The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-04-14
;. SATURDAY MORNING.. APRIL "A. 1877.
The Fight for the Pos.-Oaicc.

The Fight for the Post-OHicc.
MEETING At 1HIRD-sTREET CHURCH. LAST
NIGHT-Miss VAN LEW ENDORsED-THE
OPINIONS OF CoLORED PEOPLE PLAINLY
ExPREssED-wHY THE NEGROES LOVE
HER-THE PRIMARY PLAN.
A meeting of colored people was held at
the Third-Street Methodist church last
night to endorse Miss Bette Van Lew for
reappointment to the position OF postmaster
of Richmond w. c. Roane was elected
chairman, and after much time spent In use
less motions and points OF order vice-presi-
dents and secretary were elected. There
were only. about fifty or sixty voters pre-
sent; but as the weather was stormy anC
time was precious In this matter 1t was de-
cided to go on rather than to postpone action
to more favorable occasion. ',t {.
A committee, with r. p. Brooks chair
man, was appointed to prepare resolutions.
During their absence the meeting was adj
dressed by Edinborougb Archer and others.
Archer devoted most Of his time to DR.. Mills;
claimed that the Doctor had spent only $3.50
in the congressional canvass; that his chief
clerk, Mr.. Walden, was Democrat, and
that il the Doctor got the post-ofice the
negroes now employed there would be
turned out and Democrats put IN, and that
DR.. Mills had no use for colored folks any,
way. Archer declared that if Miss Van Lew
were man he would vote for her for Pre-
sident.
Another man charged that Doctor Mills
would not allow negro to drink out the
same glass with him. Another asserted
that having business at DR.. Mills's Office he
went there, and DR.. Mills would not ask
him to take seat, &c, &c. AS it was
Van Lew meeting, the Mills men were not
there to answer these objections.
The committee reported as follows:
TO His EsceHency Il. B. Hayes, President
of the United States:
We, the citizens OF Richmond, in mass
meeting assembled, representing the Senti-
ments and wishes OF large majority of the
Republicans Of this city, do most earnestly
| protest against the means employed and the
Misrepresentation that have been and are
now being made to secure the appointment
of DR.. Charles S. Mills and others as post
master OF the city OF Richmond; and be-
| lieving that fair statement Of facts will
conduce to proper selection for the Office,
we would respectfully represent
| 1st. That Dr. Charles S. Mills has received
the recognition and enjoyed the patronage
| of the Federal Government since 1872 in
| his present office as collector of the port OF
Richmond, in which Office he has never re-
tanned q negro in any respectable position
within his gift, being influenced by those
modes OF thought and education rs to the
negro race which are the result of slavery
and saveholding, and which in man of
his age are fixed and ineradcable.
I'd. That we deny that the congressional
committee, in recommending his appoint
ment, represents the choice OF those who
constitute the largest proportion of Rcpub-
lican voters in this city and district, mas
much as every colored member on the COM
mittee save one (who is an employe under
him) voted against the proposition to en-
dorse DR.. Mills for the post-office.
Sd. That any petition which may come to
your EXcelency purporting to be signed by
colored men is not genuine, for the reason
that such signatures were obtained by false
representations to the said citizens (many Of
whom had already given their signatures to
Miss Van Lew; that DR.. Mills sought the
Van Lew should fail to be reappointed, and
his only motive was to prevent Democratic
appointment; and we would further state
that none Of the committees which have
waited upon your Excellency in the in
terest of DR.. Mills, or any other applicant
for the office, have been delegated so to do
| by the voters OF this city, and can therefore
only represent their personal interests and
preferences.
4th. That it is the solemn judgment OF
the colored citizens Of Richmond, predl-
Gated upon their knowledge of his past
official conduct with regard to their race,
that Dr. Mills will not carry into practical
execution the policy Of your EXcelleucy re-
garding the colored people as expressed in
your inaugural address and verified by sub
sequent acts.
We most earnestly pray your EXcelency to
retain Miss E. L. Van Lew in her present
office, because she has been a faithful and eff
cient officer. She has displayed an impartial
spirit in the administration OF the affairs Of
her office with respect to the appointment
of colored men, and we are morally certain
that her removal will be followed by the
displacement Of every negro employed in
the service in this city, thereby retarding
the salutary work inaugurated by her of
allowing coored men the opportunity OF
testing and proving their fitness for posi-
ton. .s-.. .
We would respectfully call the attention
Of your Excellency to the secret motive for
opposition to Miss Van Lew among Demo-
Republicap rivals are soliciting and accept
ing. We are satisfied, beyond the possibil-
ity OF doubt, both from the temper Of their
language and our long acquaintance with
their political sentiments, that their opposi-
| ton to her is founded upon her heroic de-
Yotion to the Union previous to and during
| the rebellion, and to have her superseded
by one OF less staunch Republican antece-
dents would be regarded IS triumph OF
that sentiment which has no forgiveness for
nor fraternity with native Virginian who
espouses the cause Of the Union.
Believing that your EXcellency will ac-
cord our views such consideration as they
seem to deserve, and reafirming our conf
dence that our rights will be protected and
our welfare promoted under your Admins
tration, we submit this earnest appeal in be-
half of one whom in the cruel days OF
slavery we learned to love, and who since
our emancipation has been constant friend.
The report Of the committee-the address
to Hayes-was unanimously adopted, and
committee was appointed to carry it to
Washington.
Colonel w. W. Forbes, one OF those
spoken OF in connection with the office OF
postmaster, it is understood, means to pro-
pose at once to the other candidates that
they submit their claims to the people at
primary election, to be held Ut time and
on terms to be agreed upon; that the can
didates shall bear the expense OF the same,
and agree not to solicit votes personally, or
pay others to do so for them, and that the
man Tor woman) receiving the greatest num-
ber of votes shall be entitled to the support
of all the aspirants in the effort to have the
favorite of the people appointed by the
preSjdant