The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-29
LET THEM BE ENCOURAGED.

We publish an incident this morning
in our local column which cannot fail
to place our colored population in a
favorable light before the most preju-
diced. A cold blooded assassination was
perpetrated by n of the racis on the
body Of another. At once, and without
solicitation a number of law-abiding
freedmen proffered their services to the
officer in charge of the Freedmcn's
Bureau to pursue the murderers and
capture them if possible. This deed was
committed beyond the immediate juris-
diction of the cities of Norfolk and
Portsmouth, and it was therefore, the
duty of the officers of the county to fol-
low up the criminals and bring them to
Justice; but people who reside in well
regulated communities will be surprised
to learn that no effort was made by the
legally constituted authorities TO vindi-
cate justice. 1t may be that there is no
sheriff in the county, whose duty 1t Is
to arrest and bring to punishment the
perpetrators of crime and that such a
thing as calling out a posse conaitatus
is unknown in this section, boasting OF
its purity of English descent apdits love
for common law traditions; but If such ia
the case, we think it about time to in
cure a ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the laws. In
ever other part ofthe world, the murder
er or wrong-dOer is pursued with cease
less vigilance till he is arrested, and SO
sacred is this duty held in all countries,
that no expense is spared that may
prevent escape. The police of England
and France will pursue felons all over
the world, but they will bring them to
answer at the bar of public justice for
their crimes; and in most places in this
country the authorities are not content
to let time, which brings all things even,
deal with villainy alone,-but they fol-
low the fugitive for years till he is finally
entrapped in their tolls. Such is not the
course pursued here. If a villain sees
fit to pu. himself in the way
of capture he is taken, but the
law officers do not seem to think
it necessary to go out OF their way to
trouble themselves about such trifing
matters. 1t was because of this feeling
of indifference, perhaps, that nothing
was done by the regular authorities to
secure the assassins in this case. The
services of the colored men, therefore,
were gladly accepted by Capt. johnson,
and the promptness with which they
acted, sufficiently justified his conf
dence. W. know, and SO does every
body who is acquainted with the true
character of the colored race in the
South, that, as a mass, they are and
have always been the most gentle, ODE
dent, and law-abiding portion of our
ignorant population. Kind and respect
full in their intercourse with their supe-
riors, they have never by their actions,
given any just cause for complaint, so
far as our personal experience goes.
They know their place, even now thai
they are free, and as a general thing, all
fair minded mel will bear witnessin their
behalf, that they have borne their new
condition with becoming modesty and
humility. There is no just ground for
complaint against them on this score,.-
and il the white race would only be a
little more kind and considerable in their
bearing towards these unfortunate peo-
pie, and adopt the course which tho
rules of good breeding teach us to pursue
towards interiors when they keep within
their proper sphere, we think a much
better understanding could be attained,
and the condition of oursociety-would be
greatly improved. The true gentleman,
never, by word, act or look, will be
guilty of hurting the feelings OF an infe-
rior; and as negroes are sentient beings,
they must have sensibiiities TO be wound