Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-05-31
Gen. Lambert and The Police Commi9ce.
MAYORS OFFICE.
Richmond, May l5ta 1852.


the City, and regard myself as no further re pom
sble to them i'll my political capacity than hold
myself to be TO any either number of respectable
citizens OF the town yet, as | do not wish to
screen my conduct from the fullest exposure. md
as this communication will be made public | will
IN compliance with the resolution, proceed to i've
a narrative of the events connected with The lot
Gus assemblage referred to- so far as they ne
within my cogniZance. | shall not coniine myself
to what occurred at or the Governors yatd;
but will endeavor TO give statement OF all that
CURED, from the beginning to the end of the ex-
element with such comments as deem proper
to defend myself from unjust imputations.
was walking Broad street late in the even
ing, and met some my friends, who informed me
that there would be a large meeting at the City
Hall. Up to that time (being unwell, had not
been about the city, did not believe there would
| be large Notwithstanding from the past how
dlfflcult 1t was to convene for any object how
| ever important. Upon their suggesting that there
| might be some disturbance at the meeting, di-
rected officer TrUoheapt, with six men, to 90 there
| and prevent any breach of the peace-n0t having
the remotest idea of a mob or riot none having
ever taken place in Richmond. With friend,
lDr. James Dove,) went to the City Hall, and
| hndlng the meeting a large one, and not wishing
| to go In myself, requested him to do SO and le-
| port to me, that | would be in the porch of the
| Powhatan House. After short time he rejoined
me, and said that Mr.. VIM. Gray, one of our most
| respectable citizens was presiding that the
| meeting was orderly, and that the vociferous APP
plause L heard proceeded from the boys in the
gallery. We waited until the meeting adjourn
ed, the crowd dispensing quietly in different iii.
rections l proposed to my friend to return to
| my house. We walked lesurely towards the
public square-Ct was fortunate took that d.
| rectlon)-when we sot to the street, | heard a
| noise from the direction Of the Governors house,
| 81 of
sons before his door, and others entering the Nor
| thern gate. l ran across the street. passing
through the crowd. and placed myself on the
steps of the porch. While going through the yard,
heard cries for the Governor to come out and de-
tend himself; some enc called out to ring the
bell 1t was not done after | got there. | also
heard groans apparently from those Immediate
y In front OF me; could not tell who made them
| Upon ascending the steps, proclaimed that /
| was the Mayor ordered them to dispense: that
they were violating the law. and disgfaciag them
selves and the city. AT this time | believe there
were four or five hundred persons in the. yard. I
could not tell at the time whether they constituI-
ted part of the rioters mob, none Offering to
| assist me. believed at the ime that .he who
was not for, was against me- not knowing to what
extent the excitement existed. About this time,
pir John O. Haley, formerly member of the
Watch, land to whom | tender my thanks, came
to me. Knowing could coniide in him, he was
requested to 60 after officer irueheaft, who had
gone up Broad street with some Of the men, after
| the adjournment; TO direct him, from me, to seld
those with him in every direction and collect 9TH
ers RS speedily as possible, and join me, my deter
mlnation being, if could collect sufficient police
| force, to dispense the assemblage and arrest as
many as l could. Knowing that it would take
time to do this. and that the ladies fthe Govern
or's family must necessarily be much alarmed,
addressed those in front of me again, stating that,
tn ;1o ,ny
were alarming the ladies of his family, and that
no person calling hiinseifa man would do that--
The exclamations ceased, though the crowd re-
manned immovable. Mr.. Mayo about this time
came by my side, and addressed them he re-
manned but a few moments, aud [ was gain LETT
alone.
The law relating to riots, knew, would avail
me nothing In the emergency | was first to call
on the rioters to arrest themselves; Il they refused
to comply with so reasonable order, | was then
to send or go for the Sergeant of the city to order
out posse aud if they failed to attend, then the
military was to be embodied. By the time all
this could be done hours would have elapsed the
violence intended would have been accomplished,
and those engaged in it dispersed.
Had left my post on the steps-believine, as
| did, that l could keep the crowd in check as I
had done-and any personal violence had been
offered to the Governor, or injury the property
l would justly have deserved the censure of tho
whole community. l remained until the crowd
Immediately in front were quiet. and pelceiying
Mr.. r. Il. Wicker near the door, went anops
those farthest from the house, and told then,
to set the example and follow me to the gate; that
the yard must be cleared. They complied. num-
bers followed me. The same appeal was made,
to others, who also quilted; and in this manner [
succeeded in dispensing the whole--by my per-
sonal exertions alone. TO effect this object pro
ceeded in the manner deemed best to relieve tn,
Governor and his family in the shortest time, from
the annoyance they were subjected to. One rea-
son why the assembage was not sooner dispersed
Isl that the head of police has no force embodied
that he can call to his aid i'll of an emergen.
cy. In other cities, while portion of the men
are on duty, another portion is keptat the witch
house, whose services can be obtained at mo-
ment's warning. I remained in the yard
until sixteen or eighteen watchmen, under Of
hcer Trueheart, arrived. Some of them We're !.
stationed at each entrance to the yard; they r,,-
manned all night, and for several nights subse-
quent, guarding the premises.
1t is stated in the preamble to tho resolutions
that the civil force was amply sufficient to sup.
press the assemblage. knowing as much as | do
now, L concur In the opinion that the civil force
would have been amply sufficient, if it had been
within my control at the moment; and | will
shew why it was not, by the following extracts
from the police ordinance, which seem to havo
cen forgotten
Under the control of the Mayor, the Captain
fthe Night Watch shall divide the city into ten
iistricts.'
Every evening at sunset the Captain, or if
he be not then at the watcil-house, the Lieutenant
highest in rank, shall aot to each district two
Watchmen, or such other number as may be d.
rected by the Mayoi.'
Those who 60 out at night watchmen, or
substitutes, shall on each light commence their
duty at sunset and continue it pntilsunrise, pass
in the meantime, over every part Of their district
or division, MS often as they can consistently with
their other duties. After the gas works are 50
ata L.. -. Il