The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-05

BEFORE sHERMAS,S COMMITTEE.
''"ohS Not Paiatabie TO the Senator
from oh'o-A Nesro's Nose Pulled for yo-
ting with the Democrats.
I by telegrnph N ,he Dl.n,tch.

/
". huinn, OF Richmond, was the first wit
! ness examined 10y Senator Sherman's sub
.oumlitee this morning, and gave n very
inteHgent statement OF the political con-
u,'ion OF affairs in Virginia as they appear.
gu iromshls standpoint. He was Read
Ius.er until the debt question was settled
anu tne capitauon-tax was repealed, after
wh'cn ne returned 10 the Democracy. He
Inscribed the stoning OF the Democratic
procession after the election In Richmond,
and the experience OF a eolored Demo-
cratic club. which had 10 be escorted by
whites TO place OF safety TO secure
tnem from the possible violence Of their
Coalltlon race-fellows. He said that the
people OF Richmond he'd been very guard
ed IN their efforts to assist the Danville
people In restoring and preserving peace
because OF their wish TO avoid giving any
preteXt TO their opponents for complaint or
any opportunity for alleging violence.
The machinery for counting the returns
was entirely controlled by the Coalition
lists.
General W. {. Wickham. member OF the
| virginia Senate. was examined. He said
his position in the canvass was peculiar
one. Since 1865 he had been a Republican,
and was so still. He was requested by the
! Democratic Convention 10 announce him
self rs a candidate, regarding the issue as
one of State politics .nd not at all OF ma
/ tlonal politics. The issue upon which he
! entered the canvass was upon good State
and local government, which he didn't
think they had under the then organiza-
! ton. His district was considered the pivo-
tai one OF the State. and the contest was
an excited one from the beginning. His
1 position a. a Republican caused him to
suppose that he had n right to expect the
support of the great mass Of the colored
voters. He found il was doubtful whether
he could get even n respectable proportion
of the colored vote. The fight was made
upon the color-line by the COslitonistS.
/ The negroes were organized I'm clubs. and
at their weekly and nightly meetings the
most incendiary speeches were made to
them. They were told that II the Demo-
Gratis were successful they would be put
back into slavery. Notwithstanding these
efforts, witness received 4 cOlored vote
which exceeded his majority. ColOred
men were threatened with election from
| their churches. and their wives threatened
TO throw their clothes ont OF doors and
prevent them from coming into their
houses il they voted for witness. Since
the negroes acquired the right OF suffrage
/ there had been no unjust discrimination
against them by the laws Of Virginia.
Witness thought there had been no uhlaw-
! full combination against the cOlOred people,
nor had they been threatened with dis
charge. so far as he knew. for not voting
a. their employers wished.
During cTosS-eXaminaliOn by Senator
I sherman witness said that at the time he
Joined the Republican party the mass OF
the white people Of Virginia were unques-
| tionaby Democrats, and the Republican
/ party was then. in 2 political sense, consid-
! cred the friend OF the negro. Ii was natu-
raj that the colored people should join the
| Republican party. When the Readiuster
party was organized the Republicans were
divided. Witness opposed "repudiation
of the debt" Witness was invited TO be-
come candidate against the Coalition
party on the ground that from bis known
position as a Republican he would carry
portion Of the colored vote.
lis there not a strong instructive feel
| ing among the colored people that their
rights are not safe in the hands Of the
Democratic party :"
II think that Is the fact, and think il
is proper, MIR. sherman, that should say
that il is fact brought about by the false
teachings Of designing men. IT is more a
feeling that the Republicans are more
| liberal to them than the Democrats would
| be-"
"Now, don't you think that il the
Democratic party would convince the
colOred people that their rights would be
secure under the control and management
OF the Democrats that they would divide
the colored vote ?"
UnquestIonably ] think that, il that
could be contrived; but it would be the
most difficult thing IN the world TO prove
/ it to them, when you have party Of men
who want them TO vote solidly in one way
telling them all the time that the Demo
Gratis will Cypress them"
"Why should not the Dem Ocrats, then,
vote with the Republicans if there Is no
Issue OF that kind; why should they not
| break down the color-line-yes, and vote
with the Republicans and divide up them
selves 2"
al You will allow me to 90 back will
tell you that that is exactly what ! have
been working for since 1865. | felt that |
would be successful in 1880, but | was
tripped up when they defeated the Gar
field ticket in Virginia by endeavoring to
draw the Republicans off and demOralize
them, and taking a considerable number
OF them over to the Readiuster Hancock
ticket. II has been the desire Of my life
10 divide the white people and to have the
political parties composed OF both. II
would be most fortunate for both races il
il could be done. Unquestionably the ne
groes would be thousand times better of,
because they would have each side seeking
| to draw them over"
lis 1t not fact that the white men
divided on the debt question, and yet after
they had settled that question they went
right back and revived the color line 2"
81 don't think so, sir. / suppose some
OF them did. IN my own county, Dir.
sherman. We were so fortunate as 10 have
n very few OF that element who became
Readjusters."
Cornelius Warrock, colored Democrat
OF Lvnchburg, was examined. He became
a Democrat because his race in their mass
meetings would insist on nominating men
who were not competent TO lead them.
Had he ever been assaulted for. voting
the Democratic ticketf
ayes, sir; frequently. I've had my
nose pulled, sir, for voting the Democratic
ticket. Both men and women have pulled
my nose, sir"
Senator Sherman (SottO rOce): There's q
great temptation.
(Witness had a very long and rather
crooked nose, with knob at the end.l
He had been threatened with election
! from the church-the finest coloreG church
there. Men, women. and children did not
respect him any more. He expected 10
state nothing bat facts. because all his peo-
pie would see it, and be wouldn't peIiure
/ himself.
b. Wheadley, white Republican, liv-
ing near Danyille, testified TO several acts
OF what be regarded as insolence on the
part OF the colored people, and 10 the bad