The following letter was addressed to the City Council of Washington, D.C., July 15, 1833, by Joseph Jefferson, Sr., and Mr. Mackenzie, managers of the Washington Theatre.[1]

Dear Sir:

"Permit us to take the liberty of representing to you a burden that oppresses us most heavily, and of requesting your kind endeavors so to represent the case before the mayor and council that we may obtain all the relief that it is in their power to grant.

"You must be aware that we pay nightly to the city a tax of $6 for permission to perform in the theater; in the year 1832 this amounted to nearly $1,400 in the aggregate; we pay this tax cheerfully, and all we ask in return is a liberal protection and support from the city authorities.

"There is at present a law in force which authorizes the constables of the city to arrest the colored people if on the street after 9 o'clock without a pass. A great proportion of our audience consists of persons of this caste, and they are consequently deterred from giving us that support that they would otherwise do.

"Can there be any modification of that law suggested, or will the mayor and council authorize us to give passes to those colored persons who leave the theatre for the purpose of proceeding directly to their homes?

"In the city of Baltimore, where we have a theatre, and pay a smaller license than we do here, the law, as regards the colored people, is not acted upon when they are coming or going to the theatre.

"In a pecuniary point of view, we look upon this law as a detriment to us of $10 nightly, and we have great reason to hope that a law that rests so heavily upon us alone may meet with the kind consideration of the mayor and council, and be so modified as to relieve us from the heavy loss that it causes us at present to incur.

"We have the honor to be, dear sir, your obedient servants,

"Jefferson & Mackenzie,
"Managers of the Washington Theater."

---

Lee, Mass. April 23, 1917.

Carter G. Woodson,
Editor, Journal of Negro History,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:

The enclosed tracing of a manuscript in my possession may, or may not be of interest enough to publish in your magazine. The Ms. came into my hands in the autumn of 1863 while I was serving in the ranks of the 10th Mass. Inf. At that time the regiment was stationed at Bristoe Station, on the R. R. between Alexandria and Fredericksburg. A detail which had been sent to Prince William Court House at Brentsville for some purpose brought to our camp some manuscripts, among them that from which the tracing has been made, and which I thought of interest enough to preserve.

Yours very truly,

(Signed) D. M. Wilcox.

A Marriage Contract made this 12th day of January in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Fifty six Between John Brunskill of the Parish of Hamilton and County of Prince Will^m Clerk, and Edward Humston of the above said Parish and County Witnesseth that the s^d John—Brunskill doth Contract & agree with the said Humston, that he the said John Brunskill will have to his wife Ann Humston, daughter to the said Edward Humston and in Consideration of which the said Humston doth agree to & with the said Brunskill that he the said Humston will at the day of Marriage Lend unto the s^d Ann Humston as a Maintenance during her life The Following Negroes, To wit, Jude, Lucy & three children John, Mary and Betty, and also one Negroe man named Tom, Jun. on proviso y^t the said Brunskill doth pay unto y^e said Humston ten pounds P Ann for four years in Consideration of the hire of the said Negroes, And at her y^e said Ann Humstons death y^e s^d Negroes to fall to her Eldest son by the y^e s^d Brunskill but if she shou'd not have a son by the said Brunskill they are to fall Heir by the s^d Brunskill they are to fall to her Eldest Daughter by the said Brunskill, but if she should die without Heir by the s^d Brunskill they are at the Death of her and the said Brunskill to fall to the Heir at Law. And for the Performance of the above Contract. We do bind ourselves our heirs &c. Either to other in the Penal sum Of five hundred Pounds Sterlg. In witness whereof We have set our hands & seals the day and Year above Written—

Signed sealed and Deliver'd in the Presence of—

}

Edward Humston (L.S.)
John Brunskill Jun^r (L.S.)

Tho. Marshall
his
John X Warring
Mark

At a Court held for prince William County the 22. of March 1756 This Marriage Contract was proved by the oaths of the witnesses hereto & ordered to be recorded.

TestJohn Graham Clerk.

Letters on Reconstruction Records

Tuskegee Institute, Alabama.
July 3, 1920.

Dr. C. G. Woodson,
1216 U Street, N. W.,
Washington, D. C.

