New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-05
THE DANVILLE INVESTIGATION.

GENERAL wICKHAM ON THE srAND-HIs PECULIAR
POSITION IN VIRGINIA POLITICS.
WASHINGTON, April AZ. G.. Ruffin, of Rich
mond TO rst witness examined by Senator sher-
mans subcommittee this morning. and gave statement
OF the political condition OF affairs In Virginia they a
peared from his standpoint He was Resdjuster until
the debt question settled and the csptaon tar was
repealed; after which he returned to the Democracy
He described the stonlng OF Democratic procession after
the election in Richmond and tho experience OF colored
Democratic club which had 10 be escorted by whites 70
place OF safety to them from the possible violence
OF their coalition raoe-feows He said that the people
OF Richmond had been guarded In their efforts TO assist
the Danvle people in restoring and preserving the
peace because Of their wish TO avoid giving any preeIt
TO their opponents for complaint any opportunity for
alleging Violence The machinery for counting the re-
turns entirely controlled by the Coalitionsts.
General W. C. WicHham member Of the Virginia Sen
ate. examined. He said his position In the
was peculiar one. Since 1868 he had been Repub-
lican and was so still He was requested by the Demo
cratic convention TO announce himself candidate,
gardng the issue as one state poos and sot at an OF
National politics The issue upon which he entered the
canvass upon good state and local government,
which he did not think they had under the then OrgdDza
tom His district was considered the pivotal OF the
state, and the excited from the begin
nlng. HIS position as Republican caused MN 10 sup
that lie had right expect the supp0rO the great
mass of the cOlored vote lie found that II was doubtful
6n 9 o The ne get ss D pGS e
color line by the CoaIitionlss. The negroes were
organized in clubs, and at their weekly aud nightly
meetings incendary speeches made TO them
They told that If the Democrats successful
they would be put back into slavery Notwithstanding
these efforts witness received colored vote whoE ex
oeeded bis majority. Colored men threatened with
election from their churches and their wives threatened
fOm coming their houses II they voted for witness
Since the negroes acquired the right OF suffrage there had
been unjust discrimination anst them by tia laws
Of Virginia witness thought there had been
no unlawful combination against the colored
so far as ho knew for tnotsyoting as their employers
wished.
Q.Is there not strong instructive feeling among the
cOOred people that their rights not safe In the hands
of the Democratic party Al think that that is the fact
ana thinh u Is proper MI SHERMAN that snenIu say
that il fact brought about by the false teachings OF
designing men. II is more feeling that the Re
pubcans are more liberal TO them than the Democrats
would be-
Q.-Now don't you think that II the Democratic party
would convince the cOored people that their rights would
be secure under the control and management OF the Dem
ocrats that they would divide the cOlOred vote A-Un
questionably. think that II that could be contryed
But II would be the most difficult thing In tho world 20
want them to vote sody in one way telling them all the
time that the Democrats would Cypress them.
els 1t 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 color nef
my county. Mr. Sherman, we fortunate as to
have very few OF that element who became Read
Cornelius warrook a colored Democrat of Lynohburg.
examined He became o Democrat because his race
men a' who We're not cSmpetest to lead them lie had
frequently been assaulted for voting the Democratic
ticket Both and women had assaulted his nose.
b. +. Wheedey, white Republican, living near Dan
vile, testified TO several acts of what he regarded as
nsoence on the part OF cOored people, and to the bad
condition of the markets In Danvile.
Charles j. Anderson. OF Richmond, Colonel OF the LIST
Virginia Regiment testified with regard to the assault
by cOlored mon upon cOlOred Democrats In the pro
cesson at Richmond, after the election The disposition
OF the whites was kindly toward the blaOks-more 80
than was that OF the blacks toward the whites. Politics
had nothing to do with this kindly feeling II was known
that all but very small percentage Of the ooored people
were OF ono party.
After the examination OF other witnesses tho commit
tee adjourned until 10 o'clock tomorrow.