Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-29
MECKLENBuRG COUNTY.
FREE BALLOT, FAIR COUNT


a ssrihipr Cemmsn,srs Gpen 'hs mshenr
Slogan How N,sro Democrats wsre in-
unIdatea.
fcorrespondence ofthe Richmond Dispatch
BoyDToN, VA, Nov. %, 1885.
The taking Of dispositions in the con-
tested election of G. L. Finch. the Dem
ocratic candidate, rs. J. X. Jones, the
colored Republican candidate, for seat
in the House Of Delegates from this
county. was concluded on last Satur-
day. They were taken on the same
days in different parts of the county
remote from each other, and the con-
current testimony from every precinct
shows a systematic course Of intimida-
ton and bulldozing practiced by the
Republican leaders over the colored
voters unparalleled in this enlightened
age. and have startled the people by the
revelations made and dispelled the de-
lusion of those who supposed there was
a fair and free expression Of public
opinion here on November 3, 1885.
The grounds of said contest were
substantially as follows:
I'VE omit those not bearing on the
question of intimidation
Third. That at various precincts the
election was illegal, null and void, on
account Of gross irregularities and ille-
gal action. That at said precincts on
election.day and before that time
threats or violence, numerous acts and
kinds Of intimidation and bulldOzing
were used by the supporters OF Jones
towards large number of the colored
voters of the county who desired to
vote for G.. l.. Finch, and would have
done 20 if allow ed to exercise their free
will, but were compelled, by reason of
said acts and doings on the part OF
Joues's supporters, to vote for him,
while many others who desired to vote
for &. l.. Finch were deferred from
voting at all by like threats and intimi-
dation; and but for said illegal conduct
on the part Of Jones and his supporters.
large majority Of the votes at said
precincts would have been cast for e..
l.. Finch.
As to some Of the methods reSorted
10 by the Republican leaders to intlml-
date the colorcd voters, Hilary Pul-
liam. colored Democratic canyaSser,
testified that he was warned if he per-
sisted in supporting the Democratic
ticket he would be expelled from his
church that his family and friends
were melted against him that while at
tending a funeral the Sunday before the
election he was threatened with per-
sonal violence. and that he had
TO seek protection from bodily injury
from the more moderate Of his race !;
that while organizing Democratic
club two notorious colOred bulldozerS
of Jones's commenced a row, forbid his
speaking, and broke up his meeting !;
that when appointments for Democratic
meetings and barbecues were made he
had seen colored men stationed on the
roads leading to the places threatening
vengeance on every cOlOred man who
dared to attend. This. he said, so ter
rfed the ignorant blacks that they
were afraid to be seen near Demo-
ciatis meeting. Some were told that
they would be set on fire and the most
appalling consequences inflicted upon
them.
Many colored men testified that Dem
ocIatic tickets. which they had provided
themselves with to vote. had been taken
from them on the way to the polls, and
they were either forced by the DULLES
Of Jones, stationed in every direction,
to vote the Republican ticket, or driven
back home and not vote at all. Ii was
gwen in testimony that while Mr..
L. l.. Finch was speaking at
Amity church, in the South-Ilill dis
trict. coloIed man drew and bran
dshed a knife. threatened his life, end
attempted to break up the meeting.
Dennis Carter (colored), an old sexton
Of a white peoples church, was de-
nounced and yillted, and made an OBJ
lect Of the most violent treatment be-
cause be was n Democrat. He testified
that in Republican meetings an oath had
been administered binding every man to
vote the Republican ticket, under
the severest penalties for violation.
Wat Love. Albert Bowers, Rufus Moss,
and other respectable colored men,
nearly all Of whom canyaSsed the entire
county with Mr. Finch AMI mixed up
with the colored people, said that every
where the supporters of Jones held out
as a warning to all who voted the
Democratic ticket that they would he
turned out Of the church in disgrace,
association with them would be refused.
the public schools would be taken from
them, and that they were voting them
selves back into slavery. In this way
hundreds were induced TO vote the Re-
publican ticket.
John Beard. Horace Watkins. and
Joseph Harris, Democratic colored
men Of the GAINESVILLE district, testified
that the leaders of their church threat
ened expulsion to all Democrats and
that their backs should be lashed ; that
they should be whipped on a barrel
visiting and attention when sick should
be forbidden; wives and children be
made to disown them, and burial after
death denied them if they voted the
Democratic ticket; also, that one
Wharton, a rabid Republican colored
school-teacher, and Jim Warren,
notorious Republican bulldozer at
the said precinct, on the day of cleo
ton proclaimed that any colored man
who voted the Democratic ticket should
be killed, and that their wives would
be furnished with strychnine to mix
with their food-a fate that would OF
should oyertake every Democratic negro
voter. That after the election closed
that day, one Meade, a colored RePub'
lican Judge Of the election at Buffalo
precinct, joined in with the other bull,
dozers in their abuse and threats, and
so frightened BEARD at his own house
causing his wife to disown him and tC
refuse him provisions,) that from fea'
of personal violence and starvation NJ
had to seek protection and support o
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