Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-19
Tne I.nnonhnrr CnsP.

BLACKSTONE, VA, January IL, 1888.
/ To the Editor Of the DisPatch:
IT was with regret that your many sub
scrhers in this section read in the
columns Of your valuable paper that the
/ Committee on Privileges and Elections
reported adversely in the contested elec.
ton case OF Love rs. OVERLY.
knowing as We do the particulars Of
the case ii enables US 70 see the mistake
Of the committee and the gross injustice
done the good people of old Lunenburg
county, and in fact the Democrats OF
this the Black Belt. as Mr. Overly is re-
Qardol not only as the representative Of
Luueu5urg, bus Of adjoining counties.
This committee has. after perhaps n
few minutes deliberation, undone what
it has required twenty years OF hard
work to accomplish. Dir. Overby's con-
stituents-fhe Democrats of Lunen-
burg would be the last people within
our knowledge who would desire to seat
a representative who had been fraudu-
lently elected Mr. overly himself is q
gentleman OF too high a sense OF honor
10 have claimed a seat to which he was
not entitled. But after q heroic struggle
for more than twenty years by the Demo
Gratis Of Lunenburg to throw of the yoke
of Republicanism their efforts finally las
they Thought we're crowned with success.
The decision of this committee shows but
too plainly that their work has not been
appreciated by their Embellishments
Of the State. The Republican party was
represented on the Contrasting Bosrd OF
Lunenburg county, which awarded TO
Mr.. overly the certificate Of election,
and it is reasonable to suppose that had
he not been fairly elected they would not
have signed his certificate. Judging
from the report Of is committee 1t Is
entirely useless to appoint a canvassng
board for an election.
If We may except Mr.. Love and few
OF his most ardent admirers the Repub-
Leans of Lunenburg concede Sir. Over
by's election, and the report Of this COM
mittee is as much OF surprise to them
as to the Democrats.
So ii IS left TO committee appointed
by Democratic Legislature with a
Democratic chairman. 10 go behind the
Returning Board and to ignore the re-
spectacle people of Lunenburg county
by declaring Love entitled to the seat.
II must be that this committee is 80
accustomed to regard this section OF
Virginia as the property of the Republi-
can perty that they could not realize
that it was possible for Lunenburg TO
send a Democrat to represent them in
the Legislature Of their State. Perhaps
it would have been wise on the part Of
Mr.. OVERLY to either have used unspa-
ringly burnt cork" or on the assem-
bling of the Legislature to have taken
seat on the Republican side Of the House.
Then he might have been admitted IN
challenged.
Much depends upon the action OF the
Legislature in this case, as the people
ofthis section are Justly indignant at the
treatment Ar. OVERLY has received at the
bands of this committee. Through Mr..
Oyerby's influence an independent
movement among the colored voters of
Luneuburg (who had become Disguised
with their former leaders, had been
organized, who were willing to act in
concert with the Democratic party.
Should the Legislature fail to sustain
Mr.. overly they viii naturally lose con-
fidence in whatever influence they be-
lieyrd Mr.. OVERLY possessed, and will
conclude that the white Democrats Of
Lunenburg are not recognized by their
own party. Respectfully,
"BLACK-BELT DEMOCRATS. y
I'VE sympathize with our Lunenburg
friends, and allow them to be heard. We
know nothing as to the facts ourselves. ]