[30] Drewry, _The Southampton Insurrection_, p. 165.
[31] _The Richmond Enquirer_, Dec. 17, 1831.
[32] _Ibid._, Nov. 18, 1831.
[33] _The Journal of the House of Delegates_, 1831, p. 110.
[34] Before the insurrection free men of color voted in North Carolina and at least one well-authenticated case exists of a colored voter in Virginia prior to 1830. A native of Virginia long a resident of Ma.s.sachusetts is an authority for the statement that the facilities for higher education of the Negro were quite as good in Richmond as in Boston at that time. There was published in a paper of the time an account of the celebration of the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1827, by the free people of color of the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia. The orator of the day was Isaac N. Carey.
In North Carolina John Chavis, a Negro, rose to such excellence as a teacher of white youth that he is p.r.o.nounced in a biographical sketch, contained in a history of education in that State, published by the United States Bureau of Education, as one of the most eminent men produced by that State. Though an unmistakable Negro, as a preacher he acceptably filled many a white pulpit and was welcomed as a social guest at many a fireside. Such was the bitterness against the race growing out of Nat Turner"s Insurrection, however, that even such a man fell under the ban of proscription.
One of the preachers to whom Governor Floyd had reference quietly ignored the suggestion in the message of his Excellency and kept up his work. He was a Baptist preacher, William Carney, the grandfather of the famous Sergeant William H. Carney, of the 54th Ma.s.sachusetts Regiment. At the same time a daughter of his and a Methodist in a neighboring town "bearded the lion in his den" by actually collaring and driving out the leader of a party of white men who broke into a Negro religious meeting.
[35] _The Richmond Enquirer_, Jan. 11, 1839.
[36] _Ibid._, Jan. 11, 1839.
[37] _Ibid._, Jan. 19, 1832.
[38] _Ibid._, Jan. 24, 1832.
[39] _The Richmond Enquirer_, Jan. 25, 1832.
[40] _Ibid._, Jan. 26, 1832.
[41] _The Richmond Enquirer_, Jan. 27, 1832.
[42] _Ibid._, Nov. 18, 1831.
[43] _The Journal of the House of Delegates_, 1831, p. 10.
[44] _Ibid._, p. 112.
[45] _Ibid._, 1831, p. 125.
[46] _Ibid._, 1831, p. 131.
[47] _The Richmond Enquirer_, Jan. and Feb., 1832.
[48] _The Journal of the House of Delegates_, 1831, Appendix, Bill No.
7.
[49] _Ibid._, Bill No. 13.
[50] Hurd, _Law of Freedom and Bondage_, II, 9.
[51] _The Laws of Maryland_, 1831-32, c. 281.
[52] _Ibid._, c. 328.
[53] See Article IV, Sec. 1.
[54] Revised Code of Maryland, Chap. 52 and 237.7
[55] _The Laws of Tenn._, 1831, Chaps. 102 and 103.
[56] Cobb"s _Digest of the Laws of Georgia_, 1005.
[57] _Revised Statutes of North Carolina_, c. 109 and 111.
[58] Hurd, _Law of Freedom and Bondage_, II, 146.
[59] _Ibid._, II, 162.
[60] _Laws of Louisiana_, 1830, p. 90, Sec. 1.
[61] _Annual Laws of Alabama_, 1832, p. 12.
DOc.u.mENTS
The publication of the list of names of Negroes who served in some of the Reconstruction conventions and legislatures elicited a number of comments which furnish desirable information. It is earnestly hoped that any one in a position to supply other missing information will follow the example of our friends whose correspondence we give below.
February 24th, 1920.
MR. CARTER G. WOODSON, 1216 You St., N.W., Washington, D.C.
_Sir_:
In the _Journal of Negro History_ for Jan., 1920, in giving the names of Negroes who were members of the reconstruction convention to frame a const.i.tution for North Carolina in 1867-68, you omit c.u.mberland county. Permit me to say that the late Bishop James W. Hood represented that county and played a most prominent part and afterward became a.s.s"t Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State. I was a boy at the time but I remember it. That you may know that I am not an adventurer, I enclose you a sketch of myself which was prepared by request for other purposes and show that I speak somewhat from authority. You will kindly return the same. At the same time you are at liberty to use any part of it that may suit your purpose should you so desire.
With very great respect, I am
Respectfully, (Signed) GEO. C. SCURLOCK
The sketch of this partic.i.p.ant in the Reconstruction follows:
Mr. George C. Scurlock, from the year 1874 was a prominent figure in the Republican party in North Carolina. In the year above stated, when he had barely reached his majority, he was nominated for member of the Board of Education, at a time when all the schools, white and colored, were under the same board. His opponent was one of the most prominent Democrats in the city and a majority of the electorate was white. So popular was Mr.
Scurlock that he defeated his Democratic opponent at the polls by a handsome majority and served out his term to the satisfaction of his const.i.tuents.
In 1876 he was a delegate to the State Convention that nominated the late Judge Settle for Governor and canva.s.sed the State for him. He was again a delegate to the State Convention in each succeeding four years up to and including the year 1896. In the latter year he headed the delegation. In the campaign of that year, at the request of the State Executive Committee, he canva.s.sed 21 counties in the State for McKinley and Hobart, all of which were carried for the Republican ticket. So pleased was the Committee with the canva.s.s he was making, he was highly commended in letters from the Chairman while still canva.s.sing.
In 1890 he was urged by leading Republicans of his district, including such men as ex-Governor Brogden, to become the Republican candidate for Congress. Long before the convention convened it was evident that he was the strongest man in the field. When the convention met and was organized, ex-Governor Brogden took the platform and in a ringing speech paying a high tribute to the subject of this sketch, placed him in nomination.