The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-01

in North Carolina. appointed by the
republican party and having authority
over white as well as colored schools?
Now what constitutes negro domino
ton or Negro rule may be a question OF
opinion or taste What the people want
TO know is not what constitutes negro
domination. in your opinion. but your
uneQuivocal statement of the facts with
reference to negro office-holding in the
east and negro candidates on the part
or your party, SO that they. as intelli-
gent beings, may decide for themselves
whether there is negro rule in eastern
Carolina.
The democratic people living, and the
democratic newspapers published. in
n localities where these offices are
held n candidates are running. have
asserted and published. and I. as chair
man OF the democratic party. have as
serted and caused to be published. and
do now assert, (either from personal
knowledge, or from Information obtain
ed from thoroughly trustworthy and
reliable sources, duly verified). that
negroes appointed or elected by the re-
publican party, now hold the offices
these questions represent them as hold
ing and that negroes regularly nomi-
mated by the republican party, are
now candidates for the offices these
questions represent them as being cam
didates 10 fill. and in view Of the al
legged statements, made as aforesaid by
you. denying in general terms the
fact Of negro domination and office
holding in eastern North Carolina, I
call upon you TO specifically answer.
under your own signature, and upon
your responsibility as a man n rep
resentative of the people in the United
States senate. the questions above pro-
pounded. Not one Of them, but all OF
them.
If you make denial of these ques-
tons, or any of them. l ask that you
will give the authority upon which you
base that denial, and if you are not
sufficiently informed as to the facts to
enable you to answer categorically, 1
ask that you will inform yourself.
Now, I desire hat o will answer
me a few other questions, to-Wlt:
First. If there were in Madison
ty, where you reside, as there is now
in New Hanover county-forty negro
magistrates, six negro policemen, a
score of negro constables, a negro reg
lister of deeds, with negro deputies, a
negro collector of customs, with negro
deputies, negro deputy sheriffs, negro
aldermen and negro finance commit
teemen, would you say, as a nan of
honor, hat Madison county was not
negroiZed?
Second. If the republican party in
Madison county had nominated a ne
gro for the Legislature, a negro for reg
lister of deeds, a negro for county treas
urer, a negro for standard keeper, a ne
gro for constable, a white man for
sheriff, who had promised to appoint
none but negro deputies, a white man
for clerk of the superior court, who had
promised to appoint a negro deputy
clerk, a. in Craven county, would you
advise the White people of Madison
county to vote for that ticket?
Third. In Craven county there are
tWenty-Seven negro magistrates, three
negro deputy sheriffs, negro register Of
deeds, a score of negro constables, and
if the ticket nominated by the republic
can party in hat county is elected,
there would be in that county after
election, a negro member of the legis-
lature, a negro register of deeds, with
negro deputies, a negro treasurer, a
negro coroner, a negro on the board Of
commissioners, all deputies in the
sheriff's office; all deputies in the clerk
of the superior courts office, negroes
and this ticket nominated by the re-
publican party in that county will be
elected, for out of the total vote of
1890 in that county,, there are $500 ne
gro voters. Now, if there were as
many office-hOlding negroes in the
county of Madison as there will be in
Craven county after election, would
you say. as a man of honor. that Madi-
son county did not lave negro govern
ment?
! Fourth. If this number of negroes,
holding Office in the county does not
| constitute negro government in that
county, will you please be kim enough
to tell the people of North Carolina
| what numbe of negro Office-hOlders
| you would consider necessary to on
| stitute negro government in a county
| in North Carolina?
Respectfully.
F. NJ. SIMMONS.