New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-10-09
make it question of bread and butter, and they'll have
TO come to our terms.
SOUTHERN POLITICAL METHODS.

ATTACKS ON NEGROES BY YOUNG MEN OF GOOD
FAMIIEs-EvERY DEVICE USED TO PREVENT
BLACK VOTERS CASTING THEIR BALLOTs-" RE-
PEATING" BY MIN WHO CLAIM REsPECrABILIIY
STATEMENT OF AN EYEWITNESS.
j. K. Draper, who is a clerk with Decker &
Co.. at No So Greenwchst., in conversation with n
TRIBUNE reporter on Saturday, gave the following in
formation concerning the political situation sOuth'
Before went South and saw how matters stood for
myself egarded all the reports Of trouble between
whites and negroes as political lodges and way-
ing Of the bloody shirt / have changed my mind
since, and these are the On the 1st OF April
1875, South and then for the first time gained
personal knowledge of the civil aud political situation
One night in the early part Of that month was standing
at the railway station in Salisbury North Carolina, wait
ing for the midnight 1t wanted few minutes OF
l o'clock, and as l stood there l noticed group
OF two three negroes near and overheard their con-
versation in part They talking about singing
and sort OF jubilee that they had had or were
going to have Suddenly party Of ten or twelve white
men rushed up and, surrounding the group Of negroes
began to beat them ouIrageously. The blacks made
little resistance, and resistance would have been
perfectly useless. Two three persons who were in
the vicinity. and myself tried to interfere but two or
three knocks flom the heavy sticks with which the
whites armed made fall back. In the excite
ment the train came along. and was obliged
to leave. The attacking party was not
composed of ordinary roughs, but well dressed
and Of good appearance day or two after, saw an
account OF the matter in paper and 1t was stated that
the white had been taken before justice, fined 80,
and discharged. About ten days later again had occa
sion to wait for train at the place. and then fell
into conversation with negro for boarding
house. told MIN Of the outrage had seen. He re-
marked that such attacks OF common occurrence,
and as had supposed that the whites the younger
members Of good families, who had boosted OF the Affair."
saying they had expected pay fine of 3D. but that
was cheap fuu. So much for minor matters Now for
eecon-day experience.
"n the Fall Of 1879 on the dag Of the state election,
CHANGED to be in Petersburg Virginia SONG business
Having leisure, strocd about the town and visited
tie only polls could Had. These were situated In
frame building the corner Of two streets. The en-
trance street, the window on the other Po
ccmon stood at the door and prevented any blacks VINO
tried to enter directing them to fall into the Inc Of ne
rocs which extended from the window and await their
turn This line was composed entirely OF cOlored men,
There no; white mauiu il. The whites, noticed
entered the door, and attempted to 90 in there my
sell but a policeman asked me if was a citizen, and
when / said | was not. he remarked that | must
stand outside So | took q position the curDstona,
and there had a Of the interior OF the building
Of the ,otbox and the inspectors OF election. These
inspectors were all white The white voters had no diff
Guilty about entering at the door, or about depositing
their ballots Immediately. Tho inspectors took no time
to consult ,it register 1 do not know, however that
registration il obligatory IN Virginia AT all events,
while the whites voted inside, the negroes had 10 wait
hc good tim. og the inspectors at the window After re-
ccyng the white votes the judges would stop TO chat
ttc take bit OF tobacco, aud then cisurey turn to the
window.
"Lct me remark just here that saw white man de-
post two ballots. H. came aud voted and IN 20 minutes
or half an hour returned and voted again. called a
pocemans attention to this, and he told me to mind my
business. Having thus watched the tue inward
ness Of the matter, L repaired to a spot
near the window, TO see how the negroes
got along heard substantially the following converse
ton between one OF the inspectors and elderly negro
evidently very ignorant fellow. remember 1t almost
word for word The inspector asked uumhcrless quc7-
ions that the black could nor answer, ana 1t d..
not seem 10 be expected that he would do so; Are you
II years Of agci Where were you borni Who were
your parents. ANA were they married. Are you sure
q cv were married To this last, when the negro re-
pfI Yes tie Judge added How do yOu know IAeh
line Judge proceeded To demand II he hnlsci WAS mar
rcd how many children he had, and the usual questions
as H. residence. THIS WAS evidently nothing out c To
kan time auG 10 keep the line waiting The conversation
had been interrupted several times, however 10 take
white votes n the negro who was being questioned
shaved the least impat cucC. i'm manner Only, police
man was called up. who erzed the poor fellow IRON the
window ami made him ill IN ut the rear % the lne