Year: 1869

Important. Letter from Mr.. X. NJ. T.


Hnnter-His Views on Virginia Affairs.


LLoYDs, Essex County, Va, June IA, 1869.
To B. D. DOUGLASS, ESQ.,


My DEAR SIR hasten to respond to your letter
received a short time since, in which you suggest
that some interest Is felt by yourself and others
regard to my opinions upon the gubernatorial con-
test and the issues upon which the people OF Vir-
g1nia VIII soon be called upon to vote.


II the expression OF my opinions upon these SUBJ
jects Will gratliy any of my friends 1t Will give me
pleasure to make IL. In regard to the gubernatOral
contest, feel no hesitation in choosing between the
candidates. ! know that they are both republicans,
and that II l5 sometimes most unpleasant task to
be forced TO choose between evils But, never
theless 1t is often positive duty to DO
slble for the issues on which we are called upon to
decide but which are forced us by circumstances
ing LETT us but TO deal with the circumstances in
which we are placed, not by ourselves but by others,
so as TO make the most OF them. We are not respOn
sibe for doing the best In the abstract as we might
be II we were free and equal state in the Union,
but for doing the best which possible in the situa
ton IN which we are placed. Neither can we Justify
ourselves for inacon by saying there nothing left
us but a choice between evils, which we refuse to
make, II by doing so we can render service to our
state which, In my opinion, we can and ought to DO
IN this case Many OF the most important steps in
the conduct OF life and particularly OF government
exciting bitter strife between parties If not set
tied by the absolute submission OF one of
them, IS ever adjusted except by cOmprO-
mise, which, by Its very nature, involves some
sacrifice OF opinion both sides 1t was SO in the
great acts OF the Brush government which are con-
sIdcred munIments Of their liberties; 1t was em-
nenty SO Of the constitution OF the United States
and II will always be so OF questions between great
and opposing parties who have each voice in their
thing which involves sacrifice of opinion ls simply
10 assume an impractlcaole position. Under TINS
view OF the ! should not hesitate to give my
vote, II had one, to Walker for Governor for con-
servative State government and for the expurgatlon
ginia for ratification. We are TO choose as 1t seems
10 me, between what Is called the Underwood con-
stltution simple and pure, with Wells and his party
to administer it on the one hand, the same con.
stltution expurgated as to leave the power or
governing ana representing the state in con-
servaiive hands, with Walker and his friends
the conservatives OF Virginia, to administer 1t.
VINO can hesitate as TO his selection between such
alternatives, refuse to make choice which his
state and ali whom ne loves have 30 deep an inter
ests That the issues such rs l state them TO be
] do not for moment doubt. That either Walker
Or Wells Will be elected Governor nobody denies, and
that the constitution in one shape or the other will
be adopted by the people or Virginia everybody
to believe, and n It were not so who Will guarantee
that the Congress oil the United States, at pre-
sent constituted viii not force II upon Its most
OBNOXIOUS iorinr Ihat body has shown no great
feelings nor does II seem 10 regard much either the
constitution Of the United States even simple JUS
tIce where we are concerned. That the election OF
Wells and tue adoption OF the Underwood c0nstitu.
ton, from the hands Of Its trainers, would
insure the ruin Of our state and consummate the
degradation OF our people there are lew c0nserva-
tives VINO Will deny.


ON the other hand, although | have no personal





lieve by friends IA whom rely, and by what have
OF his course, that he would exercise the power
and duties of his ONCE II elected In the manner
winch he supposed would rebound to the interests
and honor the State which he represented. The
constitution, II expurgated as we may 90 II we
choose Will throw the political power Of the State
IN the hands o the CONSERVATIVES who would ad-


minister 1t with Just and proper consideration for
All. Can we refuse TO accomplish such results Tor
oar state, which has suffered 50 much already, be-
cause we cannot vote lor Mr. Walker, VINO acted
once with the republican parry on issues which are
~ m "a "a naNf inn
TO negro suffrage and negro eligibility TO oiiice
might see how opposition might De madeH to
MIN upon these grounds. But all must see
that these questions are settled against opin-


Ons-l mean those OF tine whites-by power greater
than ours anu IRON which we ut least have no ap-
peat Upon those questions which, ~ SAID before,
are now gone ana past dispute, he dii diner with us
1t - true but upon the issues which are yet to come,
and which now before us, u Is IN every way proc
able that he Will act with the conservative party
from sympathy a. well as from principle. shan we
sacrifice Tue ving to the deady Shail we take no
part IN the real the PRACTICAL because we are too
much absorbed with tue memories OF questions now
decided ana gone to do soy God knows those men,
ures are dear to me ~ they eau he to any man;
my interest, 100. IN tnOse questions wnen they
before Us and living was a. keen ~ that or MIN VINO
sensitive regard to them, AMI continued TO
be so wniie there was any nope OF &C.
complishng their deieat But the necessities Of
our state are too pressing aud her suffering too
great To justify US III pausng upon matters which
are no longer the subjects " action, when by
striking at once we can secure even partial relie
winch, though partial ana not entire, viii yet be felt
as great III every nerve and fibre OF the body polite.
There are sometimes great national emergencies IN
wnlcn the necessity for immediate action Is great
that we must iollow the scripture inJunctions and
let the dead bury the dead. We can nnd ample en-
ployment for ali our energies IN dealing with the
real and the living. Let US not then refuse the
assistance OF men IN the present and future, who are
willing to give 1t honestly, because they were un-
wiling IN times past to act with us on questions
winch, though near aud Gear 10 us. are now nnay
decided. The more OF sach men we get the more
we enlarge the basis Of tie power Of the conserva-
tive party, which Is now matter OF mucn moment
with us.


so much for the gubernatorial contest. But there
Is another question which confess has occas0ned
me more doubt, and upon whicn have mad more
fculty In forming an opini0l mean the course
proper 10 he pursued IN regard to the constitution II
expurgated of those clauses which dlsqualiiy 80
many Oi our white citizens. Tbs constitution II
indeed bad In nearly all It's parts tnat there Is
hardly any expurgation which can reconcile me to II.
the punishment and The humiliation oi large ma
Jority OF the white race than To the ends Of justice
aud good government, % scheme OF government de-
vsed FOR the injury OF decided majority or those to
be affected by IL cannot be made acceptable 10 that
party unless indeed II he amended us TO transfer
the moving power Of the government TO them, or
unless 1t plain that they have TO choose between
the instrument with amendments or without them.


After some rejection | have come TO the cOnclu-
tna such ~ our case at present. ii we can 80
amend the constitution as to strike out those clauses
winch disqualiIy and dIsiranchIse so many the
whites Will nave decided majority OF the voters,
and thus WELD the political power Of the state. II
they administer that power-as ] trust they Will
with justice and proper consideration for ALL the
conservative party OF which the whites constitute SO
large majority. Will continue To increase. When
the blacks perceive that their rights now cs,ab-
lishcd viii he respected, and themselves treated
with justice and % proper regard, they Will
0pen their eyes w their true policy ana in time act