CONTENT WARNING
Materials in the Library of Virginia’s collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; and gender and sexual orientation.
Context
After the Civil War and the enfranchisement of Black men, political contests in Virginia were often heated. In 1879, a biracial coalition known as the Readjuster Party won control of the General Assembly and two years later won the governor’s race, thereby controlling state government for a short period between 1881 and 1883. The party, led by former Confederate general William Mahone, sought to “readjust” the repayment of Virginia’s public debt because the state lacked money for public schools and other services. The Readjusters included disaffected white and Black Democrats and Republicans and many small business owners and farmers who were unhappy about the effects of policies enacted by “Funders” who prioritized paying (or “funding”) the debt instead of providing services to Virginians. The Readjuster Party was successful in securing more money for the public schools and enacted other legislation benefiting African Americans, such as abolishing the whipping post as punishment for crimes, establishing Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute (now Virginia State University), and repealing the poll tax as a requirement for voting.
White supremacist politicians wanted to ensure that a biracial party of Black and white men working together like the Readjusters could not control Virginia’s government in the future. To that end, some party officials engaged in a variety of electoral fraud to defeat Readjuster and Republican candidates. Some tampered with ballot boxes by adding extra or removing ballots while election officials turned a blind eye. Sometimes white and Black voters were forced to stand in separate lines and the line for Black voters always moved at a much slower rate and prevented some voters from casting ballots.
In this August 1885 letter, Readjuster Party leader William Mahone (1826–1895) is writing to Samuel M. Yost (1829–1915), the editor of a Republican newspaper in Staunton who supported the Readjuster cause. Mahone urges Yost to be vigilant during the upcoming election for state offices and members of General Assembly and to guard against the “foul methods” used by the conservative Democratic Party. He was particularly concerned about fraud in “black counties,” where the population of Black voters was high.
William Mahone was an interesting political figure. A Virginia Military Institute graduate, enslaver, and secessionist, he served as a Confederate general. After the railroad that he founded went into receivership, he focused on politics and built a biracial coalition to support readjusting payment of Virginia’s debt and funding education and the building of Virginia’s infrastructure. Mahone, who served as a United States Senator from 1881 to 1887, joined the Republican Party after the demise of the Readjuster Party.
Citation: William Mahone Letterbook, 1885, Accession 45013, Misc. Reel 5960, Library of Virginia.
Learn more about the Readjuster Party online at Encyclopedia Virginia.
White supremacist politicians wanted to ensure that a biracial party of Black and white men working together like the Readjusters could not control Virginia’s government in the future. To that end, some party officials engaged in a variety of electoral fraud to defeat Readjuster and Republican candidates. Some tampered with ballot boxes by adding extra or removing ballots while election officials turned a blind eye. Sometimes white and Black voters were forced to stand in separate lines and the line for Black voters always moved at a much slower rate and prevented some voters from casting ballots.
In this August 1885 letter, Readjuster Party leader William Mahone (1826–1895) is writing to Samuel M. Yost (1829–1915), the editor of a Republican newspaper in Staunton who supported the Readjuster cause. Mahone urges Yost to be vigilant during the upcoming election for state offices and members of General Assembly and to guard against the “foul methods” used by the conservative Democratic Party. He was particularly concerned about fraud in “black counties,” where the population of Black voters was high.
William Mahone was an interesting political figure. A Virginia Military Institute graduate, enslaver, and secessionist, he served as a Confederate general. After the railroad that he founded went into receivership, he focused on politics and built a biracial coalition to support readjusting payment of Virginia’s debt and funding education and the building of Virginia’s infrastructure. Mahone, who served as a United States Senator from 1881 to 1887, joined the Republican Party after the demise of the Readjuster Party.
Citation: William Mahone Letterbook, 1885, Accession 45013, Misc. Reel 5960, Library of Virginia.
Learn more about the Readjuster Party online at Encyclopedia Virginia.
Standards
VS.8, USII.3, VUS.7
Suggested Questions
Preview Activity
Looking at language: In the letter to Yost, Mahone uses dramatic language to stress his concern about possible election fraud. He also shows optimism and praises Yost. Pick out two or three phrases from the letter and describe how each phrase is used to emphasize Mahone’s points.
Post Activities
Think about it: Democracy depends on the integrity of elections. Visit the Virginia Legislative Information System website, and select one or two election regulations (such as voter registration, absentee ballots, ballot counting, or vote reporting). What is the regulation and how do you think it helps ensure a fair election?
Dig Deeper: William Mahone feared that election fraud would suppress the votes of Black men. After the Democratic Party regained control of state government, legislation was passed making it harder for Black men to vote, which culminated in a new state constitution in 1902 that disfranchised almost 90% of Black voters as well as many poor white voters (at this time women did not have the right to vote). Read the entries in Shaping the Constitution on Voting Requirements of the Virginia Constitution of 1902 and Voter Registration in Portsmouth, Virginia, 1964. How did the 1902 Constitution disfranchise voters? How long did these tactics remain in effect? How were these voter suppression tactics ended? Why do you think these federal government actions were necessary?
Looking at language: In the letter to Yost, Mahone uses dramatic language to stress his concern about possible election fraud. He also shows optimism and praises Yost. Pick out two or three phrases from the letter and describe how each phrase is used to emphasize Mahone’s points.
Post Activities
Think about it: Democracy depends on the integrity of elections. Visit the Virginia Legislative Information System website, and select one or two election regulations (such as voter registration, absentee ballots, ballot counting, or vote reporting). What is the regulation and how do you think it helps ensure a fair election?
Dig Deeper: William Mahone feared that election fraud would suppress the votes of Black men. After the Democratic Party regained control of state government, legislation was passed making it harder for Black men to vote, which culminated in a new state constitution in 1902 that disfranchised almost 90% of Black voters as well as many poor white voters (at this time women did not have the right to vote). Read the entries in Shaping the Constitution on Voting Requirements of the Virginia Constitution of 1902 and Voter Registration in Portsmouth, Virginia, 1964. How did the 1902 Constitution disfranchise voters? How long did these tactics remain in effect? How were these voter suppression tactics ended? Why do you think these federal government actions were necessary?