Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-01-27
A VOICE FROM
MASSACHUSETTS,.

brOokllna Massachusetts, in which
he mildly criticises us for our observa-
tfon and commentator of the propos
al of that veteran ex-Confederate.
Hon. c. M. Stedman Of North Carolina
that monument be erected in Wash
ington to the BLACK mammies'' OF the
Southland. Mr.. Carter furnishes the
fly for the ointment and gives in un.
mistakable language his reasons for
not fully approving the words of praise
voiced by us in commencing the move.
ment. Let us see.
He claims that this act does not go
far enough in that it does not admit
the offspring of these black mammies
to full manhood rights. So far as we
are able to observe the admission Uf
the offspring of tlrese black mammies
to full manhood rights is already up,
en- the statute books OF the United
States and those of the several States
Speaking for this State, if we could
secure the recognition and enforce
ment of the Virginia statutes. we as a
race and as citizens would nave no
complaint to make.
The Constitution OF Virginia. Arti-
Gle l. Section l, reads:
That all men are by nature equally
free and independent, and have certain
inherent rights of which. when they
enter into a state of society they can
not, by any compact, deprive or divesr
their posterity; namely. the enjoy
ment OF life and liberty, with the
means of acquiring and possessing
property, and pursuing and obtaining
happiness and safety.
You may say that this is only "a
written declaration upon the statui,
books with no means of recognition
or enforcement. but the southerners
Of the Stedman type believe in living
up to their sworn obligations and
when you class them with the Negro
hating element, who was never MA.
tured by black NANNY AMI who
never knew the value of one, you make
a grave mistake. As rule, this type
Of men occupy high judicial positions.
While we do not desire to be per.onal
we recall that it was Governor Fitz-
hugh Lee Of Virginia, who saved six
teen year old Simon Walker from the
gallows after his grave had been dug
and this was done in the face Of tn .
fact that a mob was clamoring for his
life.
So far as we know. he is alive AMI
well today. 1t was Governor Charles
T. O'Ferrall who saved the Lunenburg
prisoners with the support of the Vir-
ginia Supreme Court of Appeals,
which tribunal for the first time in the
history of this State entertained the
appeal, when no record had been made
for such proceedings. Attorney Gener-
al Scott, the able Attorney General a
model Virginian and dyed in the
WOO" southerner enunciated the fun
damental principles of all Govern
ments was the safeguarding and the
protection OF human life and that
technicalities should not be permitted
to stand in the way Of the accomplish
ment Of this purpose.
If the Supreme Court Of the United
States is permeated by the same Spill,
the cases of the so-cailed Arkan sas
rioters, whose cases are now pending
before the august tribunal will
receive a favorable consideration at
Washington. The point we make ie
that we should not sneer at these e7.
forts for these men are our friends
They owe debt OF gratitude to the
Negroes of the Old School and If they
see fit to endeavor in this way to repa j
1T, let them do so.
With this door open, then considera-
ton will come to us through other
divers ways. We have often said that
we believe that ultimately southerners
of this type will be advocating ;he
SicOLt'c lIduCutSe lOI Ulfe NeSIO, willie
many white men in the North will, he
opposing it. When we get full recog
milton for the colored people of the Old
School, you may rest assured that We
shall soon secure full recognition FOR
those colored people of this day ann
time who have made n record for them
selves and who stand prominent in
the world Of letters. 1t is mistake tc
believe that only colored men of cring
ing servility can secure recognition
and support at the hands of the south
erners Of the Stedman type.