Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-11
COL. SIMS ON THE STAND.
A Description of the Exciting Time,
Incident to the Delivery of His verba
Fire-brand.

AHCAueht 10 the delivery of His Verbal
Fire-brand.
WASHINGTON, March 10.-Col. A. E.
Sims, whose speech at Danville it is al
legged contributed to the excitement out of
which came the riot OF November 3, was
examined by the DanvIlle investigating
committee this morning.
He was Whig before the war and opposed
secession, but went into the movement with
his state, Mississippi. and served for four
years IN the Confederate army. He accepted
the result OF the war, and on removing to Nir-
gina his political sentiments, he found, were
not IN accord with the Democratic party
lie, however, acted with the Democratic
party, then called the Conservative marty In
lSSz he formally abandoned his adherence to
the Conservative party and Joined the Read
Justers. In 1882 he was the Readjuster candi-
date Tor Congress, and in 1888 a candidate Of
the same party for the Twenty fourth Soma
torial district. Describing the last canvass in
Plttsylyanla county, he said that the county
was Coalition county. 1t had a majority
OF eolored voters, all, with rare exceptions
COalltlOnlstS. In addition, MANY whites were
inclined to oppose what they called the Bour-
bon party. The Coalitionists made an effort
TO bring out every vote. They took active
Steps 10 organize that vote, and at the same
tlme TO retain that portion of the white vote
which was in sympathy with them The BOur-
DOn party had carried the county before bv
lllegltlmate means, and the Coalitionists de-
tCitHlue 10 Wdlcn ana cOuntefact these means
IN this canvass. The witness was made county
ChalTman, having three members of the party
from each precinct to act with him. The
witness witness made 1t his first duty to purge the
polling lists ana to ascertain the political
preferences of each voter.
WHAT HE LEARNED.
This was successfully accomplished. The
result showed Coalition majority of fully
800 duly registered and qualified voters in the
county all ready and anxious to vote. Moth
N fA hrfr . 4. i
secure a falr and free election. The Coalition
lists used none but legitimate methods They
resolved that their opponents should have no
excuse for intimidation and local managers
were instructed to avoid all cause for violence
The witness was canvasser for the State-a at
large for the Coalition party and up to the
last month OF the canvass was absent
most OF the time from PittsylYania county,
making speeches in other parts of the state
He never indulged in any personalities ex-
cept IN opOttsylvania county, and in the town
OF Dahyllle, ana then only because he and his
party had been want0nly and outrageously
assalled personally. HIS speech in Danville
was the second speech ne had made to the
constituency. He was called on to make it
by citizens two days before. They had then
lust heard of the Danville circular. He had
appointments in different places, and told his
friends that he could spare them a Friday
night TO answer that circular. They issued
notices to this effect.
SIMS FAMOUS SPEECH.
The witness arrived in Danville after dark
that night and found an assemblage awaiting
his arrival. The preceding speaker having
gone over the political issues, the witness
dWelt Chiefly on the circular and upon advice
TO his hearers about their conduct on election
day. He had learned throughout the county
that the Democrats counted largely upon
Mhat Ihey should be able to accomplish in
Danville. They knew that they had a ma
jorlty of l,200 to overcome and the
witness ana his friends could only
conjecture what means would be adopt
a
l,eOO, 1t was safe to say, hat not over five had
ever seen the circular. The day before the
witness had conversed on the train with one
OF the signers of the circular. The sipner
Mr.: Ruiilan, asked the witness smilingly,
where did you get that eircular?"
The witness replied that a friend had sent
Il 70 nm, and he was surprised at it.
Mr.. Ruffan said, 1--WE intended that Won
should be surprised at it, and if somebody had
not leaked you would not have got knowledge
OF lt!' In the conversation Mr.. Ruf1ian said
Ihat ne hau at hrst refused to sign the circu-
lar because ne didn't know that more than
one OF Its allegations were true It mad been
brought to him by one of the town Demo-
cratic Committee, of which Mr.. Cabell was
Chairman, with the statement that it was
considered very important that it should be
signed for circulation in the Southwest por-
tiOn OF the State.
HOW RUFFIAN SIGNED,
He had been assured that at least one repu-
table signer would be secured who had knowl-
L.
Under these circumstances he had signed for
his firm of Rufian, Voolfolk & Blair. The
witness narrated this conversation in his
speech, and said that he did not know how
many OF the sIgners had been misled
as had been Mr.; Rufiian, but all who
nad signed II had signed their names
TO ialsehood. He asked if it was not mean
to yllllfy cOlOred people who had been so
faithfulf He said that he had no words to an
ply to the men who had signed the circular
Ii9s.i kn4Wlhg Its contents except that they were
q ~
considerable excitement at this. The witness
who does not hear perfectly, WIS informed nv
4 IIlen9 tnat capt. Joel Oliver, Captain of the
DanVllle Greys, and then in the audience had
drawn his pistol and threatened to shoot him
then and there. The witness told the crowd
what had been told him, and said that it was
not the time to shoot him. If thev wished 10
do so daylight was the time.
BITTER DEFIANCE.
He said he had no doubt that men who
would Wlllfuliy sign such a circular Would
stab or shoot HIM in the back. He had never
known liar who was not a coward If apv
one who had so signed the circular wished 10
prove that he was not a coward and wouId
convince the witness that he had erred, he.
(the witness) would publicly apologize. He
then analyzed the circular. and appealed to
the Democrats to deny any of his statements
IN IN regard TO 1t. Not man interrupted him.
The witness then told his hearers that
he was satisfied that any excuse
would be seized upon bv
the Democrats to resort TO violence. He
hoped that the cOlOred people would refrain
from even sign of violence He told them
that the cOlored people could not afford to
carry arms on the day of election He adj
vsed them to pocket all insults 90 TO the
polls quietly without bravadO, cast their votes
quietly, and thus avoid trouble. II feel.r
SAID the witness; 81 feel guilty of having un-
intentionally and unWittingly, in the interest
OF peace and order, given them advice which
was seized upon, as [ believe, by their DoIiti
cal enemies 10 slaughter them on the follow
ing day when they were unarmed >
HIDING FOR HIS LIFE.
When the witness closed HE speech. a mos
senger from the Mayor told him that he would
De killed II ne remained in town, and advised
him 10 go TO the Mayors Office and there re-
main until he could be escorted to a place of
safety. The witness went to the Mavor's
Oitiee and met DR.. X. b. Barksdale a prOmi-
nent Democrat, who told him that the men
ne mad denounced as liars and towards de-
manded retractiOn. II the witness would
20 to the front Of the building and take back
what he had said, he (Barksdale) believed
that he could quiet the crowd, otherwise
the witness would be killed. The witness re-
fused to retract and said that he was going to
his room, and did So passing through the
crowd on his way. Next morning he was in
for him and that he would be shot The yvif9
ness replied that he did not believe il. and
went out. He found a crowd of Rourbons
awaiting him, but passed through it to a bar
Der shop and then to breakfast. He had An
engagement to speak twelve miles distant
and ordered his buggy to a prominent place
IN the town, where he went. got into il and
drove away. The crowd of Bourbons was
standing about scOwling with their hands
NnaHM