National Republican., 1878-01-12
"Wnys that are Dark"

soon alter the present Administration
came into power, and while in "conciliat-
ing" mood, one Colonel" POTrs, an un-
reconstructed rebel of the Democratic per-
suasion, was appointed Postmast er at Pc
tersburg, Va, this, too, despite the oppo-
sition of the Representative in Congress
from that district, and mass meetings Of the
Republican party that gave forth no uncer-
tain utterance to the sense Of injustice that
was being done the party in a community
where TO proclaim and vote their sentiments,
if Republicans, was always attended with
danger, and not unfrcquently with death.
Petersburg is the commercial centre of the
only Congressional district that has been
left in Virginia, through the alternating
processes of bull-dozing and conciliation to
tn. Republicans, and the point at which the
canvasses of the respective parties have al
ways been arranged 1t was the place, too,
to which, in the interest of peace and fair
election, it became necessary to detail
squad OF military last fall, and the Repub-
licans of that city claim very just
ly that they had right to expect
for whose success they had jeopardized
their personal safety, than having a Demo-
cratic official thrust upon them against
their urgent and persistent remOnstrances,
who, if disposed-and what Democratic
Office holder is not ?-can turn the patron
age and emoluments of his Office into o
weapon that would greatly injure, if not
effectually destroy, the supremacy of the
Republican party in that district. That the
Senate concurs in this view of the case, or
possesses some other equally good reason, is
evident from the fact that the aforesaid
PoTTs, with military hook, has not yet
been confirmed by that body, and from
present indications we are led to believe
will not be.
PoTTs, Democrat, however, is not dis
posed to submit tamcly to being thus quietly
ignored by the Senate, Republican though
it be, and in his incXpressible desire Ia
hang on to the hooks is now engaged in
l getting up petitions to the Senate, setting
forth how greatly the colored people love
admire, honor and esteem the incorrupti,
BILE and patriotic PORTS, and that while
they the colored people, are Republicans
and never fail to imperil their lives when
they attempt to vote in Petersburg, yet in
view of the fact that "Colonel" PoTTs is on,
of those military Democrats who sought IL
perpetuate the yoke of bondage on theiI
necks, why, of course, they prefer him to {
Republican. Why shouldn't they? In thi,
era of Cancellation are not Republicans ex
pected to vote only, while Democrats are
however reluctantly bidden TO hold office
We have been led to these reflections by
a letter received from an estimabe ant
thoroughly reliable gentleman of Peters
burg. We present the following extract:
, Colonel PoTrs is doing all he can to get VI
, petitions to the Senate to confirm him. lie
with the Rev. Mr.. EATON, went up to the Har
risUn street (cOlOred) Church during tn,
: Christmas holidays, and conducted the Ser
, vice for the COlOred members and partOOk 0
the sacrament with them; this, too, for tn,
inst time although POrTs has been promi
nent member of the church Tor thirty wears
So you see what a Democrat will do to get anC
retain Office but | am satisfied the Churcl
members saw through his object and Will,
they partOOk Of the bread and wine ! thinl
| they will add but few names to his petition
Had you or any other white Republican even
gone to their church the whole Democrats
press would have noticed it, but when a Dem
} ocratic office holder does it they are silent.
} Thus have we an illustration of the facilit.
with which Democracy can borrow tn
r livery of heaven in which to serve tn
, devil" What will PORTS Democratic breth
! ren think of him when they know that h
5 not only visits negro churches but commune
| with, "niggers?' With the minister VIII
: was particeps crimimiS in this effort to max