The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-01-31
r,cuaa rsxs of MIR. Saarrsc. OF Rrunswsck.
tn ti,c House OF delegates, January
2ENt.

remarks Of MIR. ssarke. OF kruns"sck'
tn ti,c House OF Delcgatcs, January
2Est.
The House having under consideration
.sc motion OF Mr.. Starke TO reconsider the
~ote by which the resolution toapportion
,he representatives in the Legislature
nnus,,v among the congressional districts
was nassed, Mr.. Starke said:
Mr. Sneaker, i'm entering the motion to
roconSidcr it was not with the hope thatthe
House would adopt the concurrent resoin-
tom. but to explain why I offered that re-
soln,ion and another few days before.
The one now under consideration was
handed me by a member OF this Legtsla-
turc-one proverbial for energy and perse-
ycrance. and who familiarized himself with
everything taking place here or likely 10
come before this body-a gentleman VINO
understands the wants and necessities OF
the people in that section OF the State from
which / come.
Mr.. Speaker, was struck with the prin-
cinfc contained in the resolution, which re-
cognizes the congressional districts, under
the census OF 1870. as the one to govern in
tho rcaproriionment OF the State. | believe
thu, mode would be equitable and Just to
each and nil parts OF the State. Every sec
ton would be fairly dealt with by the plan
nronosed in the resolution. was struck
with the opposition OF the members from
AppomattoX and Gloucester, because the
Fourth congressional district, where / live,
in tbe "black belt" rs ii is called, would
concede several thousand in population to
each OF their districts, as well as TO the other
districts. thereby diYesting it of any SEEM
ing advantage to the Fourth district, which
represent in part in this House.
Mr. Speaker, il the opposition was to the
source OF the resolution then can under
stand ii; but it ought not to create distrust
and alarm. NJ / belong to minority so
small on this floor that 1t would take NC
Cormick's new and most powerful tele-
scope toaliscovcr it. Is not the opposition
based on the disposition OF some members
on this floor to ignore the increased power
acquired by the new-made colorcd citizens
in that Fourth district II so, can under
stand that, too. But is it right to ignore that
power when dealing with State affairs when
we hold on 10 it with such tenacity in deal
ing with national affairs, recognizing its in
Nuence i'm our increase OF numbers in Con-
sress and in the Electoral College? Ii the
oppositon is based on any fear OF that
mower il is not weil-grounGed; nor is 1t
right to ignore or restrict that power, but
rather to educate and utilize 1t for the adj
yanccment OF the material interests and
welfare OF the State.
Mr.. Speaker. the time was when that
colored element need be feared. Suppose
that anv Of you, before the war, had been
told that person was passing through your
ncighborhood advising the c0lored people
TO rise and assert their freedom. The best
OF YOU would have sprung out OF your
beds in thc dead hour OF the night
and hid your children in the densest part OF
the forest for safety. How was 1t when
powerful army and navy, backed by gov
crnment with the world in sympathy with
il. and when it placed fire and sword IN
reach OF these colored people and told them
TO slay and burn those who had so long held
them in slavery? What was the action OF
those people on that occasion and under
tina, pressure. and when the whites had on
their hands more than they were able to
deal with in every direction? / say that
their behavior under those circumstances
has no parallel. Not one single instance
of outrage at their hands, but, On the
contrary, they proved the constant friends
10 the women and children left alone on the
large plantationS-aS on the Mississippi
river, along which gunboats and transports
were passing up and down filled with the
enemy to lie sent out rs raiders at different
points 10 deyastatc. Mr.. Speaker, the col
orcd people did exercise whatever power
they possessed by standing guard to defend
the whites instead OF Staying them. That
grand old man, General Joseph E. Johnston,
now living here, but whose home is in the
hearts of the people, who was equal to the
demands OF Il suffering people, saw the
exposure, and ordered details from his
small army OF one man for every
five hundred colOred people, and sent
tho men into the exposed sections to care
for the helpless women and children. was
directed to make the detail. | shall never
forget the report made by the first man on
his return to camp-that the colored people
were guarding and trying to hide from de-
struction what little the whites had left;
that at one of the first places, lie approached
in the night (only few miles from the
raiders camp), and with caution, he was
hailed at the entrance of the house by
faithful Nun who had been the foreman OF
his masters plantation, lying on the piazza,
10 defend his old and young mistress.
Mr. Speaker, there is nothing to fear from
them now il they were disposed to do harm,
for they are in a small minority and have
not the slightest inclination to be unfrlendly
to the whites; but, on the contrary, they de-
sire to harmonize with them, as they are de-
pendent Oh the good feeling between the
races. Under the circumstances, l urge
that it is right in reapportioning the State
that these colored men should be recognized
rs citizens in that case as well rs in all other
legislation. But il seems It'll only ncces-
sary for anything OF this kind to emanate
from me for il to find its way with lightning
speed down to committee and be buried
there.
Mr.. Speaker, l offered some days ago
resolution looking to the printing OF the
Governors inaugural address. l did it
without consultation with any member of
this body or any one else. It was one Of
those impulses that have characterized me
through life, not always to my advantage;
and not without annoyance. 1 did not in
tend nor do believe the resolution would
have committed any one to the line OF poll
cy that the address suggested. Mr.. Speak
e., was not an Indifferent observer OF the
events Of last spring and summer, when
you, sir, and your party were looking for
timber TO make Il Governor. There were
several names presented, and when you
were discussing through the press the mer-
its and dement's Of the gentlemen presented
for that high office, ! noticed that your
late standard-bearer and present Gov
crnor passed through that tiery ordeal
unscathed and came out OF the cru
chile unscorched, standing before men
like doube.rcfned metal, not only above
reproach but above suspicion. That,
sir, was my introduction to your Governor,
and that acquaintance was renewed few