The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-16

An Answer 70 an Alleged Interview with Mr..
George Hughes, PublIshedin the National
Republican, - Testimony OF Citizens OF
Northern Birth.


gems OF Gloucester county, held at Glouces-
ter Courthouse on Monday the Sd OF De-
cenber. 1888, to consider certain state
ments and charges made by one George
Hughes, OF this county, TO reporter OF
the National Republican, and published III
the issue OF that paper Of the cath OF No
yember, 1889, and rejecting very uniustly
and injuriously upon the good people OF
virginia in general, and OF Gloucester
county in particular, Major William n.
Perrin, ex-senator Of Virginia, was called
TO the chair, and William +. Watt APP
pointed secretary.
After the reading OF the article contain
ing the statements and charges, and seve-
raj addresses, committee OF ten was APP
pointed to prepare reply 10 the same for
publication in several papers OF wide cir
culation. The following is the reply;
Whereas special dispat CHI from Rich
mond, Va, dated November %, 1888, APP
peared in the National Republican, news
paper published in the city OF Washing
ton. OF the oath Of November, purporting
10 be an interview with one George Hughes,
OF this county, in the words following
Dezendorf's statement is absolutely false
in every particular, and IL calculated, II
permitted to 90 uncorrected, to do I'M
mense harm. / am northern man, and
also a Malone man, and for this am ostra-
cised.
Do YOU believe that ostracism towards
YOU would be abolished II you were to vote
with the Bourbons
Certainly it would.
Are there any other northern men IN
your county,
Yes. and they are well known, too, in
the North and West; but they are Ostra-
cised and treated with contempt on ac-
count OF their political faith.
l. it safe for a northern man to live In
your county,
Yes. where be is able TO protect himself,
a. is evidenced by the recent attempt at
riot on the color-ine which was tried to
be forced upon the Resdiusters when Ma
Tor Volosko Walden addressed meeting
at Gloucester Courthouse Just previous to
the election. a riot was only prevented
by the white Republicans and Readiusters
causing the Bourbons to desist. To this
dav no indictments have been found against
the real originators Of the disturbance, nor
is such thing likely TO be done.
Were any shots fred?
No. but pistols were drawn and inno-
cent colored persons were threatened with
arrest.
Can northern man live there comforta-
bly, under any circumstances
Yes, Providence has given TO that coun-
try ali the natural gifts II can ask for, and
the northern man who can surrender his
conscience unto the keeping Of the Bour-
bon party, religiously and politically, hate
rs il hates, love a. it loves, vote rs 1t votes,
will be popular and well-used man.
Do YOU think the future Of Virginia VIII
be benefited by the recent political change 7
No, because every man who would seek
home III Virginia would not come to a
place where he has 10 surrender his pollti"
cal belief and have doubts about his pro-
perry being protected.
And the correspondent OF the said Nd
tiOnoi Republican adds that Mr.. Hughes -
the heaviest taxpayer in Gloucester
county.
Now, therefore, be ii reSolred by thepeo-
pie of Gloucester county, IN open meeting
assembled at Gloucester Courthouse on the
Sd dou of December, 1888, That the state
ments set out in the above alleged inter-
view are base Misrepresentation OF the pe0-
pie OF Gloucester, without shadow OF
foundation in fact and we denounce them
As libel upon the good people OF our
county.
We assert that the satd George Hughes
is not ostracised because be is Malone
man. and we cite rs evidence OF the truth
of nr IA
ern men in this county who are Mahone
men and are not ostracised. III Mr.. Hughes
has been ostracised it has been because on
all occasions when an opportunity offered
he has loaded the people OF Gloucester
with vituperation and abuse, especially TO
strangers. lie has tried 10 stir up bad
blood by MEETING the negroes with hatred
to their former masters; he has abused
courts for giving judgments and iuries for
finding yerdicts IN accordance win what
they thought the very right OF the case; ;
and he has arrayed himself in violent an
tagOnism 10 the traditions and impulses OF
our people. We assert that there is no
northern man in this county who Is ostra-
cised or treated with contempt on account
Of his political faith. and we adduce as evil
dence Of this fact that in Newington Bap-
fist church the only Republican member
has for long time been superintendent
OF one of Its Sunday schools, and that he
has lately been elected one OF the deacons
Of said church. This gentleman's name IS
John ID. Stevens, OF Staten Island, n. l..
And we further assert that when South
ern Presbyterian church was organized Al
Gloucester Courthouse two or three years
ago both Of the ruling elders elected were
northern men, one OF whom is Robert IL.
Franklin. brother-n-lsw OF Mr.. Hughes;
and Mr.. Hughes himself was member OF
that church.
We further assert that there Is no shadow
Of foundation i'm fact for the statement that
riot was prevented by the white Repub-
Leans and Readlusters causing the Bour-
bonS 10 deSist." The disturbance occurred
in this way: While Major Walden was
making political speech a drunken white
man, who is not now, and was not then, q
resident OF this county. threw u chip, he
SAYS, 10 attract the attention Of friend TO
get him to 20 and take 4 drink. The chip
flew towards Major Walden, among the me-
sroes standing near him. A negro re-
monstrated with the white man, charging
him with throwing at Major Walden. An
alteration took place between the white
man and the negro, whereupon the'negroes
rushed forward, and peace officer ordered
one OF the foremost TO stop. which he re-
fused to do. A crowd collected around
the struggling negro whom the officer had
seized. The negro tried TO draw q pistol.
But the whole disturbance was quoted by
the peace officers, none Of whom were
either Republicans or Readjusters, with
the exception Of the county Judge. Major
Walden afterwards said TO the chairman OF
the Democratic Committee Of this county
that he did not think any disrespect was
intended for him.
We furthermore assert that the Common