The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-04-20
The Norfolk Murders.
From the Nirsinian, April 1T

From the NIiSln!an, Allli I>ih.
Did il not appear that there was danger Of
riot? Was il not obvious that the armed de
tachmcnt meant mischief? Was it not mani
feSi that danger was 10 be apprthended?
If yes, then the Mayor of this city should
have lntcrpoSed his authority, and In default
of enforcing it, should have applied, had IL
been necessary, 10 the President OF the United
States.
Weask these questions, and point out these
short comings with pain, and III dong 80, ""
do violence 10 Il high personal regard Tor me
Mayor of Norfolk; but in IN emergency like
the present, we sacrifice private regard 10
public duty.
But where was the commandment Of this
post? What was his duty? He saw "f,"fd
negroes, in the ""!to1n of the nited States,
under the flag of the United STATES, marching
TO martial music, iii scrrled ranks, WIN hNed
bayonets, through these streets. Were they
United States troops or We're they discharged
men, who had no right, according to military
law 10 present themselves III III" uniform OF
The United States, which they stained with
foul and brutal murders
What right had they 10 appear armed with
United States muskets, with fixed bayonets,
Differed, uniformed, and organized as united
States troops, i'll sight of the commandant 5
headquarters? He has military jurisdiction
here. Why did lie not eNerciSelt? ANA Wh"h
the murders began, and the troops were under
arms where were the company officers
All these are grave and pregnant questions
The awful responsibility, however, goes fur-
Their back. CeHtral Jerry II ti' il'h 80"
should have prevented the demonstration III
Richmond.
That was the pernicious example which we
hear is TO be followed III several other places.
The first fruits of the Civil Rights Murder
bin are bitter. All history Is Il cheat-the
maxim that like causes, acting under IKE
conditions, produce like results, Is Il wretched
lie or this Greek gift comes among us 1reighl-
cd with armed men, TO provoke lnsurrectloh
and incite the horrors of insurrectonary war
fare. ,
Our duty is plain. We must control our ma
tural impulses of indignation ana revenge
We must guard against the injustice OF lhciu-
ding our negro population proper IN the re-
sponsibiity attaching to the events Oh hohuas
We must guard against indscrmlnate bit :
terness and remember that the great mass OF
our freed population were not included IN the
urocrssiou or, as far as we can learn, app.oNelS
IF the display We advise this moderation,
not only here, but elsewhere; and the melan-
choly example of Norfolk may serve TO put
the civil and military authorizes OF olher
towns on their guard, so that tins murder
producing epidemic of professions may De
checked in time to prevent further enusioh
of innocent blood, and the fierce retribuuon
which will ultimately follow, unless we nave
some guarantee given us that the lives oil our
women and children are not TO be sacrificed to
tho hrutal passions of q drunken and inturia-
led mob Where is this guaranty TO come
from , GuiZot's definition OF the word can
nor apply TO us rs we now stand cannot some
orpaniled power be put in our hands ne
nan who stands at the head of affairs has
foreseen this state of things, and we now can
mon him again 10 interpose his authority TO
oiplI the rising waves of what may become
red deluge.