My Dear Dr. Woodson:

Attached are names of additional Negro members of the North and South Carolina legislatures and a letter from Mrs. M.E. Richardson about an additional member of the Alabama legislature. Attached also is a letter by Mr. John W. Cromwell. These should be published in the Journal. Kindly publish the same in the Journal, under documents and oblige,

Yours very truly,

(Signed) Monroe N. Work.
Monroe N. Work,
Editor, Negro Year Book.

MNW/FEH
Three enclosures.

To the Editor of The Planet:

Will you for the sake of history allow this communication in your columns? It has been repeatedly charged that we have no racial history. If we are challenged with respect to certain events we admit the imputation by our silence. A different course would correct much error. The Journal of Negro History for January has rendered a very great service by publishing the names and number of Negroes who have been members of their respective State Legislatures since the Civil War reconstruction. It was interesting and informative to note the names and numbers of members of our race from these different States.

When it came to Virginia the contrast was most painful. To behold the absence of detailed information similar to that supplied the other States, from North Carolina to Florida, from the Atlantic to the Rio Grande. For a time I felt like disowning that Virginia was my native State. Finally the obligation incumbent on all those who have lived in Virginia during the last fifty years or familiar with its history asserted itself, hence I begin but I must acknowledge my sense of gratitude to Rev. G. F. Bragg, Jr., who in the current number of The Journal of Negro History has contributed from his recollection and given names of members whom he knew.

Peter J. Carter,	Northampton
George Teamoh,	Norfolk County
John Brown,	Southhampton
Peter G. Morgan,	Petersburg
John Watson,	Mecklenburg
Resa Hamilton,
Jas. W. D. Bland,	Prince Edward
Frank Moss,	Buckingham
Caesar Perkins,	Buckingham
Willis A. Hodges,	Princess Anne
John Q. Hodges,	Princess Anne
Littleton Owens,	Princess Anne
John M. Dawson,	James City
John B. Syphax,	Alexandria, Co.
Robert D. Ruffin,	Alexandria, Co.
Miles Connor,	Norfolk, Co.
William H. Andrews,	Surry
Henry Cox,	Powhatan
Peter K. Jones,	Greenville
William P. Mosely,	Goochland
Rufus S. Jones,	Hampton
Daniel M. Norton,	Yorktown

Most of these are recollected by Professor Cromwell and those with the asterisk are furnished by others.

Robert Norton,	Yorktown
David Canady,	Halifax
John Freeman,	Halifax
Henry Clay Harris,	Halifax
John Robinson	Cumberland
John W. Poindexter,	Louisa
Alfred W. Harris,
Robert G. L. Paige,	Norfolk, Co.
*Alexander Lee,	Elizabeth City.
*Robert M. Smith,	Elizabeth City.
*John H. Robinson,	Elizabeth City.
*James Fields,	Warwick
—— Lipscomb,	Cumberland
—— Matthews,	Petersburg
B. F. Jones,	Charles City
—— Lyons,	Elizabeth City

Rev. Mr. Bragg mentions those whom I do not recall:

Armstead Green,	Petersburg
Neverson Lewis,	Powhatan
Guy Powell,	Brunswick
Shed Dungee,	Cumberland
Batt Greggs,	Prince Edward
Archie Scott,	Amelia and Nottoway
J. R. Jones,	Mecklenburg

A. A. Dodson was another from Mecklenburg, a senator as I remember. I have a vague recollection that Tazewell Branch was at one time a member, also that Nansemond county sent a representative.

I make no claim to accuracy in every case, but unless there is specific contradiction I will claim these named as men who played an honorable though an humble part in framing the laws of the commonwealth which has given eight Presidents to our Republic. I will be glad to hear from any one who can give further information on this subject.

Respectfully yours

(Signed) J. W. Cromwell
1429 Swann St., N. W.
May 13, 1920.

Washington, D. C.
July 6, 1920.

Dr. C. G. Woodson
Journal of Negro History.

Sir:

In addition to the Negro members in the Virginia legislature mentioned in my letter published in the Richmond (Va.) Planet of June. There should be included,—

Rev. Ceasar Perkins,	Buckingham
" Fountaine M. Perkins,	Louisa
William P. Lucas,	"
Samuel P. Bolling,	Cumberland.

