Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-15
A Negro Congressman.

A Negro Congressman.
In his le tier in yesterdays Dispatch our
Petersburg correspondent spoke OF the
possibility Of the nomination Of negro for
Congress by the Republicans OF the Fourth
district. Notwithstanding that the negroes
constitute large majority OF the voters Of
that district, and an overwhelming ma
iority OF the Republican voters therein, We
do not consider 1t at all likely that General
MALONE will allow a negro TO 90 to
Congress to represent the Republicans
OF that district. II would. we ina.
gine, upset bis plans and interfere
with bis arrangements in Washington 10
have a negro congressman from Virginia
present at the capital and fully authorized
to nc, and speak for his colored constituents
whom now the General himself speaks for,
voucbes for, provides for or fails to provide
for, and, in fact, uses as large part OF the
political capital on which he does business
with the President Of the United States
and the heads OF the Executive depart
men.s. We can understand that highly re-
spectacle "Old virgiuuy" negro represent
ing his race in the House of Representatives,
and having behind him at home 10000
colored voters, might IMPRESS upon the
President the idea that perhaps the negro
himself, and not the little Ger eral, was the
proper person to consult in dispensing the
patronage Of the Government. Therefore
we guess that General MALONE will not be
q party 10 any arrangement that promises
TO seat negro in Congress from Virginia.
II negro Is to represent the Petersburg
district at all he must either secure for him
self the nomination despite General Ma
HOMES active efforts in behalf OF BRADY's
nomination, or else he must be elected
running as an Independent candidate
The state OF things in the Republican
party In the Fourth district is described by
the Petersburg inder.Appeai in the words
following, TO wit:
"At present the field appears TO be very
warmly contested bv different aspirants.
II. S. Hooper. the incumbent, Is naturally
yeIy anxious for reelection; but being
snd never having very fully endorsed the
views and leadership OF Senator Malone.
be Is understood not 10 be favorite with
that gentleman, whose candidate is said 10 be
Colonel Brady, Of Petersburg. II report
has 1t correctly. Mr.. Hooper Is not backward
in denouncing::the 'tyranical methods OF
the Senator. and would be glad 10 Join with
Colonel Sims, Senator Riddleberger and
many Others, IN q systematic and general
revolt.
estate Senator Gaines, as is well known,
has been prominently urged for the posi-
ton by many In the district, and Is already
active In pushing his own 'laims. The
colored people, who constitute the great
body Of the voters, insist upon their right
to be represented by one Of their own race,
and Dodson, Branch, and a little host OF
others are already making an active cam
vass for the nomination. Brady Is. OF
course, the Administration candidate
and has the support not only OF Malone, |
but Of all the hangers-on TO Office OF the |
district. The situation is interesting, and |
the canvass In the district yet promises to |
be lively II not bitter one"
With MALONE and all the otfice-holders |
working for BRADY. the colored aspirants |
will probably succeed only in cutting ore
another's throats. Instead OF uniting upon
a colored man and first nominating and |
afterwards electlng hun, as they clearly |
have 1t in their power TO do, they will |
waste their strength in struggling with |
one another, and BRADY will run of with
the prize. There is not county In the
district In which the negroes are not In
majority. In most Of them they are largely |
in the majority. Even last year the Coali- |
tionists carried the district by nearly eight
thousand msiority. And yet, as we have
said, the negroes will probably continue to
quarrel with one another. and have the
modification OF seeing BRADY chosen to
represent the only district in Virginia in
which n negro has even the ghost OF a
chance OF being elected TO Congress.
But we limited above that negro might
be elected TO Congress from the Fourth dis
trict rs an Independent candidate. Yes,
II would seem entirely pcssible for the ne
groes to accomplish this end. They car-
not afford to attend district conventions,
aud cannot compete with BRADY and Ma.
HONE In managing delegates after the con-
ventious have assembled, and there
fore can always be outgeneralled In
fighting fr nomination, but they
can surely control their own votes. There
are I've Republican voters FOR every two
Democratic voters In the district. This is
equivalent to eight or ten negro voters for
every white voter in the Republican party
Of that district. But suppose there are
only i've times as many negro voters as
white voters in the Republican ranks in
that district: Why should the five yield
again and sgain and again to the one' The
Democrats might object TO nominating a
negro at all. but no Mahoneite can. Every
Republican processes 10 be as willing TO
vote for negro rs for white man as the
nominee OF his party.
But won't the Democrats OF the Fourth
district stand aside and let the negroes
fight II out with MALONE and BRADY at the
ballot.box In Novemberi We know moth
inc as to the intentions Of the Democrats
OF that district; but as they caunot posi-
bly, elect Democrat seeing that il they
nominate candidate there will surely be
bu. one Republican allowed TO run-we
do not consider ii impossible that they
might be willing to give General MALONE
dose Of his own physic 10 the shape OF a
negro Republican Congressman elected
over bis nominee.