Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-24
A Negro To Negroes.

ROANOKE CITY, Oct. 81, 1885.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
In a recent issue of the Wing ap-
pears an article copied from the Rich
mond Planet, purporting to be an &C
count of the Colored Convention held
in the city of Lynchburg on the 3Oth
ultimo. The writer, after charging
that 5000 was paid by the Democratic
Executive Committee to run the Con-
vention, has this to say of the delega-
ton from Roanoke: "Zachariah Hunt,
j. B. Hunt, George Colvin, and Theo.
Taliaferro were unable to get home.
They were told to come and money
would be furnished to pay their way
back. Their expenses were paid back
by the Democratic Executive Commit
tee of Lynchburg, through P. A.
Krise, chairman Of the same"
In reply will simply state that /
have never seen Mr.. p. A. Krise, do
not know him or any Of the rest Of the
Democratic Executive Committee Of
Lynchburg, and did not get a cent of
money either directly or indirectly from
said committee. A call for this con-
vention of colored citizens was sent me,
signed by W. j. S. Bowe, chairman,
and j. b. Syphax, secretary Of the
State Executive Committee of Colored
Republicans Of Virginia. | attended
that Convention as free man, unbOught
and unpurchdsabie. l went at my
own instance and that of my con-
stituents to meet with the intelli-
gent portion Of my race, to lay
aside all prejudice and malice,
and as citizens of this grand old
Commonwealth, in conscientious,
manly, straightforward way "rea-,
son together as to the best thing
for our people to do under the present
circumstance. l went as Republican,
who had been a slave, who loved Vir-
ginia, upon whose soil he was born,
reared, and educated, and whose every
effort has been dedicated to the eleva-
ton Of his race intellectually and po-
litically, and who not for his right arm
would do one thing that would be de-
trimental to their interests. went as
one opposed to the bloody-shirt issue,
who believes it will tend to fan the
slumbering and smouldering flames Of
sectional and race hate, and will be an
incalculable injury to us. | be-
lieve in a government which has
for its cornerstone the great
est good to the greatest number.
l have always privately and publicly
counselled friendly relation between the
races. AS we have only one Constitu-
ton and one destiny our interests are
identically the same: We are destined
to live together. Exodus has proven
failure. If we must
LIVE TOGETHER,
common sense teaches that we must
mutually aid and protect each other,
and all should work together for the
good of Virginia. With these thoughts
swaying my heart attended that Con-
vention. In 1880 call was issued for
a colored convention to be held in the
city Of Petersburg, signed by the same
gentlemen. ] attended that convention,
warmly advocated it, and made public
speeches in Fincastle and Salem favor
ing the scheme, and when that convention
assembled | was one of the first to
make speech in favor of forming a CO.
alition with the white Readjuster-Dem-
ocratic party so as to wipe out certain
obnoxious laws and to settle the State
debt. Notwithstanding, the Readjuster-
Democrats were in the regular Bourbon
Democratic party when these laws
were enacted and failed to offer their
protest. l was also delegate to the
Convention that nominated Governor
William 4. Cameron, and maintain
that the action Of the Petersburg Con-
yention made his election possible. In
lSS0,the Convention endorsed the white
Democratic Readjusters. In 1885 that
Convention assumes an independent at
titude.
Is THERE ANYTHING WRONG
about this? Who furnished the money |
to run this Convention in 1850? Are |
We still slaves? Can the negro think,
speak, and ask for himself? Must white
men forever lead us? Shall educated
colored men yield their honest convic-
tons to the clamoring, maddened rage
Of the ignorant masses? General Will
liam Malone fought bravely and gal
lantly for the rebel cause, and only laid
down his arms when forced to do so.
Had he succeeded, we, for aught
know, might have been wearing the
chains and manacles Of slavery to-
day. John w. Daniel, who is one
of the most gifted orators of this
generation, wears the scars of battle
upon his person. He staked all and
lost all save honor in the Lost Cause.
he and Malone sheathed their swords
at Appomattox and have been loyal
citizens ever since. They are both
prominent candidates for the United
States Senate. If negro favors Daniel
for that position to Malone, is it muir
der in the first degrees?
10 II TREASON
Is it highway robbery? Must he be
abused and vilifed, ostracised and be-
Titled because he thinks differently
from the majority Of his race? Are not
both of these gentlemen sworn to sup
port the Constitution Of the United
States {? With the exception of
the late difficulty at Danville, which is
deplored by all good citizens, have
We not enjoyed quiet and peaceful cleo
tons? Is 1t fact that the white peo-
pie Of Virginia are cut-throats and muir
derers? MOI No a thousand times
No!
l formerly belonged to one Of the
largest shareholders in Virgins, and
when he died last summer he was