Year: 1873




Under the above head, n an Article in reply to
the Boston A6uegt,ss, the Richmond Enquirer
makes some heavy charges ag linst the negroes and
the Radicals, which 80 far 10 prove that the ne
groes are at heart enemies to the white race that
they united with the Radical pet-baggers TO
enslave the whites through the enactment of dis
franchisement laws, and that their purpose is still
10 effect the degradation of the whites in that old
Commonwealth. What they would do in Virginia
they would also do in Delaware. The Enquirer
says


"The present Constitution owes its adoption to
the great majority cast that day by the Conservs-
tive whites Of the Commonwealth.


That it Is not to-day disgraced by bill Of at
tainder against the real people Of Virginia. and by
a test-oath qualification thai would have excluded
from office nine-tenths of the class which rhoud
by virtue of capacity and circumstances, rule, is
because the whites were strong enough TO expunge
the clauses containing those abominable provisions;
because they were well balanced enough in that
strength while striking with one hand the shack
les from their own limbs, to use the other in help
ing the negro to platform OF political equality.


The whites Of Virginia escaped vassalage such
the worlds history tells not Of but they escsp-
ed ia spite Of the ae9roeS.


This declaration Of war; made by the blacks in
such offensive and threatening manner, has never
been withdrawn. Four years have passed since





rant and vindictive faction, and in that period
their privileges have been extended, their rights
protected. Yet they have shown no disposition TO
requta kindness with justice. They are still band
ed together under the leadership OF the men who
directed their course before and they still at every
recurring election, in rejection of all appeals and
all the logic of events, stand eompaety opposed to
U.s.


The fact cannot be denied and the fair de-
duction has never been contested until now. Aud
now tie whites WhO marshal these forces OF blind
power, find that they committed one of those
blunderS which is worse than a crime and strive
t0 relieve Radicalism of the odium that attaches
to- An appearance of li6erality is needed Just
now, and 1t is assumed without hesitation.


But we know that IN nothing beneath the sur
face has the situation been changed. We know
that the negroes still cast nine-tenths OF the
Radical votes We know what we have TO ex-
pect if a party SO constituted gets the oppor-
tunity TO develop its real objecls. We are not
deceived.


We will have here no repetition Of the leathen-
ish orgies and sacrifices that have attended the
destruction of civil liberty, and the elevation Of
unreason 10 rule in Louisiana and South Caro-
lima and in the interest Of both raees-that
something may be preserved from unholy and
Tapaclous hands which both white and black NAV
hereafter eBjOy-tLat there may be law under
which actual peace must be preserved-that there
may be peace out OF whose continuance kindly
feelings must eventually grow, and permanently
exist-we accept the political conflict that has
been thrust upon u.s. and taking the sibility
in the face Of all the world, proclaim thai Con
serTatism in Virginia means Continued supre-
macy in the government Of this Common caih
Of the white race over The black