Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-20
SALEM.

C:urtDaY Poliucnl-A Radical Meeting.
Correspondence Of Richmond Dispatch
AUGUsT Is, 1855.
Yesterday being court-day, it was the
occasion for all the country folk to visit
town. They poured in from all direc-
tions till noon, when this usually quiet
little town seemed a sea Of living crea-
tures. | believe the only thing that
claimed the attention Of the court was
the trial Of a negro for illegal voting.
lie was proved fool, and consequently
acquitted. But it was amusing to see
the smile Of incredulity that would
creep over his sable countenance when
his friends were swearing that he was
an IDIOT.
A Convention was called in Town
Hall to appoint delegates to meet in
Joint convention at the Roanoke Red
sulphur Springs on August 5, 1885,
for the purpose Of nominating a candi-
date to represent Roanoke and Craig in
the House of Delegates. The Conyen-
tion soon transacted its business, and as
handsome a corps Of delegates were ap-
pointed as ever represented any county.
They were truly representative Virgin
ians. At the same time the Democrats
held their Convention the Republicans
assembled in the courthouse to listen
to the rantings Of X. Il. Berkeley, of
Prince Edward. Whilst he had good
many whites to hear him, most Of whom
were true and tried Democrats, the ma
ioIlty Of his auditors were negroes.
He seemed to appreciate this
fact, and therefore addressed his
remarks principally to them. His
argument was specious and calcu-
lated to have weight with the negroes.
He criticised the Federal Administra-
ton, and said among other things that
the appointment Of Kelley as Minister
to Austria was destined to cause much
trouble that in the event his rejec-
tion was insisted upon and the Aus
trian Minister recalled from this couu-
try it would ruin Southwest Virginia by
closing the market for her tobacco and
other produce. He was candid enough to
say that he opposed Kelley nor be-
cause he did not answer his letter OF
congratulation upon his (Keiley's) ap-
pointment to Italy. He spoke Of Ma
homes Convention at Richmond as be-
ing the finest convention he had ever
attended, and it seemed that he wished
the negroes to think that it was because
there were negroes in that Convention.
He endorsed most heartily the attack
made on Sims by the negro Harris, and
said the latter and Carter made the
finest speeches that were made in the
And on he went with his
harangue, which consisted almost solely
in an appeal to the prejudices Of the
negro against the white man.
Your correspondent moved among the
people and tried to ascertain how the
political cat would jump this fall. He
cleaned this much, that the Democrats
are as sure to elect the representative
as two and two make four-so sure that
the Republicans will hardly nominate
any one a; that this heretofore largely
county will be very close in
the coming election, with the chances
in favor Of the Democrats that our
ticket is exceedingly popular in this
section, and that the people will rally |
% Lees buglc-calls with the snthu-
,iasm Of days gone by.
The corn crop in this county is very
inc. The people seem to be in good
spirits. The weather is delightful, with
Iery cool nights. G.