Alexandria Gazette

The Colored People of Albemarle--

that is, those of them engaged "in politics,"

and under the manipulation of the Radical

emissaries,--have, in a letter, by a committee,

addressed to the candidates for the convention

in that county, laid down the following "platform:"

1. That the colored people of the State,

after being invested with the elective franchise

by the new Constitution, should never be deprived

of that right by any future Constitution.

2. That no man shall be prevented from

holding office, or sitting upon a jury, on account

of color or previous condition of servitude:

provided said person is qualified.

3. That there should be a uniform system

of common schools open to all, without distinction

of race, color or previous condition, to

be supported by a general tax upon all kinds of

property.

4. That the laws of ejectment and distraint

should protect equally the landlord and tenant,

and that provision should be made for the exemption

of the poor man's homestead.

5. That the rules of law and evidence should

apply to all persons alike, without distinction

of race, color, or previous condition.

6. That corporal punishment for crime or

other cause should not be inflicted under any

circumstances.

7. That no poll tax should ever be levied for

any purpose.

8. That all elections should be by ballot.

And while the colored people do not seek to

exact a pledge or promise from any man whereby

he might be trammeled in the exercise of

his official duties, they feel in honor bound not

to vote for any one who entertains views of an

opposite character, unless first convinced that

the measures they advocate are unsound or impolitic.