This makes the number forty-nine (49)

Respectfully yours,

(Signed) J. W. Cromwell.

Tuskegee Institute Alabama
May 13, 1920.

Mr. M. N. Work,
Department Records and Research,
Tuskegee Institute, Alabama.

Dear Mr. Work:

In looking through the last number of The Journal of Negro History, I note that you are asking for information concerning those Negroes who were members of the State Legislatures during reconstruction days, just following the Civil War.

I do not know if it has already been called to your attention or not, but my grandfather, Shandy Jones, was at that time a member of the Alabama Legislature. I do not know the year, but think I can get the dates for you if it is of interest to you.

His early life was spent in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He was a very successful business man, barber by trade. His later life was actively spent in church work. He was presiding elder in the A. M. E. Z. church and was nominated for bishop, but his age was an obstacle.

He lived in Mobile, Alabama at the time of his death at 70 years. He was still in the ministry at this time.

Very truly,

(Signed) Mrs. M. E. Richardson.

245 West 139th St.,
New York City,
July 22, 1920.

Carter G. Woodson, Ph.D.,
Editor The Journal of Negro History,
1216 You St., N. W.,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:

You have presented the matter of the Reconstruction Period in splendid shape and no doubt it will be read with much interest especially by the few "old timers" who can recall those halcyon days.

There are some errors I would like to correct and a few additions I would like to make as it was not my intention to slight any person engaged in that laudable work of making Negro history, and I would like to know at your earliest convenience if there will be time before the July number goes to press. There is just one error I want to correct now and that is relative to myself. In the foot notes it is stated that I was a page in the House of Representatives in the Reconstruction Period. I do not know how Mr. Work made the error as there is nothing in my retained carbon copies to show that I gave him that information. It was my brother, Dr. J. E. Wallace, now with the Standard Insurance Company of Atlanta who occupied that position. I certainly would have preferred that job as it was more remunerative than the one I held. I was employed in the post office at Columbia, S. C., from March 1, 1871 to August 15, 1886, when I resigned under the democratic postmaster, Major W. H. Gibbes, notwithstanding the fact that he requested me to continue in the position. It was owing to my position that I came in contact with the prominent people from all over the State and was thus enabled to get much information that has helped me greatly in compiling the data. Handling the mail for several years of these Reconstructionists made me quite familiar with their names and as the impressions of youth are lasting they remained with me.

As I understand it the Reconstruction Period is from the close of the civil war to April 20, 1877, when the United States troops were withdrawn from the New Orleans, La., state house, the troops having been withdrawn from the state house in Columbia, S.C., April 10, 1877. Therefore data since then would not be considered as belonging to the Reconstruction Period.

Very Respectfully,

(Signed) Henry A. Wallace.

245 West 139th St.,
New York City,
August 6, 1920.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson
1216 You St., N. W.,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:

In looking over the data published in the January number of The Journal of Negro History relative to the Reconstruction period in South Carolina I find several errors which I would be glad to have you correct in the next number:

Page 81—The christian name of Senator Bird is Israel.

Page 83—The initials of Fraser, representative from Colleton County are W. H.

Page 84—Aaron Logan was from Charleston county and Samuel P. Coker from Barnwell county.

Page 89—Opposite name of Joseph H. Rainey, strike out 46th, 47th and 48th and insert 43rd. See sketch on page 95.

Page 90—F. B. Perry should be B. F. Perry.

Page 97—under Robert C. DeLarge, should be 1868-1870 as a member of the House of Representatives.

Page 98—Under Francis L. Cardozo—four years as State Treasurer instead of two. See page 89.

Pages 103 and 104—A. Q. Jones should be A. O. Jones.

Page 104—countries should be counties.

Page 85—Jervay, Page 107—Jervay and Jarvey—should be Jervey.

Page 100—Under Thomas E. Miller—1866 should be 1886 as member of the S. C. House of Representatives.

