Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-10-20
CHARGES JUDGE LEWIS WITH
FAVORING MISCEGENATI0N

In reporting the speech of Congress
man VIM. A. Jones at Fredericksburg
on Monday the Richmond journal
says:
The sensation of the day, however,
occurred at fredericksburg, where
Congressman W. A. Jones, but recent
ly returned from his trip to the Philip
pines, openly charged Judge Lewis
with having advocated miscegenatiOn
10 the Old Dominion. The accusation
came as a climax to telling speech de-
demonstrative audience. Mr.. Jones
announced that he had within the last
few days been Informed of this incl
dent in the Republican nominees poll
tical career.
According to the First District Con-
gresham, Judge Lewis. in d speech at
Chesterfield Courthouse sometime about
The year 1877 or 1878, openly advocated
the intermsrriage of the two races.
The occasion for the alleged utter
ances was discussion with General
George J. Hundley, now Circuit
Judge of this State. At that time
DILL was pending in the Legislature to
prevent miscegenation, and General
Hundley declared his approval OF IL,
after which be called upon Judge
Lewis to define his position in regard
to the matter. The reply came that
he (Lewis) was opposed to its passage
and favored allowing the intermarrl
age of the races.
Congressman Jones, in abiding to
the matter. said that he had always
had the highest regard for the man on
whom the republicans have besto wed
the gubernatorial nomination, but that
under the circumstances he felt con-
strained to recall this incident. Fnr
thermore, if Judge Lewis attempted a
| denial, be was prepared to produce bis
authority for the statement.
JUDGE LEWIS DENIES
The News-Leader publishes the fol-
lowing denial from Judge Lewis:
"The charge that l ever advocated
miscegenation in Virginia." said be,
sis absolutely untrue. The joint dis
| cussion referred to by Mr.. Jones in bis
speech at fredericksburg last night,
took place so many years ago that l
had altogether forgotten that it had
| ever occurred. If in that discussion
ANYTHING was said about legislation
enacted or then contemplated, forbid
ding intermarriage between the races,
| may have expressed the opinion that
as marriage is founded upon contract,
! The law forbidding intermarriage be
tween any classes of citizens jn the
| United States might be uncOnstitu
| tional, as some lawyers at one time be-
| fore the question was decided by the
fcourts thought.
| but l utterly deny that was eveI
personally in favor of miscegenatiOn or
ANYTHING of the kind. 1t is very re-
markable, if ever publicly expressed
any such sentiment as that now attrl
| buted to me in the heat of political
campaign, that the people among
whom have lived all these years were
not sooner told of it.
| 1.-The discussion between Genera
| Hundley ana myself occurred in Sep
| TENDER, 1881, at Chesterfield Court
house. A few months afterwards When
| the event was very recent. was elect
ed by the Legislature a juGge of the
Supreme Court of Virginia, and no al
fusion was made by any Democratic
mem Der of the Legislature at the time
| to any such thing as at now charged
against it.
| HUNDLEY SAYS HE SAID IT.
The same paper publishes the follow
| ing statement from Gen. HuDdley:
1t is true that in pu bile discussion
at Chesterfield Courthouse between
Judge Lewis and myself he did say
that he opposed the bill prohibiting
the intermarriage of black and whites
and was in favor of allowing them to
marry as they please. L want it un
derstcod that am not responsible for
the publication of this matter, but as
l am asked about it, | state the facts
i as Remember them ! wish to add