Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-05
COLORED DEMOCRATS.

COLORED DEMOCRATS.
Intimidation and BulIdozing In Mecklen-
burg A Few Facts-An Appeal for LegIsia-
tive Aid.
BoYDTON, VA, Dec. 81, 1885.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
Ben. Brown, an old and highly respect
ed colored man, Democrat, died in
GAINESVILLE few days ago. The color
ed people refused to bury or to show
him any Of the courtesieS usual on such
occasions on account of his politics.
lie was finally inferred by and at the
expense of the white Democrats of the
town.
The Rev. John Ransome, a colored
minister of the Gospel, had the doors of
one of his churches near Boydton closed
on him last Sunday at formal meet
ing of the stewards for the reason that
be testified in the Finch and Jones cleo
ton contest as to the bulldozing and
intimidation Of his race by the Republic
cans during the last canvass.
The Rev. Jordan Jefiress, pastor Of
St. Marks (colored) church, during this
canvass took ground against the intro
duction of politics into his church. In
other words, he refused to allow it to
be made a hotbed for the schemes Of
Radical politicians. For this he was
straightway denounced by thSm as an
apostate; and it was boldly proclaimed
that his church should not stand. a
few days afterwards an incendiary torch
laid it level with the ground.
At the Cherry-IIill (cOlored) church,
where the Rev. Jordan Moseley color
ed) each Sunday proclaimed that God is
a Republican and that colored Demo
Gratis are under his special condemna-
ton and wrath, not long since Horace
Watkins (cOlored) had, upon the Sab
bath. day and in the church editice, to
defend himselfa against personal violence
for having voted the Democratic ticket,
and for the same cause was expelled
from church membership.
These are but few of very many
similar occurrences /; and it is by and
through such instrumentalities that our
elections have become but mOckery
and farce, and by and through them
it is that an ignorant negro under in
dictment for a violation of the United
States postal laws, and who pleads his
privilege to protect him from arrest and
prosecution for the offence, now sits as
the representative of this people in the
House of Delegates Of Virginia. But
this is not all By the same influences
our county Offices are controlled and
administered by holy alliance of the
carpet-bagger, the scalawag, and the
negro, who feed and fatten Upon us
while inilicting upon us injury and
wrong as cruel as any that
was ever visited upon an intelli-
gent and virtuous people. How long
shall these things be? How long will
the Democratic party of Virginia, with
power to save us, permit us to be doml-
mated, Inundated, and degraded by the
black cohorts by which we are sur
rounded under the leadership of their
infamous white allies? We appeal to
the Legislature Of Virginia in the name
of our country to rebuke these people
and to redress our wrongs; to give us
in truth free ballot, and thus pre-
serve the white mans civilization in
this unfortunate section. If existing
legislation does not suffice for this pur-
pose, we beg that the wisdom Of the
Legislature may be directed to some
legislation which will accomplish the de-
sired object. We are part and parcel of
the Commonwealth. We have suffered
as no other section of it has we have
suffered long and patiently. The Demo-
cratic vote of this section, even under
the adverse surroundings which have
been described, has been looked to and
felt in many a doubtful State contest,
and the Democratic party is at last
triumphant. We helped to make it So
to give it control of all departments Of
the State government; and we now ask
in the name of all that is sacred that an
honest, earnest effort be made to give
US relief. At least let Us not feel that
we are aliens and strangers, and that
our sufferings are looked on with in
difference by our white brethren in more
fortunate sections of the Commonwealth.
MECKIENBTRG