Valley Virginian

Truth never dies and, disguise them as you please, facts will make themselves known in spite of everything, so long as the press is free. Our people are now exercising themselves over the last bills of Congress and never look at the past. Some are even so unthinking as to blame the Southern press for all the ills and oppressions showered on us by the Radicals. They say "the papers did it" and never recollect that the press stood up for their rights when every other channel of thought was closed; they forget that the much abused "newspaper" is merely an expression of their sentiments; of the thoughts and feelings of the great mass of the Southern people; the defender of their rights and the recorder of their past heroism. It stands in the front from day to day and fearlessly gives expression to the sentiments of a people. There may be evils in the press, still, the good overbalances them.

But to the facts, the truth of history which timid people should not forget and the brave ponder over. The Military bill, which we publish to-day, may be enforced and an odious tyranny forced upon a disarmed people. At present we cannot resist it, but it is consoling to know and feel we are in the right; that nothing we, as a people, have done since the surrender at Appomatox Court-House, gives the mob at Washington the slightest shadow of an excuse for the cowardly blows they strike us. On the 9th of April, 1865, General Lee surrendered. The terms of that surrender were simple: The soldiers were given a written parole, which said they, in consideration of their pledge, not to take up arms, were "permitted to return to their homes and remain unmolested and undisturbed." The faith of the U. S. Government; the honor of its armies was pledged to keep this compact inviolate. This Military bill violates that pledge, for it "molests and disturbs us." Next, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, offered Amnesty and restoration to all rights, on condition of taking a prescribed oath. It was taken and has been kept in good faith. Then we were asked to elect members to Congress; to reorganize our States, by legally abolishing slavery; to repudiate just debts, &c. Those things were done, bitter as the pills were to swallow. The laws have been obeyed; the Freedmen protected; our part of the contract faithfully carried out, and we see the result of our faithful obedience to the laws of the United States, in the bill which has just passed Congress.

These are plain facts, patent to every one and they can not be too often repeated; for in the "hurly-burly" of such times as these, men are apt to give even the right away for expediency. Never did the Southern people need all their native manhood; all their pride of character so much as now. And their course is simple. We must endure the evils inflicted on us by a base and cowardly foe, and work out of our troubles. Material prosperity will bring political independence. We are poor and abused now, but we have a climate; a soil and resources such as no people ever had, and we must hold to them. Our position is strong for it is right, and the right must prevail in the end. We have faced too many horrors and endured too much, to despond or give back now. Look up! labor with head and hands; be charitable to one another, press no man; all work together and for one grand object, the practical independence of the South, and the day is not far distant when we can bid defiance to the most accursed tyranny ever endured by a brave but unfortunate people.

The Richmond Times truly says: "If this bill becomes a law, at the Virginia elections, in May next, for Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Attorney General and members of the General Assembly, every male negro in Virginia above the age of twenty-one will be entitled to vote. Nor are we permitted to allow this election to go by default, for the Alexandria Constitution provides that these elections shall take place in May next. We are denied the privilege of seeking refuge in a purely military despotism by the abolition of this provisional government, for it rests with the Federal Government, and not with ourselves, to determine whether this State government shall be continued or abolished.

Whether, therefore, we adopt the "constitutional amendment," with negro suffrage, and Constitutional representation "annexed," or prefer to continue as we are, we cannot, if SHERMAN's bill becomes a law, avoid almost immediate negro equality at the ballot-box.

The Alexandria Constitution says we shall have certain elections in the spring, and the SHERMAN bill says that, at those elections, all male negroes twenty-one years of age shall be allowed to vote.

We lose no time in pointing out to our readers the horns of the dilemma upon which this bill impales us. It allows no refuge from negro suffrage, and there is no escape except through the agency of the Supreme Court.

The monstrous features of this bill should at once receive the attention of the ablest lawyers of the General Assembly, and steps should be taken to have it brought under the fire of the Supreme Court where it will be thoroughly demolished."

First, That there has not been a pledge made to us by the Radicals which has not been broken.

Second, That no concession on our part will satisfy them, for they intend to hold the power, as long as they can, and they don't want or intend us to come back into the Union.

Third, That we are right and our only hope and strength is in working and sticking together.

Fourth, That our struggle for Independence is justified by every act of Congress since the war.

Fifth, That the greatest material prosperity can be attained under the most grinding despotism, with our resources--and that the brave do not despond, but meet the "situation" and overcome it by WORK. "The darkest hour is just before dawn!"--And while we are not in favor of making any concessions, we must meet "the situation," negro suffrage and all, if forced upon us, and we are convinced that the best plan is for the Legislature to call a Convention under the Military Act, (if it becomes law, 'so called,') and take every advantage of it we can. If true men do not, rascals will.