Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-03-07
john s. WISE IN A HOLE.

AN UPRISING OF COLORED MEMBERS OF
THE LEGISLATURE AGAINST BEING RE-
CEIvED IN HIS KITCHEN.-MR. WIsE'S
FXPLANATION-THER RECORD AGAINST
HIM COMMENTS OF THE REPUBLICAN
PRESS.
&C., &C, sc.
The incautious statement of Ron.
John S. Wise in his testimony before the
Danville Riot Investigating Committee,
with reference to the position he held to-
wards the colored members of the Virgil
mia legislature, was noticed last week.
The statement was all the more remark
able because three-ffths of the votes Mr..
Wise received for congressman-a t-large
were cast by colored voters. The follow
ing Is the report of the National Repu6li-
can of his statement before the committee:
"Mr. Wise stated that the negroes DID
not claim or desire social utilization with
white men because they belonged to the
| same party. Colored members of the
| Legislature came to his house to consult
| him. but they always went to the kitchen.
| HI did not suppose that Mr.. Tilden in
vited to his parIor all the New York
| whaff-rats and shock heads who voted The
| Democratic ticket"
THE CoLoRED MEMBERS OF THE LEGIs-
| LATURE ON MIR. WISE.
| When the news got to Richmond, the
colored members of the legislature rose in
their seats and repudlated its assertions,
as one man. The following are the points
made by the different colored members:
| Delegate Harris of Dinwiddie.-''As
member of the General Assembly of Vir-
gipia | will say that when | go to see
gentleman on business would like to see
him at his office or place OF business,
where any other gentleman would be
received, and not asked to go to the
| Kitchen"
| Delegate Bland of Surry.--"I have
never sought Mr.. Wise in his kitchen.
Two years ago. if / had wanted to see Mr.
Wise, l could have seen him upon this
floor. where he was frequently.
Delegate Dodson.-"A AS far as I am con-
cerned, | don't know where the gentle
man Mr. Wise] lives 1 will say that
when shall 90 to see him l shall not go
in his Kitchen"
Delegate Scott of Ameia.-"I have
been a member of this Legislature for
seven years AS have had no business
with Mr.. Wise in my life l never APP
preached him on any subject. So far as
his kitchen is concerned, if the gentle
man has kitchen l don't know anything
about it,
Delegate G riggs.-"Mr Speaker. this is
the f st time l have had anything to say
since I have been IN the Legislature. [
will say now that have never found Mr..
| Wise's house, neither do | know that he
i has kitchen "
/ Senator Stevens.-ss while it is true that
during an intimate acquaintanceswlth the
colared members of the Virginia General
Assem-. bly, during the past fifteen years
have seen no particular demand made for
sucial recognition. it is equally true that I
have not seen one among the whole num-
Der of colored men that have occupied
seats in that body who would so far for
get the respect due to himself rs gentle
man as to seek consultation with any one
under the hnmiliating conditions implied
in the statement alluded to-"
Peter K. Jones member of
the Legislature from 1869 to 1876, and dur
ing the whole of that time | never so
much as learned where Mr.. Wise's resi-
dence was, to say nothing about his
kitchen.'
Delegate Green of Petersburg -"I say
to Mr. Wise as do to the white popula-
/ ton of this country, that he never wanted
TO use the colored people for nothing but
their vote. l never expect to visit him
IN his parlor, or in his kitchen or in his
stable"
HON. JOHN s. WISE CORRECTS THE
RECORD.
The following IS letter addressed to
the Richmond Wing, by Mr.. Wise, from
the hole into which he has fallen:
HOUSE OF REPR ESENTATIVEs.
WASHINGTON. Feb. %. :
To the Editor of the Whig:
l regret that any of my colored friends
have taken umbrage at my testimony
especially as they have not seen it. Quite
large number of intelligent colored men
heard me testify and approved of and ap-
plaud d what said. The misappTehen
sion of what | said springs from taking g
sentence from its context, and FROM one
or two verbal changes in expression, alter
ing the entire sell Sc of the sentence.
Mr.. Sherman asked me if the negroes in
Virginia insisted on social equality [ re-
piled that they did not expect it, or de-
mand it. [ said the negro race was the
gentlest, most affectionate, and least OBJ
truslve race on earth. and that the sccia
conditions were such that they make nc
effort to obtain social equality, and are
content. For example" said |, "a col
ored member of the Legislature came to
see me about politics and went to the
kitchen, and L talked with him there. y
The person alluded to was one whose
mother lived with me. He is warm
. friend of mine, and most worthy man
| mentioned this merely to show that the
colOred people are less eXacting of such
recognition than white people similarly
situated would probably be. [ said little
, later that the social problem was entirely
distinct from politics; that man was not
necessarily on terms of social intimacy witt
all his political associates; and, by way OF
illustration. remarked that | supposed
| Mr.. Tilden did not invite all the wharf
, rats who voted the Democratic ticket in
New York to dine with him. This has
been perverted into reflection on the
t colored people, when, in fact, it bad nc
, reference to them whatever. Fortunately
thousands of colored people in Virginia
know me, and that have always beer
: kind, considerable and deferential TO them
3 both personally and offic ally. whenever
we were thrown together, as will always
endeavor to be, not only fl ON duty, but
from gratitude. A year or two since, The
cry was raised to influence the coloree
, vote that my father hung John Brown
This is akin to it. [ am sorry that my
, colnled friends gave it such attention.
R spectfully, JOHN s. WISE
AND THE RECORD CORR ECTS MR..
WISE.
Washington letter IN Richmond State
Mr.. John s. Wise has discovered that III
: made one great mistake III the matter O
extinguishrg the colfagration in hi,
kitchen. He forgot to secure cleal
route upon which to retreat ON the uu
ienable position he so hastily assumed
, when testifyin ing before the Danville com
, mittee. Senator Vance became aware oil
| the channa in tho Nfti nial rannrt nd OF