The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-26
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER &c, 1904.
Colonel slernp and the conserva-
tives Of 1860.

The Republicans Of the Ninth District are
irving to break the force Of the charge
that Colonel Slemp, whilo member OF
the Virginia Legislature. voted Tor II ne
gro by tho name Of Cook, for doorkeeper
OF the House of Delegates, over tho gal.
liant Arthur Sullivan, n onc-legged Cor
federate soldier, who had held the OFFICE
4 previously for some years and had dis
charged It's duties efficiently and salts
factorily, by charging that the Demo-
cratic members Of the Senate tinclud-
Ing Major William a. Anderson. no"
Attorney General Of Virginia). in 1859,
and again In 1871 had cllusen Abram
Hall, a negro of Richmond city, one OF
the doorkeepers Of the Senate. XXI
Below We give an extract from the
journals OF the Senate for the years men
8 toned. showing the facts in regard to
this matter.
Al the time referred to, the Llsisla-
\ ture wa scontrolled, not by the Demo-
+ cratic party, but by the Conser-
vativo party, made UP of old line
Wings, Democrats and Liberal Republl-
cans, combined for the purpose OF rescu-
ing Virginia from radical and negro rule
which was then threatened by the radical
s Republican party in this State, over So
coo Of whom actually voted In, 1859
10 disfranchise the great body Of white
voters OF the State and to place the State
4 more absolutely III the control of the ne
4. Abram Hall had been one Of the lead
ers, and an Influential leader of a small,
but conservative. minority of the negroes
OF Richmond who had voted against ne
gro domination and to give the white
men their rights. Richmond city was
only carried by the conservatives by a
ma jority Of seventy-two; and but for the
support of the conservative ticket given
BY Abram Hall and his associates, the
4 radicals would have carried Richmond,
and doubtless Henrico county. too, which
Z would have involved the election of three
senators and six delegates. There had to
q be, in order to save the State then. q
combination OF the good men Of all par
ties and, in this city, Democrats, Wings
a and IAberal Republicans, supported a
legislative ticket upon which were Colo
a mel Norman Smith "a Repubhcnn). for
the Senate. and A1essrs. Crcnshaw and
Gilmer lalso ReAlolicans). for the House
OF Delegates. - :" .
Not only had Abran Hall earnestly and
actively supported the conservative ticket.
but he had risked his life and been scri-
ously injured III an effort to rescue the
lamented Colonel James r. Branch. who
was killed by the collapse OF bridge
over James River, when on his way to
4 attend a barbecue IN the interest of the
Conservative party. Abram Hall was a
Il polite respectable and respectful colorcd
Z man, OF most excellent charac ter.
Besides this. there were ut that time
number OF negro members of both
branches of:thc Legislature, there being
six negro senators, and colored people
were Visiting the Capitol during the SEES
x giops of the Legislature to n far greater
extent than they have done in late years.
It was deemed proper, therefore that
there should be a colorcd man In this
inferior position. to look after and wait
upon the people of his own color-a duty
which might not always be agreeable to q
white doorkeeper
AS will be seen from the Journal r
1869 John ". Minor. Of 14oudoun, was
elected first doorkeeper over Ross Hamll
d ton and William Robinson. two negroes
7
for the position of second doorkceper
+ there was no opposing candidate Il
abram Hail. who received every vot,
that was cast
In 1871, as will be seen from the jour
Il nal Of that year, John w. Minor wa
again elected first doorkeeper. and Abran
Hall was reelected as second doorkeep
III er-the Republicans then voting for w
x d. Berkeley Hepublican) for the latte
position. Whether W. y. berkeley was
white or colored Republican We canno
FAY OF our own knowledge, but VIC ar
Informed from two sources that he wa
negro. from the city of Norfolk. an,
we have no doubt that he was 1t !
certain that ne was not a one-legged Con
federate soldier who was Delng tune
out OF office to put an able bodied negr
III his place.
III viii be observed. 100, that the posi-
ton 10 which Abram Hall was appoin,e
was a subordinate and almost mental pc
sition, under the circumstances. He ha
No aney the orders Of the first doorkeep
or, and his duties we're entirely OF a
& inferiar ana subordinate character, no
did he d!splace anybody, or defeat an