Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-03-27
'Gsv. OFerrall's Statement.

Gev. O'Ferrall's Statement.
Referring to a despatch shown him,
in which F. w. Darling, Senate Chair
man of the Committee of the Massa-
chusetts Legislature on mercantile at
fairs. is reported to have said that
Gov. O'Ferrall knew that there was a
negro on the Committee, for he told
him so. Gov. O'Ferrall says
Senator Darling. l cannot think,
made the statement contained in the
dispatch. never had the slightest in
timation from a human being that
colored man was in the party. / talk
ed with 10 one from Wednesday, when
a clerk from the railroad office came to
me with a message from Colonel Boy
kin that business committee of the
Massachusetts, Legislature would ar
rive in Richmond the next evening
from the South and they would be
glad to call on me. Ireplied: Very
we'll. will be glad to receive them. /
think it would be more courteous to
receive them at the mansion than in
my Office and will fix 2 o'clock Friday
L
munication with any one on the sub
ject, except was informed that the
committee had arrived. A little be-
fore 2 O'Clock on Friday l went from
my office to the mansion. my private
secretary, Mr.. Chesterman. accom-
panying me. l left Mr.. Chesterman
below and went on to my room above.
Soon carriage drove up and stopped,
but no one got out.
Later three other carriages arrived.
The first carriage changed position,
and did not see the occupants alight.
Pretty soon my door man came up and
notified me that the gentlemen were
in the parlOr. | went down with Mrs.
O'Ferrall, and as we entered the par
Tor we were introduced to each men,
Der of the committee, winding up with
the colored committeeman. Not until
l reached Teamoh did know, nor had
the slightest idea that one of the
committee was a colored man, and |
was greatly surprised and embarrass-
ed, but l concealed my embarrassment
as much as possible. l was acting in
my official capacity, and the commit
tee were calling in their official capa-
city, and could not do otherwise than
carry out the programme.
"LighG refreshments had been pre-.
pared and l invited the committee to
the dining room, not thinking that
Teamoh would come. After the party.
got into the dining-roOm l discovered
Teamoh and Mitchell with him. This
embarrassed me still more, but | con
cluded that as Teamoh was one of the
committee and Mitchell their friend 1.
could not invite them to retire with.
out giving an affront to the other
members of the committee, and in def
erence to the feelings of the latter
and because l could not do otherwise
without being rude to them | submit
ted. and Teamoh and Mitchell remain
ed and partOok with them of the re-
freshments. s.':
IF my embarrassment was not APP
parent, succeeded in most remark
able degree in cOncealing it. Mrs. o.
Ferrall never spoke to Teamoh after
she was introduced to him, but out OF
courtesy to Senate Darling and the
other gentlemen remained and con:
versed with them until they left the
parlor.
Senator Darling's statement that |
told him that knew Teamoh was In
the party is absolutely untrue, and l
cannot think he ever made it. If
had told him any such thing he would
certainly not have spoken APOLOGIZE
| cally of Feamoh's presence at the man
sion. or have expressed himself as he
did to me at the penitentiary and on
our drive. He and the other gentle
| men in the carriage with me expressed
their embarrassment at having Tea
mob with them, and stated that they
had made every effort to shuttle him
h.rf t>n
Il feel greatly aggrieved in this mat
ter, that my desire to extend conrtesies
| to a legislative committee of another
State was taken advantage of, and
was placed in a position to which 1
| would not have submitted for mo-
ment if had not been acting in an
official capacity.
''Of course, Mrs. O'Ferrall did not
shake hands with the negro. When
she realized that Teamoh was color
ed man she bowed slightly, stepped
| back and did not speak to him."
From Richmond Dispatch OF Thursday
ANOTHER DENIAL FROM THE GOV
ERNOR.
| A Boston dispatch received last night
quotes Mr.. Darling as follows in refer
ring to Governor Q'Ferrall's statement
| u.
appeared in yesterdays Dispatch:
4 insist that Governor O'FerraH
must have known of Tealnoh's pres
ence, and insist that he was a most
polished and courteous gentleman on
! the occasion referred to, even if he
feels compelled to deny it, Had he
not been, we should have undoubted-
ly noticed it, and resented it."
When this dispatch was shown the
Governor, he dictated the following in
reply: So -
Il am glad that in spite Of my en-
barrassiDg positionI impressed Sena-
tor Darling SO favorably. l found him
a most courteous and intelligent gen.
tleman. But l must say that if he
means to state that knew of the pres
ence of Teamoh. or that had even
the slightest intimation that he was
even member of the committee, or
that any colored man was, until l en-
tered the pariors of the mansion, and
at the end of the line was introduced
to Teamoh, his statement is absolute
lY without foundation. never drea IT,
ed that the committee had colored
man on it, else would have received
the committee in my public office. and
and not at the mansion, and avoided
the nbarrassment l suffered at the
mansion.
Colonel Roykin, of the Seaboard
Air Line. who had charge of the par
ty, never intimated that there was a
colOred man in the party, and he says
so in a letter published here to day"
Colonel Roykin also stated in the let
ter referred to by the Governor that
he was as much surprised as was the
Governor when he found Teamoh at
/ the mansion.
GOV. o'FERRALL WORRIED.
Under date of March 90th, the Rich