William Hepworth Dixon, White Conquest: Volume 2

“ [155] citizens, started on a mission to the Negroes, who received him well and listened to his words. Hie told them, very truly, that White and coloured people are afloat in one ship, and have to sink or swim with her; and he asked them whether they would not do well to pull together, instead of pulling against each other? Yes, they thought that very true. Dawson then showed them that White men have nothing to say against Negroes choosing their own rulers where they have a clear majority; but he told them that the White men wished, for sake of the common weal, that Negroes should choose good men. He offered, on the part of his friends, that if the Negroes would select good men, whether Black or White, in those districts, the Whites would run no candidates in opposition, a policy which would save the Negroes much expense and trouble. They liked his message and his manner, and, in spite of all that scalawags and agitators urged against him, a bargain was concluded and was fairly carried out. A list of moderate Republicans has been returned, in place of a list of strangers, bankrupts, and communists, so that, in spite of Negro ascendancy, we have now a powerful influence in the Legislature.”