The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-02-26
CONGNE EhSMAN WISE
Gives Hono Very Important Testimopy
7@i, on tue DnnyitIe Riots. 90

. H i d H|. d.
Gives Some Very Important Testimony
&c" on tne Dnnvltio Riots. ~
WASHINGTON, February 25.-Congress-
msn.at.Largs John S. Wise, Of Virginia,
was the first witness called in the Danville
investigation to-day. He spoke Of the gen.
eral effect upon the election iu November
las'; the drawing Of the color line in the
Old Dominion by the Bourbon Democratic,
and tho effect the threats made had at the
polls. He tiledl with the Committee a copy
Of the Richmond State Of June l6, 1851, in
which were articles on the color. line and
intended to influence vo!es; also O circular
be picked up in Carol! county warning the
whites not to vote the Readjuster ticket
on penalty OF having mixed schools.
DRAWING THE COLOR LINE.
He fled also certain speeches delivered
in the State by Bourbons On the color line.
Senator Vance objected 10 the character of
the testimony. but Senators SAtrman and
I.apham ruled that it was proper and ad.
m;ssib's as showing the attitude Of whites
toward the blacks on the approach of the
election. Witness ASSERTED that every
where on the stump the Bourbons worked
to prejudice the whites against the blacks,
and that the turthen of Bjurbon spet ches
made were to influence whites and intimi.
date the blacks. Witness filed with the
committee q tabular statement Of the re.
cult. Of the election, showing the result OF
the color lineirepors sent broadcast by
Bourbon journals.
or the canvass for Cougressman.at-!arge
wherein Massey Was tho Bourbon and him.
self the Readjuster candidate, witness
spoke at length, giving figures, showing the
voting population Of counties and effect
that drawing Of the color line had at the
polls. He also filed certain editorials from
the Norfolk Landmark predicting war OF
the races. 49, IA
:. INrLAMMAhLE DANvlLLE. Oh
Witness referred to the military and po.
litical record OF his family and the fact that
he himself had fought and bled in the late
war f1r the Slate of Virginia, had been
paid tribute and promoted for galantry
before he was Of military age, and yet he
had been abused and maligned there on
account OF his politics by certain people
he had fought shoulder to shoulder with.
He stated that the most iuhammable por-
ton OF Virginia was the city OF Danvllle.
S"And yet that is Republican city,"'%re-
marked Mr.. Vance.
Witness-".Yes, and wherever there is a
Republican majority there be Bourbon
shot guns" 5SS-itfs
He did not want 10 admit that he was a
particularly brave or q particularly COW
ardly man, but he could swear. that never
since the war, or even during the war had
he mora serious senso Of personal risk
than during the laat campaign in Virginia.
"That does not answer my. question:"
said Vance /, rs 81
swell" answered The witneps, II can
say this: The campagn WIS not ta,r, not
civilized, not human, aud not worthy oi
the nineteenth century" 5.s....s5tsi.s
"rhst IS your cp:niol?"
aye, and think 1t is tho opinion OF
the maj ,rity Of the Democrats themselves"
V; SHARP coLLcoulEs. - 4
During the cross examination by Sena.
tor Vance, several sharp passages at arms
occurred. 49,. r
Mr.. Wise said 10 Mr.. Vance: 4 when I
first knew you thirty yenrn ago, you be.
longed 10 tho KIN. party; now you belong
to tho NIX. pArty-"N Negro. Killing party :
4 Senator Vauce retarted: when ! first
knew you, You were Secession Democrat;
now You are" .75tgs
Wise: "HsrtlIy. I was only nine years
Of age and could not have been much Of n
Secessionist."y ti.s.: La 53,S.,.e
Senator Vance: "Oh, well, whep a man
pleads the infancy act, 1 have nothing more
to say." ~ - .ist s; 4
Aiittle later Wise said: on came up
TO teach us Democracy and debt paying,
when you had repudiated your own debts
and had never been a Democrat"
~ DID NOT WANT SOCIAL EQUALITY. ,5;s S5
Witness did : not advocate social inter
course between tho races. No negro had
ever presumed to claim social privileges by
reason Of political affiliations with him.
The colored members Of the Legislature
came to his house to consult him, but'they
always came to his kitchen. Z He did not
suppose Tildsn admitted to his parlor
the wharf rats and riG.raf who voted the
Democratic ticket (. i. ~ ss23 .5.5
J. B. Ralston, Collector OF Internal Rev.
enue, testified that he had regarded the
Danvile circular ss a political canaro. He
had no htsitaucy in saying the riot would
no. have. occurred Int for speeches made
hy H. p,ncr iii. n md II f,g Anl +articlt a in