The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-04
Coalition Rnle I'm nanxiIIe.


and manufacturers and mechanics OF the
town Of Danvllle. Va, earnestly requcs,
that you Will permit us TO lay before you
few facts from which you can form some
j idea OF the injustice and humiliation TO
which our white people have been subject
I ed and are daily undergoing by the doml-
nation and mIsrule Of the Radical or negro
party, now I'm absolute power in our town.
and under the leadership of William Ma
hone. seeking TO extend and perpetuate its
power all over the Commonwealth.
BY the census OF 1880 Danville contained
/ 1926 persons. Of which 1897 were colored
and 3.l29 were white. The population OF
the town has increased greatly since that
time, and the proportion between the num-
bers OF whites and blacks has also increased.
there being much larger proportion OF
blacks now than In the year 1880.
The taxes paid by the Inhabitants OF the
town for the year 1882 upon property cX-
elusive OF Icense-iaXes for its corporate
uses, exclusive OF taxes paid by the state,
amounted 10 over $4,000 in round num-
bers, OF which only 81, 206.63 were paid by
the blacks, making S3S,S9i more Of money
paid for the support OF the town by the
white people than was paid by the negroes.
Out OF The total sum derived from taxa
ton upon property $4,000 were appro-
prIated TO the education OF the negro chill
drcn OF the town--a sum. il win be seen,
1894 more than the entire amount Of
tax paid by the whole negro popula-
ton. So it appears that the negroes
OF the town do not contribute one
single dollar TO the use Of the town, to-
wards paying the interest upon its corpo-
rate debt, the improvement Of It's streets.
the maintenance Of ITS public works, the
pay OF the officers, and its incidental eX-
penSes of governments; but, on the con-
trary, every dollar, and much more be-
sides, paid by the members Of the race in
the nature OF taxes is returned to them and
applied 10 the education OF their children.
Up to the session Of the last Legislature
the town was not divided into wards, but
voted as a single precinct, and in that way
the Council was generally kept in the hands
Of the white people. But the
NEGRO PARTY, DESIRING TO GET COMPLETE
POSSESSION
OF the town government, that they might
share in the offices aS well as levy upon the
treasury OF the whites whatever they
thought proper. applied to the Legislature
and obtained an amendment TO the town
charter requiring that the town should be
divided into three wards. and that four
councilmen and one justice of the peace
should be elected from each ward. From
the localities in which the negroes had
herded themselves il was totally impracti-
cable to 20 run the ward lines without
creating two wards in which the negroes
had large majority, and this they and
their white leaders knew. The result was
fhof OLE Oh If ~ fsVo lt., 81
their candidates for the Council and their
candidates for justice Of the peace from
each ward.
Then began the deeds which have so
Inundated us in our own estimation and
made our town, once so noted for wealth
and enterprise, by-wOrd for shame and
reproach from one end Of this land to the
other. Wherever il was possible for any,
thing TO be done by the Council or its
magistrates that would irritate and wound
the pride OF the whites, it was executed
with the kcenest relish.
OUT or NINE POLICEMEN FOUR NEGROES
were choscn-sOmething before that time
unknown to the history Of the town-two
OF them acting not only as policemen, but
one as health officer, and tie other as reigh-
master at the pubic SC1icS and Cicrk Of the
market. Out OF the twenly-fOur stalls
and stands ut the market twenty are rented
ont by tie Council TO the negroes. The
scenes about this important and attractive
institution attractive in all cities) will give
any person visiting the town a fair idea OF
the general state Of the government under
the negro rule. The market, once occupied
in all its stalls by polite white gentle
men, with their clean white aprons,
and the most enticing meats and
vegetables upon their boards, is now the
scene OF filth. stencil, crowds Of lettering
and idle negroes, drunkenness. obscene
language, and petit thieves. THE WHITE
MEN HAVE BEEN DRIVEN OUT and forced TO
take up private places for vending their
meats and vegetables, and the public mar
ket, erected 10y the money OF the white
people and intended to be occupied by
men at least courteous and clearly, has
been converted TO the use Of squalid negro !
and presents spectacle OF loath- |
someneSs positively repulsive to any person |
who has the least idea Of how a market |
should be kept.
The whites Of the town are pOwerless TO |
prevent this outrage upon their rights. In |
fact, il is believed that their wel-knOwn |
objection to such an indignity is the prin-
cipal cause OF its inflictiOn. The Council, |
which has the power 81 regulating the con.
duet OF the market, is presided over by n |
'arpet Dagger, j. i. RaulstOn, Mahone's |
collector for internal revenue for the Dan.
iille district, and the patronage Of his Fed
raj Office enables him to control the COun-
Ill with the same undsputed power that |
he General does his party.
RAULsroN Is EXCEEDINGLY OFFENSIVE
o the white people, and il is well known
Ic takes no pains TO carry out their wishes.
Two OF the negro members OF the Council |
lold positions under him at the custom
louse, aud they are as obedlent TO his will !
n the Council as they are in the revenue
,flice.
1t is seen. therefore, that our town is
practically i'm the hands Of. and actually |
controlled by, the officers and slaves OF the
Federal Government, not one OF whom
las a dollars worth Of visible property
within its limits, and this, too, by the most
usurpatiOn; for the Constitu-
ion and laws Of the state and the presi-
icntial order by which the Norfolk post
master was removed all declare that such
officials shall hold no office under the Gov
rnment OF this Commonwealth. The
federal Government,
ITS INTERNAL-REvENUE COLLECTOR
nd the negro councilmen hired by him to
Grub the floor OF the custom-house and
make incendiary speeches against the
white people OF the town, make our town
avs, levy and collect our taxes, distribute
'ur money, and elect negro policemen to
watch our town while its inhabitants are
sleep. The revenue collector declared,
when be was elected president OF the
Town Council. that il was his intention TO
lse the patronage Of the Council to build
up the Radical negro party.
The Police Court OF the town Is
ANOTHER SCENE OF PERPETUAL MOCKERY