Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-11-22
from the New York Tlitane.
RALEIGH, N. c., October 81, 1867.


RALEIou, N C., October 81. 1867.
I want to say for your informsfiou and
for such use as you eau make OF the facts,
that while sss In Richmond | took par.
iicular psins % ASCERTAIN The truth .ef ccr-
tam chaiges made against the Rtpuhli-
csns, aud against General Scho6cld aud
bis officers by Pollard, Giiinsr, aud others.
The charge that the polls were kept
open beyond the time legally allowed
amounts TO this: The General. seeing
that hundreds and thousands we're in line
on the streets, not having voted for want
of time and opportunity. ofdeted The ex-
tension. hsi,y colored voters whowould
have voted earlier were. held hack by The
tricks aud threats uf their employees. 20
thstwheu they should appear 6t Tho polls
II would be just too lsle TO- votc.s This
game the Genersd .irorirsaed. " giving
them the opportunity which tbeir sep.
ployers desIred 20 cheat them out q. As
IL was there we're mofc than a thousand
colored voters Who did not lave due
enough 20 vote. .tsa 'tse
The Rirhmona papers try TO msLeais
appep that il.ere ale heetovlgilnnes con-
mit'ees organized TOR the purpose Of div
ing Conselvstiyes' away from the city.
They pubhsh letters purpor,img TO have
coineHrom coiofsd men. meinbers Of such
eomr s,ees he truth is that the letters
purb&cd beafiupon their face the best
evidence that they are manufactured Tor
the purpose Of deepening and sltene then.
ing the bitter prejudice ents, tsined by the
oidNmeinis arisiocracy sRainst the now
enifanehised citizens who we're formerly
slaves. AZ another lrvof of the falsity Of
this story may say that OF The largest
mars meeting ever held in Richmond. on
Tuesday last the Hon Thomas ". Con-
way, oi New iork. the principal speaker
on the OCCASION. asked the oolored citizens
whether such cou mitlecs existed 10 their
knowledge. Tie emphatic reply was
No" lie asked them whether, IL such
con- mii,ees were IN existence, they would
approve them, ", the individuals compos-
ing them, aud the reply was a very earnest
"No." The iaot is that vigilance COM
mittees were ~ common Ia old tines that
now, when new element vf power CONES
upon the stage. they seize the idea which
was 10 disgracciul to them with the view
Of disgracihg their opponents.
The rebels Of Richmond clamor against
the Republicans OF the state on account
of their ign0rancs The registration re-
turns In the hands Of General seaofeld
show record us 10 the intelligence Of the
white voters which tells is own story.
For instance, cut OF two hundred names
white voters registered in one of the eoun-
ties OF the State, there were but four who
could write their names. And Ia one Of
the wards of the city of Riohm ond more
than one half The white voters neie mot
able TO write their pames .... ..s ia
80 much as to Virginia; now as 20 this
State This matter ss 20 tie ignorapc OF
the colorcd voters, which seems 10 lie Al
the foundation of oil the attacks coming
from Northern Copperhesd papers like the
Herald aud the World against the pripci-
pie Of impartial suffrage, will soon come
out in such manner as 10 conicuBd those
organs. The records will rhowi9 9thsrf
ipnOrance Is good reason iur the d;sirsD--
chlsement OF black men il is just a. good
against white men; and il the igi0rsut
white men of Virginia, North rsro,ina,
&c. are not allowed 10 vote, thet Sut
very few OF the white men of those States
will vote. lu word, if you prevent all
IRON voting IN these States except the
educated, then you turn the government
into the hands Of the old rebel sristocfscy
aud the masses of the people will be
suhjected TO an oppression almost eqa.l
to slavery itself.
Now us to the proof-snd the examples
which | give eau be taken as indicating q
general isct--the registration returns 10
this State chow one county, with about
two hundred white voters, only fhl,y ~
whom were able 40 write their names.
Another county gives iittie more than two
hundred white voters, with bot forty who
eau write their names sa1sI . rtaL
have the honor to be, ....lf
Very respectfully yours, ..,
THOMAS W. CONWAY