National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-05-13
CIVIL R1eHrd.
Experiences Of Russell 4. Boyd During .
Visit to his FATHERS Dsath-bed-Eis Inter
vfew with Gov smith

Experiences Of Russell 4. Boyd During .
Visit to his Fathel's Death bed-His Inter
view with Gov. smith.
highly-respected and well. known colorsd cit
iEen Of Washington, by the name OF Russell N
Boyd, has Just returned from trip South, and
calling At The REPUBLICAN ONCE has made
statement which shows the danger WelLdresssd
Northern eolored men expose themselves to oy
attempting to travel in frstclass railway coaches
through the State Of Virginia.
Mr.. Boyd received kilograms on the 18th and
9th Of April summoning him to the bedside OF
his father, who was lying very Ill at Atlanta, Ga
He arrived In Augusta, Ga, on the 29sh, ana
changed cars there for Atlanta. Having taken
his seat In hrst-class coach, shAbbily-drsssed
IriShman told him that he could not ride there
that the forward car WAS for colOrsd people. Bat
Boyd would not give up his seat, IS he held
hTstclass ticket. During the alteration large
crowd gathered around hin, and the conductor,
stepped aside and whispered to two white men,
looked at the ticket, when all looked at the cOl
ored man Boyd and laughed.
Arriving at DeerlnE, tHenty-ntne miles from
Augusta, the conductor disappeared very sud
denly, and four white men, armed with pistols,
head drove him into the Emokipg-csr and said
that was the place for negro. The armed men
then disappeared, and the conductor coming in
and starting the train, Boyd intimated what had
occurred and asked him II that vas all ths pro-
lection q colOrCi man I'D on his train, and he
seeming to understand the question, he asked
what was the matter. Boyd then related what
had occurred, and the conductor (Perseall) re-
piled in patroniZing tones, They are party or
gSnized TO prevent colored people from riding in
hrst-elass cars. I'd just as soon see you ride
there as any of those white people, but tell you,
as q friend that you are running the riSk OF your
life If you get in frstclass this road, and
you'd better not say anything about what those
you can't get out Of this State alive"
Boyd. ~ thought from what Senator Gordon
Georgia. The Senator said the colored people
were Just as much protected here as they were IN
PerseSIi. "oh, yes, Gordon will say anything
when he gets up there; but I'll tell you one
thing, If you come down here trying to enjoy the
same rights as a white man you will lose your
Boyd says that he was accused Of going South
to enforce the civil rights bill. He plead that he
recommendation from high officials and promi-
nent personages Of Washing ton, in whose en-
ployment he had been, attestinE as 70 his good
character, and showed bono yfde telegraphtc dis
patches in proof Of the object OF his visit South,
and Gays That he believes that the dispatches
BOYD called on Governor Smith and commuuf-
cated the facts to him, and claims to have re-
csived as much satisfaction as If he had called
the leader Of Ku.Klux organization. Meeting
the Governor in his private room,
Gov. Smith. GOOD morning."
Boyd. Governor, l call TO see you to tell you
Of an act oil Vilety"-
Gov. Smith. what is your manner"
Boyd. "Russell N. Boyd"
Gov. Smith. Where did you come from 2"
Boyd. "From Washington city"
Gov. Smith. "WhRt are you doing here?"
Boyd. ~ came to see my father, and came
all the way from Washington to Augusta In o
first class ear, and took f1rst-class car st Au-
gusta for Atlanta, but at Deering was driven
from my seat by a party OF four men, with pistols
pointed at my head, to a second-clsss car
Gov Smith. "Well, what was the matter with
that carr"
Boyd. sit was not as clean as the other. and
It was q smokingcaI:"
pleasant TO you"
Gov: Smith: "Do you belong to any political
organization ~
Boyd. mo, SIR"
Gov. Smith. ado you know Fred DougIass?"
Boyd. ~ know him by sight only"
Gov. Smith. THAT will dol
Boyd. but, Governor, called to ask you to
offer q reward for those men,"
Gov. Smith. "You were born in this State.
Do you not know that white people do not Ssso-
ciate with the colored people here?"
Boyd. "Why, Governor, l did not know that the
people here call riding in public car assoeiat-
ing with them. We don't call that 'associating'
where came from, and heard Senator Gordon
say that the colored people were just much
protected in their rights in Georgia as in any
STATE in the North"
Gov. Smith. And suppose that you thought
that you would come down and test the civil
rights bill?"
Boyd. "No, sir; 1 can find better use for $3.50
than paying 1t to railroad corporations tO test
the rights Of my race"
Gov. Smith. II think, from your personal ap-
pearonce, that you are one Of those political
men OF your race and I'll tell you, man, II you are
you'd better go back Whs-e you came from"
Boyd. mo, sir; am not. ana toe ignorant
to be political man, and came Lsrs TO see
my father, and nothing more"