The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-05-11
LOCAL MATTERS.

|
sor. In opr citv several hundredof our most pro
minent and influential citizens assembled In tne
| ci,v Hall n, Ave in lieu of eight O'CLOCK yesterday
eveninp for the purpose of adopting resoiunons
conaemns,orv of the disorderly conduct oil certain
n.r.on. tbs. gathered late on Friday evening
around the Governor s house
/ On motion of Mr.. r. G. Scott, General Bernard
p.,,,on WIS elected President and J. w. Level
| len, Secretary.
Mr. Scott then made few remarks in al
,sion TO the object of the meeting and stated that
preamble and resolutions with regard to it had just
been adopted at the regular monthly meeting OF the
CITY Council, which he would beg leave to present
before they proceeded to further action. They
| were then read, as follows
The Council of the city OF Richmond have
learned that in the case OF a slave, sentenced to
death by the Court of Hastings of this city, for
killing an overseer, the Governor ordered
commutation of the punishment by directing
him to be transported beyond the limits ofthe
| United States that on the night Of the 9TH in
slant, there was meeting at the City Hall of
some of the citizens, who disapproved the
| Communication; and that after the meeting ad-
journed, there was, on the same night, tu-
muItuous assemblage at or near the Cover
nor's house. Whatever room there may be for
difference Of opinion in regard to the proprie-
| ty of the Executive action in this case, We
have no reason to doubt that the act COM
planned of was done by the Governor in the
conscientious discharge of his duties, it GER
| tainly was done in the exercise of powers con-
| ferred on him by the constitution and the
laws. If for such an act il was the object OF
any of the assemblage TO offer indignity to the
Chief NJ agistrate of the Commonwealth, or his
family, we cannot too strongly express our
disapprebation of such conduct. The right of
the people, peaceably to assemble at their
Town Hall, and express their opinion as to
the exercise of the Executive power in this
particular case, is unquestionable. Butwhat-
ever might be their opinion in regard TO its
exercise, there can be no justification for the
breach of good order on the grounds attached
to the Executive mansion.
Under the ordinances of the city, tbs the du-
ty of the whole of the Police to endeavor TO
preserve the good order and peace thereof'
| and secure its inhabitants from personal Vio-
lence, and their property from loss or I'M ury ;
and the Mayor has general superintendent
and control over that Police.
Under the law ofthe State, il was his duty,
! as Justice of the Peace, to 60 among or near
to any persons riotously or unanimously as
sembled, and in the name of the law command
them to dispense, and ifthey did not thereupon
Immediately and peaceably dispense, he should
present. and of the Sergeant of the Corpora
ton, with his posse, if need be, and If further
| aid was wanting, the Sergeant might have re-
quired it from the Commandant OF the regl-
ment.
| In respect TO the manner in which the duties
| of the Mayor were performed on this occasion,
we have not the benefit of any written commu-
ncaton from him. From such information as
we have received otherwise, we are well salts
fed that the civil power was abundantly suffi-
| cient to suppress the assemblage; and we are
pleased that the assemblage terminated with
| out any act of violence to the person OF any
one, and without its being found necessary to
call in the aid the military. Whether or no
it was terminated as promptly as it should
have been, is matter about which there may
be room for difference of opinion, and III res
pect to which it seems to us proper 10 have
further and more exact information. Under
these circumstances, Resolved, as follows:
/. That the Council are unwilling TO be
believe that any citizen ofthis city would Of
fer, or desire personal violence TO the Chief
| Magistrate ofthis Commonwealth, and deeply
regret that there should have been any assem-
blage at or near tfs Governors house which
had the appearance of being intended TO offer
| ndignity to him. or was calculated TO annoy
him or his family.
2. That the Mayor be requested to furnish,
in writing, to the Committee of Police de-
tailed statement of what was done by him or
others, on the night of the 18th inst, at or near
the Governors h use, and-that the said Com
| mlttee, after receiving such statement and OBJ
tanning any further information in theirpower,
recommend to the Council such measures as
In their opinion may be proper to adopt.
8. That good order must be preserved in
| The city, and 10 that end the Council will exert
its powers and require the officers subject to
lis control to perform their duties.
Mr.. Scott then moved the adoption of a resou
| ton apI rowing Of the proceedings of the Council
Mr. Isaac A. Goddin believed that SO cut of every
| hundred of the citizens of Richmond would ap-
prove and stand by these resolutions; nevertheless
he would prefer before they took action that there
| should be more general meeting of the citizens
which could only be had by more extended notice
! of the time of meeting. The time had been altered
| - 5 O'Clock and thus hundreds would come at the
| regular hour and be disappointed in their expec
| ta,ions and perhaps atfronted. He preferred that
| they adjourn TO meet at O'Clock tomorrow even.
ing, or later if necessary.
| Mr.. Mcfarland desired immediate disapproval
| of the conduct of the tumultuous assemblage at
the Governors house, Friday night If other cit.
zens came at night to hold meeting they could
| endorse their present action. Numbers had come
| in and the meeting h I'd now become a very large
one.
Mr.. Goddn then, by request, waived his sugges
ted adjournment. The question then REQUIRED up.
on Mr.. SCOTS resolution endorsing the proceed.
ings of the Council.
Mr.. Mayo then rose and stated that he would free.
ly endorse the proceedings of the Council if they
simply condemned the disorderly conduct at the
Governors house, Friday night He advocated in
the most earnest manner the right Of the people to
assemble peaceably and express their opinions of
the acts of public functionary, and emphatcally
declared that he would in no wise consent to cast
any stigma upon that meeting The conduct of a
number of turbulent boys at the Governors house
he would condemn in the strongest terms, and
would punish with the utmost rigor OF the law
Messrs. Bouldin and Grattan expressed views cor
roborative of the sentiments of Mr.. NJ, and CEN
sured the hasty action of the House of Delegates,