The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-29
MISREPRESENTATION,

Never was unfortunate city subject
ed to such gross Misrepresentation as
Norfolk has been. Not paper abroad
either North or South, that has publish
ed anything in regard to the causes o
our relapse into military rule but has en-
tirely misunderstood and misrepresent
ed the facts. While this was confined
to Northern journals, and Northern let
ter writers, we studiously avoided any
attempt to explain away their errors AUD
set them Alright. We thought the under.
taking too onerous, fortheirprejudices are
SO deeply seated, and purposes so firmly
fixed, to make the Southern people out
a stiff-necked, turbulent and rebellious
race, that we concluded the task of COM
batting their false impressions hope
less one; but we find that Southern pa
pers have adopted these Northern no.
lions, and some Of them even more
grossly misrepresent us than do our
friends at the North. We take the fol-
lowing sample from the Wilmington
Herald.
A few weeks ago the city of Norfolk,
Va. was turned over to the civil author
tiles. An election was held; mayor
chosen. and common council, answer
ing to our board of commissioners. Po-
licemen were appointed, courts opened,
and the whole machinery of civil gov
eminent set in motion. But unfortu-
nately for the city, set OF the intracta-
bles managed to work themselves into
these public positions. This class refus-
ed to recognize the memorable logic of
facts. They presumed upon the with
drawal of the United States troops, and
proceeded to put in force the obsolete
black code of Virginia, oppressive to the
negro race. They refused failed to APP
preciate the changed condition OF the
negro. Notice the result: A few days
since the national troops marched back
into town, deposed the municipal of
ficers, discharged the civil police, and
declared martiallaw again.
II would be impossible to crowd more
errors, falsehoods, and misrepresenta-
tons into SO brief paragraph.
We appeal to every citizen Of Nor
folk, be he black, white, OF brown,
to say whether there is any truth
in this statement or not. We do
not blame the Wilmington editor, how
ever, for we have been so foully misre-
present in every direction, that he was
perhaps, justified in accepting as truth
that which we neglected to deny with
sufficient emphasis.
In the first place, the whole cause OF
the difficulties in this city, which led to
our return to military rule, was the fights,
disturbances and riots that daily occur
red between the soldiers and discharged
soldiers of a regiment on duty here, and
the cotored population. There was not
white citizen engaged in any of these
disorderly tumults. The soldiers would
come out from their quarters at night,
and commence an indiscriminate attack
upon the negroes. The negroes armed
themselves with clubs for their own pro-
tection-but failed to protect themselves.
These things were discountenanced by
all white citizens, and not one partici.
pated in them; but on the contrary, die
all in their power, by their actions and
their counsels, to restore quiet and main
tain public tranquility. But they could
dovery little, for the public abroad must
recollect that it was matter the soldiers
had hand in, and what citizen in the
South, or even in the North at the pre-
nttime, will be found fool hardy enough
to interfere with soldiers? We think
they had taste Of what these sons of
Mars can, and will, do when in passion,
at Chicago few days since We re-
peat, it was matter with which the
white citizens had nothing to do, and
was entirely confined to the soldiers and
colored people.
In the next place, the men who were
elected to Office were far from being 'ein.
tractables." They were, in fact, the
most tractable and fairestminded peopl,
in our city--eager to do justice to all, t.
enforce the laws and to maintain order
The Mayor was a gentleman of distir
guished ability, mild and humane, an
with sufficient firmness to have perform
ed his duties fearlessly, had he bee
clothed with the proper authority. Tt
police force consisted of but some ha
dozen constables-who could perforl
their duties very well solong as they he
to contend with civilians alone-but the
were powerless when a soldier a
reared on the theatre of action. Tit
dared not arrest or interfere with
man wearing the uniform of the arm
That uniform gave him license to
just as he pleased, for the police we
powerless in such cases, and there WI
no provost guard or patrol to restrain d
actions. This was the secret of OIL
troubles, and the cause of our return
military rule-a rule that we are pc
fectly content with; for, under the mil
sway of General Mann, we all EMO
perfect liberty of thought, speech an
action, and do not live In hourly drea
of scenes of riot and bloodshsd. Neve
was there quieter or mofs orderly cit
than Norfolk has been sines Tbs soldier
superseded the police in duties whic
the latter could not perform.
Our officers did not proceed 10 put /