Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-05
THE DANvILLE INVESTIGATION.
More Democratic Witnesses Take the
Stand and Tell Their Story.

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THE DANVILLE INVESTIGATE
More Democratic Witnesses Take the
Stand and Tell Their Story.
WASHINGTON, April 4.-Frank G..
Ruffin, of Richmond, was the first witness
examined by Senator Sherman's sub-com-
mittee this morning, and he gave very
intelligent statementof the political con-
dition of affairs IN Virginia as they ap-
peared from his standpoint.
He was Readjuster TIL the debt question
was settled and the eapitation tax was re-
peaicel, after which he returned to Demo
craey. lie described the stOning OF Demo-
| cratic procession after the election in Rich
mOnd, and the experience of a cOlOred Demo-
cratic clubwhic!g had 10 be escorted by whites
to place Of safety TO secure them from DOS
| sible vio ence of their Coalition race fellows
hes ne salo that me people OF Richmond had been
| very guarded in their efforts to
assist the Danville people in re-
| storing and preserving the 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 en-
| tirely controlled by the COalitiOnists
Gen. w. G. WIckham, member OF the Vlr-
ginia Senate. was examined. He said that his
| position in the canvass was peculiar one
| Since 1860 he had been Republican, and was
SO still. He was requested by the Democratic
Convention to announce himself as a candi-
date, regarding the issue as one OF State
politics, and not at all of national politics.
HEwANTED GOOD GOVERNMENT.
The issue upon which he entered the can
Yass was upon good State and local govern
ment, which he did not thinE they had under
the then organization His district was con-
| sidered the pivotal one of the State and the
contest was an excited one from the begin
ming. His position as a Republican caused
MIN to 6IDDOSp that he had n TiUht IN
the support Of the great mass OF the colored
voters. He found that il was doubtful whether
he could get even respectable proportion of
the colored vote. The fight was made uDon
the color line by the COaitionists.
The negroes were organized in clubs, and at
their weekly and nightly meetings most in
cendlary speeches were made to them. They
were told that if the Democrats were success
full they would be put back into slavery. Not
Wlthstanding these efferts. the witness re-
celyed colored vote which exceeded his
majority. The colored men were threatened
with election from their churches, and their
wives threatened to throw their clothes out
OF doors and prevent them from coming into
their houses if they voted for the witness
Since the negroes had acquired the right of
suffrage there had been no unjust discrimina-
tion against them by the laws of Virginia
The witness thought that there mad been no
unlawful combination against the cOlOred peO-
pie, nor had they been threatened with dis
charge, so far as he knew, for not voting as
their employers wished.
THE NEGROES AND THE REPUBLICANS.
During the cross-examinatIon by Senator
sherman the witness said that at the time he
joined the Republican party the mass of the
white people OF Virginia were unquestiOnably
Democrats and the Republican party was
then, IN political sense, considered the
friend of the negro. 1t was natural that the
colored people should join the Republican
party. When the Readjuster party was or
ganzed the Republicans were divided The
witness opposed ''repudiation of the debt.
Inc witness was invited tn hpPOma
candidate against The Coalition party
on the ground that from his known position
as Republican he would carry portion of
the cOlOred vote.
us there not a strong instructive feeling
among the colOred people that their rights are
not safe in the hands of the Democratic
party?"
81 think that that is a fact, and | think
that 1t is proper, Mr.. Sherman, that should
say that it is fact brought about by the false
teachings OF designing men. 1t is more a feel
ing Lhat 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 con-
troll and management Of the Democrats that
they would divide the colored vOtee"
II "Unquestionably think that if that could
be contriyed, but 1t would be the most diff
cult thing in the world to prove it to them
when you have party Of men who want them
to vote solidily in one way, telling them all
the time that the Democrats would oppress
them"
THE COLOR LINE EXPLAINED.
''Why should not Democrats then vote with
the Republicans if there is no issue of that
'Why should they not break down the color
''Yes, and vote with the Republicans and
divide up .themselvesf"
"If yon win allow me to go back | will tell
you that that is just exactly what have been
working for since 1865. / felt that would be
successful in 1880, but was tripped up when
they defeated the Garfield ticket IN Virginia
by endeavoring to draw the Republicans of
and demoralize them, and taking consider
able number of them over to
the Readjuster Hancock ticket
white people and to have political parties
composed OF both. 1t would be most fortu-
nate for both races il it cOuId be done. IN
questionably, the negroes would be a thous-
sand times better of, because they would
have each side seeking to draw them over"
"Is it not fact that after the white men
divided on the debt question. and yet, after
they had settled that question they went
right back and revived the colored liner
II don't think so, sir. l suppose some OF
them did. In my own county, Mr.. Sherman,
we were so fortunate as to have very few Of
that element who became Readjusters."
Ii. i. Wheadley, white Republican living
near Danville testified to several acts OF what
he regarded as insolence on the part of colored
people, and to the bad condition Of the mar
kets in Danville.
Chas. j. Anderson, of Richmond, Colonel of
the First Virginia Regiment of volunteer
militia, testified with regard to the assault by
colored men upon colored Democrats in the
procession at Richmond after the election.
The cOlored assailantS were arrested. and
stones aDd razors were found on their persons.
Some were let of easily and some were fined.
The disposition of the whites was kindly
towards the blacks; more so than was that Of
the blacks towards the whites. Politics had
nothing to do with this kindly feeling. It was
known that all but very small percentage OF
the colored people were of one party.
THE CIRCULARS EFFECT BELITTLED.
DIR. L. w. Lambeth, late OF Lynchburg. was
called: The Danville riot and Danyille cir
cular had no effect upon the last election IN
his county. much larger vote was polled
by the Coalition party than was ever polled
before.
R. c. Marshall, Commonwealth Attorney. Of
Portsmouth. Va, was called. At the last
Congressional election the witness was a can
didate for Congress. The race issue was
raised by the Coalitionists during the can
| yass. They banded the negroes in clubs.
| There were not more than TWENTY-FIVE COL
| ored men in the Congressional district who
voted the Democratic ticket The news Of
the Danville riot had no influence on the last
| election. The circular was distributed on
election day, which the witness thought was
| calculated to excite the negroes. 1t was an
| appeal to the colored men to avenge by a solid
| vote the murder or cOlOred men at Danville.
| The witness aseertained that the circular was
sent by express from Petersburg. The wit
ness called the attention Of the Coalition
Chairman to the danger to be apprehended
] from this circular, and the latter replied that
| he had stopped its circulation as soon as he
became aware Of its nature. Only four or
| five Of the circulars got into circula-
| tion. The witness submitted a newspaper
containing copy of the circular, and Senator
| Sherman found an editorial in the same paper
which he also caused to be put in evidence.
stating that the Coalition Chairman and can
didates very properly repudiated the circular
a. NJ. Calfee. Readjuster, Superintendent
Of the iron works near Wytheyiile. Va, was
examined by Senator La pham. He was ac-
1 quainted with the political affairs OF several
| counties. The race issue was drawn by the
Democrats, and was almost their only issue.
j. S. Egghorn and G. @. Parish, Of Cul-
pepper county, Va, Readjusters. testified to