The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-28
The Real Charges Against Judge
Lewis.

The Real Charges Against Judge
Lewis.
There is a popular impression that the
Democratic organization Of Virginia mas
charged that Judge l.. L. Lewis STOOD
before an audience OF negroes at Chester
field Courthouse in 1877 or 1878 and de-
slared that he was in favor OF mis-
ccgenation. No such charge was ever
made No man who knows Judge Lewis
believes that he now faVors or mat ne
ever favored mixed marriages. The
charge is simply this That during the
debate at the time and place named
Judge Lewis, who was then United States
K District Attorney, made q radical speech
To the negroes, and greatly excited them
nv telling them how they had been
wrongcd by the white people. finally re-
marking. Now. / tell you these things
and I am not afraid TO do 1t. ana l ha'e
MS good blood in my veins as any Wni1e
man in the. State Judge Hundley. ms
well as he can recall, replied: You pro-
TESS to be a friend to the negro; now
81 wish to ask you this question. lhe'e
10 now under discussion in the Leglsia-
ture a. bill to prohibit the intermarriase
of negroes and whites under severe pep
,,ty T. as a friend Of both races, think
,b,s a wise measure and that 1t should
he passed. want you to tell these ne
Eroes whether you favor that Dill OF OPP
nose it," Judge Lewis replied, says Judge
1Jundley. that he opposed the bill and
was in favor of allowing the intermar-
riage of the races
In thus formulating the charge, we
have employed the language of letter
written by Judge Hundley TO 9tate
Chairman Ellyson under date OF Octo-
Der 2, 1905, and it was upon this state
ment that the charge against Judge
Lewis was made public BY Congressman
William A. Jones in speech al fre"-
ericksburg on October 18th. unfortu-
nately our correspondent In the intro
ductory paragraph Of his telegram 10
The Times-Dispatch, said that MT.
Jones charged Judge Lewis with having
advocated miscegenation,' but III MS
synopsis of Mr.. Jones's speech he used
this Language "Mr. Jones said there was
nending In the Virginia Legislature blii
to prevent the intermarrage of the
races. Jxlse IIundley declared his ap-
nroyar.' Of" the bill and demanded or
Judge Lewis that he state his position In
regard TO It, The reply came that he,
Lewis, was opposed 10 Its adoption ana
favored ALLOWING the intermarriage
OF the races" AS soon as he read the
report Mr.. Jones stated that he had not
used the word ''miscegenation." and the
correction was promptly made.
II is fair to state, however, that Mr..
Jones did not make any charge against
Judge Lewis until he and Mr.. Ellyson mad
Ind n conversation with Mr.. S. S. r.
patteson. OF Richmond, who was pres
ent on the occasion OF the Joint discus
sion at Chesterfield Courthouse. wher
Mr.. Patteson said that his recollection
OF Judge Lewiss remarks was In accort
with the recollection of Judge Hundiey
subsequently Mr.. Patteson said in
letter to Judge Lewis that he did no
remember the exnct language used b!
either speaker on that occasion, but tina
he was certain that the subject of in
termarr!age was discussed and tina
Judge Lewis said either that he woul
not vote for a bill 10 prevent the in
termarriage OF the races or that sue
& measure was of doubtful constitutional
i,y
Al frst Judge Lewis denied that he ha
had discussion with Judge Humble
at Chesterfield Courthouse IN the yea
named, that II there was such a dlscu,
sion It was In the year 1851, After re
fresh!ng mis- memory, however. he &C
mtted that the discussion did take pla:
and that IT was in 1877 or 1878. and not /
1881, and added.
1T may be that when Judge Hume
ley asked the question which he is sal
TO have propounded TO me, | answcrt
that, In my opinion, the proposed statu
was of doubtful cpnstitutinnalty,"
There Is no question OF ycracity b.
tween Judge Hundey and Judge Levi
for both are known to be truthful m,
and we no more believe that Judl
Lewis would deny statement which
knew TO be true than SIC believe HI
Judge Hundley would make a statene
which he knew to be false, 4 Is all
question OF memory. but the ,preponde
snce of The testimony seems 10 us
be In favor OF Judge Hundley. His rect
lection seems TO be clearer than that
Judge Lewis and Judge Iundley
susained in part at least. BY the YES
yncny OF bIf Patteson Let US aga
x.xnnhn.ize hnweyer that linking