Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-11-02
An Open Lester TO Big-Four
NeWOerry.
From the Wytheville Enterprise

DANvILLE, VA, October 5, 1888.
Hon. s. IL. Ne:Yberry:
Dear Shiny anxiety and that of many
of my friends here have induced me TO
write to some IF our friends in Southwest
Virginia to ask that the ''signs of prom
Use are' in a political way in your section,
aud especially in Bland county.
am the son of your old friend, Colonel
F. G.. Ruffin, of Richmond, and this must
De my excuse for troubling you with this
letter.
We who live in the Black Belt feel that.
could the white men IN your part OF the
State know to what indignities and out
RACES we are constantly subjected by our
local government, they would Cease to he
Readjusters now that there is nothing to
readiust, aud rally to our support. And
we think he who would enlighten them
aud let Them see how hldeous our condi-
ton is would deserve the gratitude Of our
people for generations to come.
l shall pass over in this letter the enor-
NIFTY of inquiry and hate that IS contained
in the Unfinished business OF the last LIE
gislatlte-these are known to all of US, anu
are. | assure you, the least OF all the evils
which beset the Southside Virginlan-and
will cdufue myself TO our local govern
ment, which is no worse here than IN other
portions of this section.
= Here III DanviIle we have four negroes
in our Council, which is presided over by
Cal pet bagger. Colonel Rauston, the i'll
terna l-revenue collector, who Is an under
spur-leather of Mahoue, aud malignant
Halter of all good people. we have one
black negro justice aud two white negro
Justices We have negro policemen and
various other negro officials, whose high
est claim for office is fealty to the Repub-
lIcan party and hatred for everything that
is decent or respectable. have Seen
negro in the streets of Danvllle surround
ed by other negroes. and within few feet
OF policeman, denOunce all white people
in the vllest, bittelest, and most vulgar
language, and with pistol III hand, say Gnat
he waited to start a row with some So
uf a b" of a white man and kill him,
without Ell citing even so much as IT,
buke from this policeman, who, though he
has white skin, wears MAhODe'S livery
and is blacker than hell. have known
ladies to be joSted aud knocked from the
sidewalk into The gutter by negro Wehches,
with the remark that next time you see
ladies coming reckon you will get out OF
tue way" | have known negro W. inches
to give the lie to a lady direct, and could
outrages, but sicken of the task.
Fealty to Malone is the one prert qulslte
for office, and no other Qualification Is
asked for or cared for here. But we trust
In God that the very extreme to winch
these people have gone here will be our
salvation; for it has driven all respectable
ity from their party and bias united the
white people almost to a man. and now all
who were formerly Democrats are Demo
Gratis still, aud are not only united With us
but are working with US.
Tue Color line has been clearly and
tightly drawn, aud We have no doubt OF
Carrying our ticket (Which is the Same for
Pittsylvania county and DhnvilleJ i'll Nov
enDer; but We need the late BECAUSE the
other side are already preparing new
charter for DanviIe, to offer III the next
Assembly II the State goes Reacjusttr;
and If iG does, and their new Chatter is
adopted, then God help US; and IL Is this
anxiety which makes US appeal to our
friends all over the State for AID, believing
that The worst curse which AN angry GOD
could ilflict upon us and Virginia now
would BE- a Readjuster LeglsaJure-aD
evil which would 1t only retard aud ruin
the material prosperity OF the state for
years to come, but lead to war OF races,
and see re-enacted more distress ana SUI
fering than we had ia the war between
the tates.
The men of Southsde Virginia have
borne long and patiently, but they are
done and will not longer sit with folded
hands, listening to the jibeS and Jeers OF
insolent and ignorant negrot s, bounded Oh
by low, degraded, and bad White men; anu
as said in the start, could your people
know but half of our woes they would srt.
as we do, that ReadjusteriSm as 1t now IS
means nothing but black supremacy and
communism, aud would come to our aid
as one man.
know that neither you nor your peo-
pie have any idea of our condition, or you
would have fewer Repub leans, for know
that the good people of Southwest Vir-
gina would not stand by and willingly see
US oppressed and imposed on as IS being
done by Malone and his mini0ns all the
time.
You must really excuse the length of
this letter, which is longer than had in |
tended; but the subject is such an absorb
ing one that we are compelled to dwell on
it.
Allow me to thank you In the name of
our people for the noble way in which you
have defended us and our hberties-and
may beg that you will try to find time to
answer this letter, and let us hope at least
that we may hear glorious news from the |
Southwest in November.
Very truly your friend.
w. N. RUFFIN.