On election day, the Democrats arrived at polls armed and ready to assault blacks who had come to place their vote. Voters rigged the ballot boxes and, as expected, the Democrats ended up winning by a large majority. The next day, Alfred Waddell created a Committee of Twenty-five and led its first meeting, during which a series of resolutions collectively known as the White Declaration of Independence were passed. These resolutions included the forced exile of Alex Manly, the closing of the Daily Record, and the expulsion of all current black officeholders, The White Declaration of Independence was presented to the Committee of Colored Citizens (a group of nine black men considered to be powerful in Wilmington) as an ultimatum, and they were given until 7:30 the following morning to deliver a response (Umfleet, 94). Due to complications with delivery, the…