Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-09-29
The New departure I'm Virginia.

u
Among the wonderful changes brought
bv the nomination of Uncle Sam Tilden
nope is stronger than the formation and
progress of the colored Democratic Union
in Virginia. The following interesting
account of it's formation and strength IS
from Richmond correspondent OF the
Baltimore ''Sun:"
The formation of colored Democratic
club in Charleston, S. c., caused RIOT
Here, previous to the nomination of Ill
den and Hendricks at st. Louis, W. Il. l..
Combs, colored, formed a coloreq Illden
club of sixty members, III jackson ward, the
negro ward Of Richmond, the clL. doing
affective work for Mayor CarringtL Nd
greatly reducing the Republican VI, !
that ward. This club. however, has 10
come merged in d greater association,
which signalzes one OF the most significant
and important movements III the SouIh..
This association is the State Political
Democratic Union (coloredj Of Virginia.
with headquarters here at No. S193 North
Broad street, and already having auxillary
societies in all quarters OF the State. line
meaning of this movement is the emancl.
patton Of the negroes of Virginia and OF
fine whole South from The party rule OF
federal Office holders. 1t is already sue
cess in Virginia, for it has survived abuse,
threats, and persecution, and is now SO
strong that it may safely defy the opposi
ton OF carpet baggels and the bullying
negro hirelings of the Republican party.
Rev. John w. Dungee, pastor of the col
ored Free Baptist church in this city, de-
serves the chief honor for lnaugurating
this reform. He was slave for twenty
seven years Of the late eX-LNut. Gov. Greg
ory, of Virginia, with whom he picked up
an education, which has since been extern
drd bv careful schooling at the North
Honest, courageous, independent, able, he
is a fine speaker and d good writer. The
letters which have recently been published
bearing his signature attest his literary
skill, for he is their real author, as [ have
| reason to know, i'll both form and sub
| stance. On the 18th inst, the union was
organized here with Mi. Dungee, Presi-
dent and Mr.. w. FL. L. Combs, Secretary.
| The membership has already reached 800,
embracing some of the best and most in
| duential colored citizens of Richmond
| MI. Dungee himself is man Of property.
| Combs is an educated young mulatto, Off
Ger in many societies. proprietor Of a good
| grocery, and owner of considerable proper
| ty. He is an excellent speaker and writer,
| and Yields much influence among the
Young men and women of his race.
In the rank and file are Rev. Arthur
| McCue. assistant pastor of the Shiloh Bap-
| fist Church; Rev. j. w. Gaines, Baptist
missionary; Abram Hall, ex-doorkeeper of
the State Senate; Joseph Lewis, janitor OF
| the State Senate; William Willis, one OF
| the wealthiest colored ministers in Rich
inond, if not the wealthiest, owning mum
Der of excellent houses; Giles B. jackson,
recently leading Republican, who was
| expelled from his society, OF which he was
secretary, because lie Joined the union;
| Beverley Fowler, also quite well-to-do and
| influential; Peter Voolfolk the only col
ored notary in Virginia, and a leading dea-
con of the Third Street M. e. Church; r.
L. Ho3son, late captain OF the Attucks
Guard and now major commanding the
Battalion OF Colored Volunteers Of this
city and Manchester; Stephen Jones, lead
er of the choir of Ebenezer Baptist Church;
Ger, &C.; Geo. P. Gray. barber of the Elk
change Hotel, good speaker and writer and
influential, and many other old and young
men of position, I'M diligence ard influence.
The union has auxiliary clubs IN all
| the wards Of the city, with the following
presidents: w. H. L. Combs, jackson
ward; Junius Cole, Marshall ward; Shep-
herd Short, Madison ward; G. A. Tabb.
Jefferson ward; Corbin Burton, Monroe
ward; Richardson Anderson, Clay ward.
| Auxiliary unions have been organized out
side of Richmond at the following locali-
| ties in the State: Norfolk, Petersburg,
Lynchburg, Danville, Fredericksburg,
Boykin's Depot, West Point, Williamsburg,
Charlottesville. Manassas, one in Hanover
county and two in Henrico county. The
union has out Messrs. Dungee, Combs,
Giles B. Jackson and A. Hopkins, all fine
speakers, as agents to organize sub
union, and they are working zealously, land
with much success. The headquarters
here have room always open, well sup
piled with newspapers and campaign docu-
ments, and its officers make q speciality Of
disseminating throughout the State the re-
cord OF the Freedmen's Bank and other
matter particularly affecting the colored
people. AS the State and National Demo
cratic Committees afford no aid to- the
union. its expenses are borne by the con-
tributions of its members, and private
subscrip, ions.
AT first MI. Dungee and his associates
were fierceiy threatened, but now they are
only subjected to abuse and Islander. Giles
B. jackson is the only one, as far as known,
who has been expelled from his society for
joining the union. 1t is already a power
here and in tie State, and it will gradu-
ally, if not rapidly extend its influence
throughout the South, and result in the
true, final and complete emancipation Of
the negroes.