Additional members of the Senate:

Jared Warley—Clarendon County Dublin I. Walker—Chester County J. L. Duncan—Orangeburg County Additional Members of the House of Representatives: Abbeville Co.—Everett Cain, H. A. Wideman, Aiken Co.—Gloster H. Holland, W. B. Jones Barnwell Co.—B. W. Middleton, E. M. Sumpter Charleston Co.—R. B. Artson, P. P. Hedges, J. J. Hardy, J. J. Grant, J. W. Lloyd, C. F. North, Lewis Simmons Chester Co.—Ceasar Simmons Colleton Co.—Sherman Smalls, R. S. Tarlton Edgefield Co.—David Graham, Augustus Simpkins Georgetown Co.—Charles H. Sperry Kershaw Co.—Frank Adamson Laurens Co.—James Young Marion Co.—William A. Hayne Marlboro Co.—Jacob Allman Newberry Co.—Isham Greenwood Orangeburg Co.—John Dix, Abram Dannerly, H. Reilly Sumter Co.—W. W. Ramsey, J. C. Wilson Williamsburg Co.—Fortune Giles, E. H. Gourdin, Thomas Pressley

Relative to Hon. J. H. Rainey I would state that he was the only Negro Congressman who presided over the U. S. House of Representatives. That courtesy was extended to him by Speaker James G. Blaine.

The following may be interesting in connection with Senator W. B. Nash:

"It is not too much to say that the leading man of the Republican party in the Senate is Beverly Nash, a man wholly black. He is apparently consulted more and appealed to more, in the business of the body, than any man in it. It is admitted by his white opposition colleagues that he has more native ability than half the white men in the State"

The Prostrate State—J. S. Pike.

"Beverley Nash of Columbia is probably the foremost Negro in the State. He has made many speeches, which, homely in manner, have, nevertheless, a subsoil of strong common sense. He has been employed by the Military authorities from time to time in aiding, by "moral suasion" to preserve peace; is about 45 years of age; was formerly a hotel servant in Columbia where he still resides. Some months ago, on the same platform with Gen. Wade Hampton and other distinguished citizens he made a speech to the colored people recommending qualified suffrage; but subsequently was obliged by high-pressure to recant, and to set himself right has since become intensely radical. His idea now is that the Negro is entitled to everything the white man enjoys—an opinion which has been encouraged by his appointment as magistrate, General Sickles having conferred the office upon him to punish the citizens of Columbia for an assault made by two intoxicated young men on a itinerant radical speaker and his traveling companion while in that town"

"Q" in New York Times—March 23, 1868.

The above would indicate that Senator W. Beverly Nash was the first Negro to exercise judicial power in the United States.

Concerning Associate Justice J. J. Wright I would add that he graduated from the Lancaster, Pa., High School—studied law at Montrose, Pa.,—admitted to the Bar in Susquehanna county, being the first Negro to practice law in Pennsylvania—four years before going to South Carolina.

Very respectfully,

Henry A. Wallace.

Washington, D. C., May 9, 1920.

Dear Mr. Woodson:

The Journal of Negro History is among the most valuable periodicals that it is my privilege to receive. I make it a rule to read all the articles of a purely historical nature.

Your recent effort to gather and print a list of the Negro officeholders of the reconstructive period is highly commendable, and should be aided by all persons possessing accurate or approximate facts on the subjects. There were numerous such holders of small offices, national, state, county and municipal, in the Southern states in that period. As a boy, I knew two such in the town and county in which I lived. Doubtless many other persons of 50 years or less know of several.

Mr. John W. Cromwell's articles in the April number, "The Aftermath of Nat Turner's Insurrection," is not only scholarly and interesting but a very valuable contribution to history.

There is a vast amount of fact reposing only in the memories of elderly people now living that should be rescued and recorded while they live, lest it is lost forever. Perhaps the record of it will not be history proper but only annals, or a record of events. It is none the less important to secure it. It is of minor importance whether it be written in polished literary form. It will constitute source matter for the future historian. For some time to come we shall be in less need of dissertations that are philosophy of Negro history than of accurate records of events—facts, facts, facts!

I have conversed with a number of elderly colored men and women in this city who have a wonderful fund of recollection of interesting and valuable historical data never in print. There are such people everywhere. Some cannot write, others will not write. If discriminating chroniclers are encouraged to write down the stories of such people for publication in your Journal, the result should be fruitful.

I congratulate you on the average excellence of the subjects covered by the Journal and the scholarly editing thereof.

Yours very sincerely,

(Signed) R. C. Edmonson.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson,
Editor, Journal of Negro History.

---