South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-08-25
A Startling Outrage.

Free Baptist church. colored. assembled
in the colored Baptist church OF this
city. OF which the Rev. Preston is in
charge. Among the delegates sent TO
this meeting was the Rev. j. W. Dun
gee, OF Richmond. Va, who is noted
wherever lac is known as man OF high
character and christian piety. and Of
great eloquencc rs a pulpit orator The
reception that he met here is best told
by the annexed communication which
We received from him yesterday.
MARrINsBURG, w. Va,
Monday, Aug. 18th, 1876.
MEssRs. EprroRs:
Several OF the most respectable and
intelligent colorcd persons in Martins.
burg, warned me not be out last night
after dark, saying that many unlawful
threats had been made against me dur.
ing the day, simply because it was re-
ported in town that favored the Tildcn
and Hendricks ticket. Some of them
said ought TO be taken out last night
and hung; others said tar and feather
him, and some said ought TO be driven
out OF town NJ night. A number of
these bad persons gathered in front OF
the Free Baptist church, where our As.
ISOLATION was in session, and INDUCED
IN some very lawless conduct, so much
SO, that some Of my friends who heard
them, came in the church and advised
me to get out Of the church as soon as
could and not to stop at the door,
Now, Messrs Editors, | think for the
sake OF law and order, if for nothing
else, this matter ought not TO 90 unno.
ticed. say 10 the co!ored people of
the South, that they can never have true
peace and prosperity until they decide
rightly their lot between the two parties
For years they have gone to the polls
and voted for any man the radical party
might bring out without reference to his
moral character or fitness for office. In
those parts OF the South where the col.
ored people are in the majority, this
system OF voting has been most iniuri-
Gus to both white and black. | would
like to ask further space, TO dwell upon
these questions, Messrs. Editors, but /
viii not further trcspass upon yonr col.
umns. Very respectfully,
q. W. IL MOLE.
Now we submit, is not this high
state OF affairs to be tolerated in this
community? An humble colored man.
commissioned by his church TO repre-.
sent II in their constitutional Associa-
ton, IS deferred by threats of personal
violence TO leave town. or upon failure
10 submit TO tho mandate, 30 suffer
violent death 81 the hands OF mob Of
his own color.
And what was the offence? Simply
nat like thousands Of his race through /
out the Nonth, ne has the manhood to |
refuse beng led longer by set Of /
Northern white vagabond Carpet.bag. /
gers, who have come among The people !
of the South to stir up bad blood, 10 in .
cite riot and blood she'd among the whites I
and blacks, that they may pocket the ,
L(c-Dd nancy
suppose that these threats should have 4
been carried into execution and this poor.
inoilcusive preacher Of peace and right. !
eousncss' should have suffered violent I
death AZ the hands of his own deluded /
race. what would reasonable people. both |
North and South, have thought OF the
character of our people and city? Tn.
Iuestionably We should have been de.
nounced for either participating in the /
Old-hlooded murder of an innocent and
iuohending stranger, who had come in
10 our midst on mission of peace, or
else permitting a mob of despcradocs TO
icly law and commit a heinous and hcl.
lsh deed without the excuse or color Of
)allatjon.
We leave the right thinking people Of
ms community TO make their own com.
ncnts-to measure how narrowly we
escaped the commission Of blood shed
and violence in our midst. The com
nunity can also draw its own differences
rs TO 'eho were the real meters Of these
outrageous proceedings. The blame
cannot fall wholly on the poor deludcd
negroes. None Of them take Richmond
papers. even if they could read. how
lid they become aware that the Rev.
Dungec was n conservative aud that he
intended 20 vote FOR Tildcn and Hen
bricks; TO ask this question is 90 an
5wcr HafiaSInrg S'0tcBl0u. tug. -. .
It is said that on Wednesday evening.
the 18th instant. "in spite Of tho many
threats made against him by tho colorcd .
people. Mr.. Dungee spoke in the Court.
House Hall, TO large audience. mostly
whites. tho blacks refusing TO hear him.
through the influence Of the Union
League. lie exposed the corruption Of .
The radical party, showed how lis race .
had been robbed by the leaders Of that
party in The South. and urged them %
vote hereafter with the Democrats who
were their best friends"
~ On Sunday night, the 18th in.
slant. Lou. Ashby, who sleeps in the
store of. V. Williams. az Williamsport.
Grant county, was awakened by some
one attempting 20 pry open window.