A Wealthy Virginian Speaks
February 2, 1895
Summary
A white man sides with and praises the efforts of The Planet on reporting a recent court case.
Transcription
A Wealthy Virginian Speaks
We have received a letter from Mr. Lewis H. Blair, one of the leading business white men of this city. He is a Democrat of the most pronounced type, but liberal withal. He believes in the principles as enunciated by Jefferson. It is needless to add that Mr. Blair is reputed to be independently wealthy and this fact together with his political proclivities will make his letter all the more interesting.
Here it is
Richmond, Va., Jan. 26, 1895.
John Mitchell, Jr.,
Editor of The Planet,
Dear Sir: -
You have my full sympathy in your efforts to secure justice for our colored brethren and fellow citizens and when you cannot secure justice to expose injustice.
The page case is most flagrant instance and you should not only pillory the jury who brought in the outrageous verdict, but the commonwealth attorney who sought and accepted such horrible injustice.
Ring the changes in this case and if possible get what you may say copied into papers which will meet the eye of fair white men.
It is only accidentally that I saw a copy of your paper first reporting the case. If you could only have it brought to attention of such white men as myself, you would do the cause of justice a great service.
Judge Witt told me upon asking him that your report of the case was strictly accurate. An application for pardon or remission of the sentence should be made to the Governor and I doubt not it would meet with favorable response. Keep up your good work, but be temperate however hard it may be to be temperate in view of the gross legalized injustice done to your race, but intemperateness tends to injure one’s cause. But you can be severe as necessary without intemperance.
Make special effort to get what you say read by white people. I have no axe to grind, no private purpose to subserve. It is solely my love of justice and hatred of injustice that induces me to send you these few words of commendation.
Yours truly,
Lewis H. Blair
[Article continues with a response from John Mitchell.]
We have received a letter from Mr. Lewis H. Blair, one of the leading business white men of this city. He is a Democrat of the most pronounced type, but liberal withal. He believes in the principles as enunciated by Jefferson. It is needless to add that Mr. Blair is reputed to be independently wealthy and this fact together with his political proclivities will make his letter all the more interesting.
Here it is
Richmond, Va., Jan. 26, 1895.
John Mitchell, Jr.,
Editor of The Planet,
Dear Sir: -
You have my full sympathy in your efforts to secure justice for our colored brethren and fellow citizens and when you cannot secure justice to expose injustice.
The page case is most flagrant instance and you should not only pillory the jury who brought in the outrageous verdict, but the commonwealth attorney who sought and accepted such horrible injustice.
Ring the changes in this case and if possible get what you may say copied into papers which will meet the eye of fair white men.
It is only accidentally that I saw a copy of your paper first reporting the case. If you could only have it brought to attention of such white men as myself, you would do the cause of justice a great service.
Judge Witt told me upon asking him that your report of the case was strictly accurate. An application for pardon or remission of the sentence should be made to the Governor and I doubt not it would meet with favorable response. Keep up your good work, but be temperate however hard it may be to be temperate in view of the gross legalized injustice done to your race, but intemperateness tends to injure one’s cause. But you can be severe as necessary without intemperance.
Make special effort to get what you say read by white people. I have no axe to grind, no private purpose to subserve. It is solely my love of justice and hatred of injustice that induces me to send you these few words of commendation.
Yours truly,
Lewis H. Blair
[Article continues with a response from John Mitchell.]
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Cord Fox
Citation
“A Wealthy Virginian Speaks,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed January 23, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/210.