highest
character and varacity that was present
at debate at Chesterfield c. III. between
Gen. Geo. J. Hundley, OF Amelia. now one
of the circuit judges OF the State, and
Judge l.. l.. Lewis in 1877 or 1918,
when the latter had stated, in response
to a question from General Hundley,
that be was opposed to the passage OF
the bill then pending in the Legislature,
the purpose OF which was to prevent the
inter-marriage OF the races, and was in
favor of allowing the whites and the
blacks to settle the question.
II that were true, and Mr.. Jones said he
could not doubt it, the information hav-
ing come to him in the manner in which
il did. then Judge Lewis need never hope
to be governor OF Virginia. What Judge
Lewis had said i'm public debate ms
most ardent friends must admit is a
legitimate subject for discussion. Against
his personal character Mr.. Jones had
nothing to say.
THE EXPENSE STATEMENT.
Mr.. Jones referred to the primary ex-
pense matter and ridiculed the charge
that Judge Sims and Mr.. Swift would
not he eligible to take their seats. II elect
ed. because they had not fled their state.
ments OF primary expenses with the Sec,
rotary of the Commonwealth. lie said
that il they receive majority OF votes,
they will unquestionably take their seats
In tho General Assembly. He said that