The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-01
T II E S o Ut H
vIR GI MA.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HERALD.

Registration In RichmOnd-The Blacks
Ahcad-The Whites Appointing Chailcngers-
Rejection of Nearly One Hundred COlOred
Names for Frauduient Intentiens-Descrip-
tiOn OF the Registration PrOcess-Appear.
ance of the Darixeis.
RICHMOND, Va, June %, 1867.
The business of registration closed In the First
ward In this city and has opened in the Second The
latter has dense population OF negroes ample evidence
of which ia shown in the registering OF the large num-
Der of five hundred and fifteen yesterday in the
space of eight hours-amost twice many as the
whites Tho negroes assembled from early hour
around the old market house. whore the Board Of Regis
tration sits, and much darky humor begued the time
till the bella chimed eight O'Clock. Two separate stair
conducted whites and blacks spacious room,
where rudely improvised railing incosed set of
desks and mar dozen clerks, each OF whom was
tration OATH The staircase for colored folks
uncomfortaby thronged through the day,
and even the banster ratings were laid under
contribution to support the dusky forms of the
eager freedmen. The heat may be imagined when
several of these sable children of the tainted from
the oppressive atmosphere During the registration in
the First ward white challengers attended, and
consequence quite large number Of negroes 1t ia posi-
lively asserted, registered, who had residence within
the city limits The whites, becoming more alive to the
necessity of couneracting this fraudulent ion,
appointed at their expense three challengers and
organized besides vigilance committee for the Second
ward, hunt up statistical table Of all blacks entitled
rog and proceed in disputed residence
to any address in the city given by might be
suspected Of being non-residens. The result Of this
action was the rejection OF nearly hundred colored
names, some haling from Louisa county and others
from the First ward, in which they had previously
registered. rho negroes came up to the railing IN
patches Of ten at q tme ranging themselves in line,
while the hard working clerks rapidly through the
formula of entering each ouo's residence, place
Of brlh occupation and length OF time in the state.
This done two Bibles produced, on OF which
five rugged olive and ebony handsall ebony at times,
were laid the prescribed oath taken, and after pent
full and in many instances ludcrous application OF lips
to the sacred edition the enfranchsed descendants Of
Ham went on their way rejoicing and showing every
evidence Of improved temper Challenging the negro
done the head of the staircase previous TO their
admission to the raiing II was performed with good
humor and except in on or two instances no i'll feeling
exhibited. 1t took eight minutes TO register every
freedmen, which, considering the length OF many
of the George ashngton Hannibal nomenclature
toerably rapid work. The faces OF the negroes
they stood in line, q study less profound than
amusing to the physognomist Here is one with ac-
tualy red whiskes and skin no loss fair than tho cut
Gle Of his Caucasian neghbor at the other end OF the
railing He stands somewhat apart from his dusky
names, and evident repugnance to hold any coniab
with jovial looking, but very sooty and thick
Tipped Sambo next to him. who ever aud anon,
looks up with broad grin at the red whiskers,
and remark that "De white folks is glad TO
mix with niggahs now; yah, YAH" Here is
natural history Of Africa. He is evidently wondering
what that clerk scratching the paper for appears
much in need Of enlightenment TO what all the CON-
motion is about Here is a venerable I'D negro who was
born two years before the revolution. lie Is bent with
age. but his faculties are seemingly unlmpared The
pathy IL Is a cold and heartlcss world to him
for there Is old to relieve him from labor
aud smooth his rugged pathway TO the grave. Here
with his hair arranged in pig tail fashion his
ears; he announces himself sam jefferson, barber
hardrcsser and shampooer" and looks with glance
disdsin at a sable sons TOLL standing next him
In vulgar blouses redoent Of tooacco, molasses
other less savory odors After being duly entered aud
sworn, the batch wheel around and shuttle away grn
ming BY another door.
The whites came in struggling onc two and at most
only three at time; their position At the railing
removed few yards from where the blacks stood IL
struck me all the whites appeared by their looks
slider the whole thing farce, though conscious of
being still unreconstructed but satisfied go through
the registration ceremony for the fun OF the business
least.