The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-11
SIMS ON THE STAND.
HE GivES IN ms EXPERIENCE.
i"cenainrY Speech ut Danviile Re-
""sned-ihe Democratic Party Arrairned
and the CoalitIonist. EnIoaized.
IBy telcgraph TO lhe pispateh. |

1 80, IL
slms; whose speech ut Danville. Il is al
legged. contributed TO the excitement out OF
which came the riot of November Sd. was
examined by the DanyilIe subcommittee
this morning. lie was whig before the
war, and opposed secession, but went into
the movement with his state mississippi
and served for four wears in the Coniede.
rate army. lie accepted the result of the
war, and on removing to Virginia his politi.
cal sentiments, he found. we're not in accord
WIN tue Democratic party. He, however,
acted WIN che Democratic party. then called
the Conservative party. In 1882 he
| formally abandoned hi adherence 10 the
conservative party and joined the Read
busters. In 1882 he was \ Readjuster cam
didate for Congress, and in 1893 candidate
OF the same party Tor the Twenty.iourth
senatorial district. Describing the last
canvass in Pittsvlyania county he said that
the county was a Coalition county. IL had
majority OF colored voters all. with
rare exceptions, Coaltionists. In addi-
ton, many whites were inclined TO OPPOSE
what they called the Bourbon party. The
Coaliti0niSts made an effort to bring out
every vote. They took active steps to
organize hat vote; 1t the same time To
was in sympathy with them. The Bpur.
bon party bud carried the county before
by illegitlmate means, and the Coalition.
lists determined TO watch and eoun-
teract these means in the canvass.
Witness was made county chairman. hav-
ing three members Of the party from
each precinct to act with him. Witness
made il his first duty 10 purge the polling
lists and to ascertain the political prefer
enceS Of each voter. This was successfully
accomplished. The result showed a Co.
ALTON majority OF fully 800 duly register
ed and qualified voters in the county, all
ready and anxious 10 vote. Nothing re-
manned but to bring ont the vote aud Sc
cure fair and free election. The CoHli-
tOnIsts used none but lawful methods.
They resolved that their opponents should
have no excuse for intimidation, and local
managers were instructed 10 avoid all
cause for violence. Witness was a cam
vaSscr for the State at large for the CoAli-
ton party, and up 10 the last month
OF the canvass was absent most OF the
time from Pittsylyauia county. making
speeches III other parts OF the State.
He never INDUCED in any prsOnaities
except in SpotsylvanIa county aud i'm
the town OF DanVile. and tnen only be-
cause he and his party had been wantonly
and outrageouSIy as,ailed personally. Ills
speech in DanyIlle was the second speech
he had made to that constituency. lie was
called on 10 make it by citizens two days
before. They had then just heard OF the
Danville circular. lie had appointments
in different places, and told his friends
that he could spare them Friday night to
answer that circular. They issued notices
to this effect. Witness arrived in Danyille
after dark that night, and found the assem-
blage awaiting his arrival.
The preceding speaker having gone over
the political issues, witness dwelt chiefly
on the circular and upon advice 10 bis
hearers about their conduct on election
day. He had learned throughout tie cOun-
try that the Democrats counted largely
upon what they should be able to accom-
plish IN Danyille. They knew that they
had majority OF 1000 TO overcome, and
witness and his friends could only cOniec-
ture what means would be adopted. Out
OF his audience OF over a thousand il was
safe to say not over five had ever seen the
circular. The day before witness had con-
yerSed IN the train with one Of the sign
ers OF the circular. The signtr (Air. Rui-
fin asked witness, smiIinGly. Where did
YOU get that circular 2" Witness replied
that a friend had sent il to him, and he
was surprised at IT. Ruflin said: " We in
tended YOU should be surprised at il. and
If somebody had not leaked YOU would not
have got knowledge OF it," In CONVERSE
ton Ruhin said he had at first refused to
sign the circular because he didn't know
that more than one Of its allegations were
true. II had been brought TO him by one
Of the town Democratic Committee, OF
which Mr.. Cabell was chairman, with the
statement that it WAS considered very inn
portsnt that il should be signed for circu-
lation in the southwest portion OF the
State. He had been assured that at
least one reputable signer would
be secured who had knowledge Of
every allegation contained in il. Under
these circumstances he had signed for his
firm OF Ruflin, Voolfolk & Blair Wit
ness narrated this conversation in his
speech, and said he did not know how
many OF the signers had been misled as had
been Ruffin, but all who had signed it had
signed their names to n falseGOod. He
asked il it was not mean 10 villiiy COl0red
people who had been so faithful. He said
he had no words TO apply to the men who
had signed the circular, knowing its con-
tents, except that they were wiliul SIAN
derers and falsifiers. There was consider
able excitement at this. Witness. who
does not hear perfectly, was informed by
friend that Captain Joel Oliver, captain OF
the Danvile Grays, and then in the au-
dlence, had drawn his pistol and threaten
ed to shoot him then and there.
Witness told the crowd what had
been told him, and said that was
not the time to shoot him. II they
wished to do so daylight was the time. He
said he had no doubt that men who would
wilfully sign such circular would stab or
shoot him in the back. He had never
known a liar who was not a coward. Ii
any one who had signed the circular wish
ed 10 prove he was not a coward and would
convince witness that he had erred, he
(witness) would publicly apologize. lie
then anayZed the circular, and appealed
to the Democrats TO deny any OF his state
ments in regard TO it. Not man inter-
rupted HIM. Witness then told his hearers
that he was satisfied th.t any excuse would
be seized upon by the Democrats to resort
10 violence. lie hoped 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 advised them 10 pocket
all insults, 20 to the polls quietly, without
brayado, cast their votes quietly, and thus
avoid trouble. ~ feel" said witness,
81 feel guilty Of having unintentlonally
and unwittingly, in the interest OF peace
and order. given them advice which was
seized upon, as | believe. by their political
enemies TO slaughter them on the follow
ing day, when they were unarmed."
When witness closed his speech mes
senger from the Mayor told him that he
would be killed II he remained in town,
aud advised him to go TO the Mayors Of