The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-26

chickens--not TO hurt them II they would
come out. Witness described the opera
tons OF the poil-tax law, which be said
was gotten up to defraud coIored men OF
their votes. He admitted that Readjuster
speakers had been Incorporate In their
language, but justified II as being in reply
to Bourbon abuse. He knew Of no money
being sent from Washington to Virginia,
nor did he know OF any assessments being
LEVIED upon ofiice-holders during the last
campaign. The facts OF the Danyile riot
had been exaggerated, but its outcrop had
not. 1t had been represented by the whites
as q negro uprising, and the whites had
been appealed to to assist then fellows In
danger with their votes. This had aided
to secure the Democratic victory.
In reply 10 Senator Sherman, witness
said that the present Legislature had taken
steps TO steal the State for all time by
changing the election law. Fifteen Read
iuster members OF the Legislature had
been elected, and some OF their successors
had not even made contest.
Mr.. Wise SAID he did not advocate social
intercourse between the races. No negro
had ever presumed to claim social priyi-
leges by reason OF political affiliations with
him. Coored members Of the Legislature
came TO bis house TO consult him, but they
always came to his kitchen. He did not
suppose Mr. Tilden admitted TO his parIor
the wharf-rats and rif-raff of New York
who voted the Democratic ticket.
Mr.. Wise said there had been no dis
turbance on election-day in Virginia. He
had failed to keep one OF his appointments
during the canyass-that at Manchester
because OF the information that there
would be trouble. He was willing to die,
but Manchester was the last place he
would select TO die In. He had no doubt
there would have been very disgraceful
scene il he had gone. The Democrats OF
that town had afterwards marked trans
parency with, "Its q Wise man who
knows when TO come to Manchester"
j. b. RaulYOn, collector OF internal
revenue at Dahville, was called. He was
born III New York, but had married in
Danville, and had been a resident Of Vir-
ginia since 1865. He was asked to look at
the Danvile circular, entitled Coalition
Rule in Virginia." and give his opinion OF
it. He said its statements were mostly
untrue. He went over its features in
detail. or the II members OF the City
Council were white and colored. OF
the whites were Democrats, 3 indie
pendents, and Coalitionist. The negroes
were all Coalitionists. Under this coun-
ell $4,000 had been expended for schools,
$4,000 OF which was for white schools.
His comments were in general similar to
those of Judge Blackwell last week.
The committee at this point took recess.
Afternoon session.
| Witness read the Danyille circular
through by paragraphs, commenting upon
each paragraph as he read it. In general
his statement regarding the circumstances
which we've made the causes OF complaint
in the circular was that he had either not
heard OF them, or that he knew OF his own
knowledge that there was no ground fol-
such complaints. lie denied the state
ment attributed to him in the circu.
lar that patronage was used for the
purpose OF building up the Coaitionist
party. What he had said was that wheI {
persons applied for positions that, other
things being equal, the preference should be
given TO Coalitionists. He regarded it ii
only proper that the party which was re.
sponsible for the conduct OF municipal af.
fairs should share the patronage. Comment.
ing on the charges made in the circular
against the colOred people OF Danville, be
said that those people would compare
iavoraby with the labOring classes OF
people anywhere. He said he had al
ways regarded the Danville circular as a
political canard. IL was gotten up for use
outside OF Danyille, and helped the Demo
cratic cause greatly in other parts OF the
State. II 1t had been used in Danyile he
thought that, because OF its slanderous as.
sertions. il would have hurt the Demo
Gratis. II he could have had it printed he
would have used Il in Danyille as cam
paign document for the Coaltionists. He
| had no hesitation in saying that the riot
would not have occurred but for the inflam.
matory speeches made by Democratic can
didates and equally inflammatory articles in
the Democratic newspapers. The prepare
tions that were made before the riot indi-
Gated that there might be trouble, and
caused grave apprehensions among the Co.
alitionists. Among the preparations was
the purchase OF arms in large quantities by
the whites, and their storage in different
places. One OF these places OF storage was
| i'm an insurance office near where the rl0'
occurred. Arms were carried in and
stacked in the yard Of this insurance Office
on the morning before the riot occurred
Witness was subjected to long cross-eX
animation by senator Vance, without any
thing being elected in contradiction OF bis
direct testimony.
Mr.. Preston Watkins, q " col0red +" resi-
dent OF Danvllle and member OF the grand
Jury which investigated the riot, was tho
next witness called. He said that testimony
had been submitted to The grand jury that
the white men had first fired over the
heads OF the negroes into the air. and thai
the negroes were rushing upon the whites
threateningly when the latter again fired
II was upon testimony OF this sort that be
consented to the finding OF the jury. lie
never expected to be ablet0 ascertain the fac
about the riot. and after about forty VIII
nesses had been examined he was willing
TO close up the inquiry. On croSS-eNalnl'
nation witness said that he knew few
colored men in Danville who carried
weapons, but could not recall the case OF
any who carried them before the rlot: IL
is the talk OF the people that many OF the
colored people, as well as the whites ma,
bitually carried arms. Witness himself
carried arIs.
In answer to questions as to the treat
ment OF c0lOred men who voted the Demo
cratic ticket by the coored people OF Dam
vile, witness said he thought 1t all depends
on the standing. He mentioned the names
OF several colored men in Danville who
voted the Democratic ticket. and yet stood
well socially with their own people.
On cross-examination by Mr.. Laphanl
witness stated that he did not remember
that any testimony had been given before
the grand jury that during the riot th'
colored men had rushed upon the white
men with drawn pistols.
A colored man named Poteet, who wa
the next witness called, testified to having
overheard a conversation between tw'
white ex-polcemen on the morning OF th'
r;ot They were distributing bills ant